GOV — GOVERNMENT

NIH SBIR / STTR (small business therapeutics development)

NIH (PA-27-100 / PA-27-102)

Award

~$323K Phase I / ~$2.15M Phase II (waivers to ~$700K/~$3M)

Deadline

Standard receipts Jan 5, Apr 5, Sept 5 (shifted to the next business day)

Award type

Cash grant

Focus

Preclinical & therapeutics

Small-business-led development of therapeutics and diagnostics. Rare-disease therapeutics is a stated NIH SBIR priority area, and several institutes fund above the standard caps for approved waiver topics. STTR requires a nonprofit research-institution partner, which accommodates academic labs spinning out companies.

Why it's in this index

Fits BTHS gene therapy, mitochondria-targeted drugs, and cardiolipin-ratio diagnostics — provided the applicant is a company rather than a lab. The STTR route is the one for an academic group without a company yet.

Who can apply

US small businesses (<500 employees, majority US-owned); STTR requires a nonprofit research-institution partner.

How to apply

Via eRA Commons / Grants.gov under the FY26 series (reposted Jun 1, 2026). First receipt date Sept 8, 2026, then standard cycles Jan 5 and Apr 5, 2027.

Links & downloads

NIH SEED portal ↗