Oral Diseases and Disorders Research - SBIR/STTR

NIDCR's Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs support a broad portfolio of translational and clinical research across dental, oral, and craniofacial (DOC) sciences. NIDCR areas of programmati

The mission of the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) is to advance fundamental knowledge about dental, oral, and craniofacial (DOC) health and disease and translate these findings into prevention, early detection, and treatment strategies that improve overall health for all individuals and communities across the lifespan. For SBIR and STTR grants, the applicant organization (small business) must present an idea in the research plan that has potential for commercialization and furnish evidence that scientific competence, experimental methods, facilities, equipment, and funds requested are appropriate to carry out the plan.

SBIR and STTR grants can be awarded only to domestic small business concerns that meet the following criteria: 1) Is organized for profit, with a place of business located in the United States, which operates primarily within the United States or which makes a significant contribution to the United States economy through payment of taxes or use of American products, materials or labor; 2) Is in the legal form of an individual proprietorship, partnership, limited liability company, corporation, joint venture, association, trust or cooperative, except where the form is a joint venture, there must be less than 50 percent participation by foreign business entities in the joint venture; 3) Be a concern which is more than 50% directly owned and controlled by one or more individuals (who are citizens or permanent resident aliens of the United States), other business concerns (each of which is more than 50% directly owned and controlled by individuals who are citizens or permanent resident aliens of the United States), or any combination of these; no single venture capital operating company, hedge fund, or private equity firm may own more than 50% of the concern, 4) Has, including its affiliates, not more than 500 employees, and 5) meets the other regulatory requirements found in 13 C.F.R. Part 121. For STTR awards, the small business must "partner" with a research institution in a cooperative research and development project. In both Phase I and Phase II for both SBIR and STTR, the research must be performed in the U.S. and its possessions. To be eligible for funding, all grant applications must be evaluated for scientific merit and program relevance by a scientific peer review group and the National Advisory Dental and Craniofacial Research Council.

SBIR Phase I grants (duration of approximately 6 months) provide support to establish the technical merit and feasibility of a proposed research effort that may lead to a commercial product or process. Phase II grants support the continuation of the research initiated in Phase I to further develop the commercial products or process initiated in Phase I. Only Phase I awardees are eligible to receive Phase II support. STTR Phase I grants (duration of typically 1 year) support cooperative efforts between small businesses and research institutes to determine the scientific and technical merit, and commercial feasibility of a product or process with potential for commercial application. Phase II funding is based on the results of the research initiated in Phase I and the scientific and technical merit, and commercial potential of the Phase II application.

As per requirements and restrictions described in NOFO.

Preapplication coordination is not applicable. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.

The following criteria will be used in considering the scientific and technical merit of SBIR/STTR Phase I grant applications: the potential of the proposed research for commercial application. Phase II grant applications will reviewed based upon the following criteria: (1) The degree to which the Phase I objectives were met and feasibility demonstrated; (2) the scientific and technical merit of the proposed approach for achieving the Phase II objectives; (3) the technological innovation, originality, or societal importance of the proposed research; and (4) the potential of the proposed research for commercial application.

All accepted SBIR/STTR applications are evaluated for scientific and technical merit by an appropriate initial review group and by the National Advisory Dental and Craniofacial Research Council (NADCRC). All applications receiving a priority score compete for available SBIR/STTR set-aside funds on the basis of scientific and technical merit and commercial potential of the proposed research, program relevance, and program balance among the areas of research.

Small Business grant applications are eligible for competing renewal and renewal applications are eligible for funding after IRG Review and NADCRC approval of scored grant applications unless otherwise restricted as per NOFO.

A Principal Investigator (PI) may question the technical or procedural aspects of the review of his/her application by communicating with the program staff of the Institute. A description of the NIH Peer Review Appeal procedures is available on the NIH home page: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/peer_review_process.htm#Appeals and in the Notice: https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-11-064.html.