Small Business Grants Through the National Cancer Institute
A Home Business Article Contributed by Cassandra l. Keller
Small Business Grants Through the National Cancer Institute
Entrepreneurs can obtain small business grants as research support through the National Cancer Institute. Specifically, there are two support programs available through the NCI to assist small business owners, the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant Program and the Small Business Technology Transfer Research grant (STTR) Program. These programs were created to support innovative research that has the potential for commercialization. The following is an overview of the programs.
Small Business Innovation Research Program and Small Business Technology Transfer Research Program Grants
The Small Business Innovation Research Program provides funding for up to six months and $100, 000 for Phase I feasibility studies and for up to two years and $750, 000 for Phase II projects.
The Small Business Technology Transfer Research Program calls for close collaboration between the business and a partnered research institution. The small business must conduct at least 40 percent of the project and the partner institution must take part in at least 30 percent of the work.
Similar to the SBIR grant program, funding is generally provided for up to one year and $100, 000 total cost for Phase I feasibility studies, and for up to two years and $750, 000 for Phase II projects.
National Cancer Institute Small Business Grant Guidelines
The SBIR and STTR programs offer some flexibility regarding time and the amount of funding available. Garnering funding that exceeds the guidelines, however, can require significant justification in the application and to program reviewers.
Currently topics of interest to the Epidemiology and Genetics Research Program are the development of Web-based data collection tools for translational research in cancer; development of software or methods for rapid case ascertainment for cancers; development of software for allowing biological specimens for genetic and molecular testing of cancer; conversion, validation and documentation of statistical software for use in genetic and general epidemiological analyses on microcomputers; and methods for the detection of biological markers of human exposure, human susceptibility, or nutritional status for use in epidemiological studies.
The Small Business Grant Fast-Track Option
Both the SBIR and STTR programs offer a fast-track mechanism that allows the applicant to submit phase I and phase II proposals simultaneously for combined peer review. This mechanism, when applicable, takes away the funding gap between the two phases. However, there are additional information requirements when taking the fast-track option. The review group also has the option of only funding the phase I portion of the project and requesting a separate submission of a phase II application.
Also keep in mind that a phase I SBIR or STTR program application requesting up to $100, 000 total cost is submitted via the Modular Grant format.
Last but not least, flexibility is a key characteristic to both the SBIR and STTR small business grant programs.
Time extensions and supplements are not out of the question for awards that are justified to program staff. Any research topic falling within the mission of the National Institutes of Health may be submitted under the SBIR and STTR programs.
