NIEHS SBIR / STTR

NIEHS SBIR Phase I

Supports United States. small businesses building environmental health technologies at feasibility stage.

The NIEHS SBIR Phase I award, made under the R43 mechanism, provides approximately $300,000 over 6 to 12 months for feasibility research by U.S. small businesses developing technologies relevant to environmental health. NIEHS follows NIH-wide SBIR rules and participates in the NIH omnibus SBIR solicitations published on grants.gov. The companion STTR Phase I mechanism (R41) carries the same budget parameters but requires a formal subcontract with a U.S. research institution, with at least 30% of the work performed at that partner organization. NIEHS prioritizes technologies addressing environmental exposures and their effects on human health, including exposure monitoring devices, toxicity testing assays, occupational health tools, and remediation technologies.

Eligibility is limited to U.S.-based for-profit small businesses with fewer than 500 employees that are majority U.S.-owned and independently operated. Universities, nonprofits, and research institutions are not eligible as SBIR lead applicants. Venture-capital-backed companies may apply through NIH's special opt-in SBIR pathway. Phase I applications must demonstrate the scientific and technical merit of the proposed approach and its potential for commercialization. Award amounts of approximately $300,000 represent the standard NIH Phase I commercial budget guideline; NIEHS does not set a separate cap.

Successful Phase I awardees become eligible to apply for NIEHS SBIR Phase II (R44) funding of approximately $2,000,000 over two years for full development and early commercialization. NIEHS program staff encourage pre-submission contact to confirm topic alignment with institute priorities before investing in a full application. Specific submission dates are set in each omnibus SBIR solicitation cycle, with standard NIH dates typically falling three times per year. The commercialization potential of the proposed technology is a scored review criterion and should be addressed explicitly in the application.