Secure Funding for your Research

Grant Applications

We specialize in grant applications to the NIH and NSF particularly SBIR/STTR

Determine Eligibility

  • Confirm your business meets these criteria:

    • For-profit US small business with 500 or fewer employees

    • At least 51% US-owned and independently operated

    • Principal Investigator primarily employed by the small business

Complete Required Registrations

  • Obtain a DUNS Number

  • Register in the System for Award Management (SAM)

  • Create accounts on Grants.gov and eRA Commons

  • Register with the SBA Company Registry

  • Note: Start this process early as it can take 6-8 weeks

Identify Appropriate Funding Opportunity

  • Review NIH SBIR/STTR program announcements

  • Identify institutes/centers aligned with your research area

  • Consider discussing your project with NIH Program Officers

Understand Funding Phases and Limits

  • Phase I:

    • Goal: Establish technical merit and feasibility

    • Duration: 6 months (SBIR) or 1 year (STTR)

    • Funding: Up to $306,872

  • Phase II:

    • Goal: Continue R&D efforts

    • Duration: 2 years

    • Funding: Up to $2,045,816

  • Phase III:

    • Goal: Commercialization

    • No NIH funding provided

Prepare Application Components

Administrative Forms

  • Complete SF424 (R&R) Cover Form

  • Fill out R&R Other Project Information Form

Research Plan

  • Write Specific Aims (1 page)

  • Develop Research Strategy (6 pages for Phase I, 12 pages for Phase II)

  • Address Human Subjects and Clinical Trials Information (if applicable)

  • Include Vertebrate Animals section (if applicable)

Supporting Documents

  • Prepare Project Summary/Abstract

  • Write Project Narrative

  • Describe Facilities & Resources

  • List available Equipment

  • Obtain Letters of Support

Biographical Information

  • Compile Biosketches for key personnel

Budget Documents

  • Create a Detailed Budget

  • Write Budget Justification

SBIR/STTR Specific Information

  • Develop Commercialization Plan (Phase II only)

Review and Refine Application

  • Ensure all review criteria are addressed:

    1. Significance

    2. Investigators

    3. Innovation

    4. Approach

    5. Environment

  • Check compliance with all formatting and page limit requirements

  • Emphasize commercial potential and innovation

Submit Application

  • Upload all documents to Grants.gov

  • Submit well before the deadline to allow for potential technical issues

Post-Submission Process

  • Application undergoes initial processing at NIH

  • Receive confirmation of successful submission

Peer Review Process

  • Application reviewed by a panel of scientific experts

  • Receive Summary Statement with reviewer comments and scores

  • Address reviewer comments

Post-Award Management

  • Comply with all reporting requirements

  • Prepare for potential Phase II application (if in Phase I)