NINDS Small Business Innovation Research / Small Business Technology Transfer

NINDS SBIR Phase I

Funds small-business feasibility research for neuroscience technologies advancing toward later commercialization in the United States.

The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) Small Business Program supports innovative small business R&D at the applied bench, translational, and early-stage clinical trial levels through the congressionally mandated SBIR and STTR set-aside programs. NINDS Phase I SBIR grants (R43) fund feasibility studies for commercial innovations targeting neurological disorders, stroke, epilepsy, pain, traumatic brain injury, and other brain and nervous system conditions. STTR Phase I awards (R41) require a formal subcontract with a US research institution that performs at least 30 percent of the project work. As of May 2026, NINDS had four R43/R44 SBIR and four R41/R42 STTR funding opportunities listed among its 142 open NOFOs, plus six U44 cooperative-agreement SBIR Phase II slots.

Eligible organizations are US-incorporated for-profit small businesses as defined by the Small Business Administration; universities, nonprofits, and individuals are not eligible as lead applicants. Venture-capital-majority-owned companies may apply through the NIH opt-in certification process administered by NIH SEED. Award caps and exact page limits are set by the NIH omnibus SBIR/STTR solicitation rather than by NINDS, and applicants must consult the current omnibus PDF for precise figures. Applications follow the standard NIH SBIR/STTR due-date calendar, typically offering three submission windows per year.

NINDS strongly recommends that applicants send a brief abstract or technology overview to NINDS_SBIR@ninds.nih.gov at least one month before the standard submission deadline to receive programmatic feedback and confirm topical fit. This pre-submission contact is not mandatory but is widely regarded as essential for avoiding misaligned submissions. Applications are reviewed by study sections with neuroscience expertise, and reviewers evaluate both scientific and technical merit and the plausibility of the proposed commercialization path. NINDS also maintains a Company Showcase listing awardees seeking investment or commercial collaboration.