Technologies for Improving Minority Health and Eliminating Health Disparities (R41/R42- Clinical Trial Optional) | RFA MD 23 002

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA MD 23 002

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is offering a Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) grant opportunity titled "Technologies for Improving Minority Health and Eliminating Health Disparities (R41/R42 - Clinical Trial Optional)," published as Funding Opportunity Number RFA-MD-23-002. The purpose of this announcement is to support U.S. small business concerns that want to develop and move toward commercialization a technology-based product, process, or service designed to improve minority health and to reduce, and ultimately eliminate, health disparities. The program is specifically focused on innovations that can make a real, measurable difference for one or more NIH-defined populations that experience health disparities, and it emphasizes solutions that are not only scientifically and technically sound, but also practical in the real world.

A central feature of this FOA is its commercialization orientation. Applicants are expected to propose technology development work that advances a solution along a pathway toward a market-ready offering, rather than purely basic research. Projects can include clinical trial activity if needed, but clinical trials are optional, meaning applicants can propose either non-clinical development activities or clinical evaluation depending on what is appropriate for the stage of the technology. The STTR structure (R41/R42) also implies a formal collaboration between the small business and a research institution partner, aligning early-stage research expertise with the small businesss development and commercialization goals.

NIH is clear about the kinds of solutions it wants to see: technologies should be effective, affordable, and culturally acceptable. In practice, this points to innovations that are likely to be adopted and sustained in communities that have historically been underserved, face structural barriers to care, or experience disproportionate burdens of disease. While the FOA summary does not list specific technology types, the scope typically covers a wide range of health-related innovations, such as diagnostic tools, digital health and telehealth solutions, point-of-care devices, community-centered interventions supported by technology, data or decision-support tools, or other scalable services that can reduce gaps in access, quality, outcomes, or preventive care across disparity populations. The cultural acceptability requirement signals that strong proposals should reflect an understanding of the target populations lived realities, preferences, trust considerations, language needs, and practical constraints such as cost, connectivity, transportation, or care availability.

Eligibility is limited to United States small business concerns, consistent with STTR rules. Foreign institutions are not eligible to apply, and non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are also not eligible to apply. However, the FOA notes that a foreign component as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement may be allowed in some cases, which typically means certain discrete project elements could potentially be conducted abroad if they meet NIH policy requirements and are well-justified, but the applicant organization itself must be an eligible U.S. small business. This funding opportunity is categorized as discretionary and uses the grant funding instrument.

Key administrative details provided include an original closing date of September 6, 2023, and an award ceiling listed as $295,924. The opportunity is associated with multiple CFDA numbers (93.121, 93.307, 93.350, 93.853), reflecting the NIH program and funding streams connected to the topic area. Overall, the FOA is aimed at helping small businesses translate research into real-world, marketable technologies that can meaningfully improve health outcomes for minority and health-disparity populations while prioritizing solutions that communities can access, afford, and accept.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Technologies for Improving Minority Health and Eliminating Health Disparities (R41/R42- Clinical Trial Optional)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.121, 93.307, 93.350, 93.853.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2023-01-30.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2023-09-06. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $295,924.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: Small businesses.

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