NIA SBIR Phase II (AD/ADRD)

NIA SBIR Phase I — Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias

Funds U.S. small businesses developing and validating technologies for older adults with an enhanced budget track for Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias research.

The National Institute on Aging (NIA) runs its own Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program as part of NIH's government-wide SBIR initiative, channeling federal R&D funding to for-profit small businesses working on technologies relevant to aging and older-adult health. NIA sits within the National Institutes of Health and administers this program under the broader NIH SBIR/STTR authority. Phase I is the feasibility stage, covering proof-of-concept R&D before a company can compete for a larger Phase II award.

NIA provides two budget tracks for Phase I. Projects focused on Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias (AD/ADRD) may receive total costs up to $700,000 in Phase I. All other SBIR projects within the NIA mission space are capped at $500,000 in Phase I total costs. These are total-cost figures covering both direct and indirect costs. There is no stated cost-share or matching requirement; NIH SBIR awards are non-dilutive grants.

Eligibility follows the federal SBIR rules: the applicant must be a U.S.-based for-profit small business concern of 500 or fewer employees (including affiliates). Universities, nonprofits, and individuals are not eligible to apply as the lead. Research organizations may participate as subcontractors. Unlike NSF SBIR, NIH SBIR has a separate eligibility path for companies majority-owned by venture capital operating companies, hedge funds, or private-equity firms (the VC-majority path applies only to SBIR, not STTR). All R&D costs must be incurred in the United States.

NIH SBIR Phase I applications are submitted through NIH's standard submission system (eRA Commons / Grants.gov) in response to the annual NIH SBIR/STTR Omnibus solicitation or targeted program announcements. Review follows NIH's standard peer review: a study section scores on Significance, Investigators, Innovation, Approach, and Environment (the SIAI+E criteria); NIA program staff then make funding decisions based on scores, NIA priorities, and available budget. NIA places particular emphasis on AD/ADRD research aligned with its National Plan to Address Alzheimer's Disease mandate.

Practical caveats: the source page does not list specific FOA numbers or application deadlines — those appear in the NIH SBIR Omnibus solicitation and targeted notices. The $700,000 AD/ADRD Phase I limit is an NIA-specific enhanced budget; the standard NIH SBIR Phase I limit is lower. Applicants should verify the current solicitation on NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts before applying. Phase II AD/ADRD projects may receive up to $3,000,000 in total costs; Phase II non-AD/ADRD projects may receive up to $2,500,000.