Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA MD 24 006
Innovations for Healthy Living - Improving Minority Health and Eliminating Health Disparities (R43/R44 - Clinical Trial Optional) is an NIH Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) funding opportunity (RFA-MD-24-006) aimed at helping U.S. small businesses develop and move toward commercialization a product, process, or service that can measurably improve minority health and reduce, and ultimately eliminate, health disparities. The core idea is to support practical innovations that can be translated into real-world use, not just basic research. Projects are expected to focus on populations that experience health disparities and to address the kinds of barriers that often limit impact in these communities, such as cost, accessibility, usability, trust, and fit with cultural and community norms.
The opportunity is specifically structured under the SBIR mechanism using the R43/R44 pathways, which generally align with phased development. In practical terms, this means applicants can propose early-stage feasibility work and development (often associated with Phase I) and, if appropriate, more advanced research and development steps that move closer to a market-ready solution (often associated with Phase II). The listing states "Clinical Trial Optional," which signals that a clinical trial is allowed but not required; applicants can propose either non-clinical development activities or studies that include clinical evaluation, as long as the project matches NIH expectations for rigor, safety, and applicability.
A central requirement is that the proposed technology or solution should be effective, affordable, and culturally acceptable. That emphasis is important because many health technologies fail to reduce disparities when they are too expensive to deploy at scale, require infrastructure that underserved settings do not have, or are designed without considering language, literacy, cultural practices, community preferences, or the realities of care delivery. Competitive applications will typically demonstrate a clear understanding of the target population, the specific disparity being addressed, and how the proposed innovation will fit into the environments where it needs to work (for example, community clinics, rural settings, home-based care, schools, or public health programs).
Eligibility is limited to eligible United States small business concerns. Foreign organizations are not eligible to apply, and non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply. However, foreign components may be allowed under NIH policy as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, which generally means a U.S. small business applicant may be able to include certain foreign activities if they are justified, clearly described, and permitted under NIH rules, but the applicant organization itself must be a U.S. small business and the project must be administered accordingly.
This NOFO is categorized as a discretionary grant opportunity from the National Institutes of Health. It sits within health-related federal assistance areas (CFDA/Assistance Listing numbers include 93.121, 93.233, 93.286, 93.307, 93.350, 93.361, 93.837, 93.838, 93.839, 93.840, 93.847, 93.866), reflecting the cross-cutting nature of minority health and health disparities work across NIH programs. The opportunity was created on 2024-03-08, and the listed original closing date is 2026-12-09, giving small businesses a longer runway to plan, partner, and prepare a development and commercialization strategy that matches the SBIR model.
Overall, this funding opportunity is designed for small businesses that can show a credible pathway from innovation to adoption, with the explicit purpose of improving health outcomes in populations that have historically experienced unequal access, unequal quality of care, and unequal health burdens. The strongest fits are typically solutions that are ready to be engineered, tested, and positioned for deployment in real settings, with clear evidence that the design choices and implementation plan are grounded in the needs, constraints, and preferences of the communities the project is meant to serve.Apply for RFA MD 24 006
- The National Institutes of Health in the education, food and nutrition, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Innovations for Healthy Living - Improving Minority Health and Eliminating Health Disparities (R43/R44 - 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, 93.233, 93.286, 93.307, 93.350, 93.361, 93.837, 93.838, 93.839, 93.840, 93.847, 93.866.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2024-03-08.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-12-09. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Eligible applicants include: Small businesses.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the "Innovations for Healthy Living - Improving Minority Health and Eliminating Health Disparities" opportunity?
This is an NIH Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) funding opportunity titled "Innovations for Healthy Living - Improving Minority Health and Eliminating Health Disparities (R43/R44 - Clinical Trial Optional)." It is associated with the notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) RFA-MD-24-006 and supports U.S. small businesses developing innovations intended to measurably improve minority health and reduce (and ultimately eliminate) health disparities.
Who is this funding opportunity intended for?
It is intended for eligible United States small business concerns applying under the SBIR program. The focus is on small businesses that can develop and move toward commercialization a product, process, or service that can be translated into real-world use to improve minority health and reduce health disparities.
What types of projects does this NOFO want to support?
The NOFO emphasizes practical innovations with a clear path toward adoption and commercialization. Projects should go beyond basic research and be oriented toward solutions that can work in real settings and measurably improve outcomes for populations experiencing health disparities.
What is the main goal of the program?
The main goal is to help U.S. small businesses develop innovations that can measurably improve minority health and reduce, and ultimately eliminate, health disparities. A key theme is translating innovation into real-world impact, especially in communities where barriers often prevent technologies from being effective at scale.
What does "R43/R44" mean in this opportunity?
R43 and R44 are SBIR pathways that generally align with phased development. In practical terms, applicants can propose early-stage feasibility and development work (often associated with Phase I) and, where appropriate, more advanced research and development steps that move toward a market-ready solution (often associated with Phase II).
Are clinical trials required?
No. The listing states "Clinical Trial Optional," which means a clinical trial is allowed but not required. Applicants may propose non-clinical development activities or studies that include clinical evaluation, as long as the project meets NIH expectations for rigor, safety, and applicability.
What kinds of innovations are considered a good fit?
Good fits are innovations (products, processes, or services) designed to be effective, affordable, and culturally acceptable for populations experiencing health disparities. Competitive projects typically show strong alignment between the innovation and the real-world environments where it must work (for example, community clinics, rural settings, home-based care, schools, or public health programs).
What populations should projects focus on?
Projects are expected to focus on populations that experience health disparities. The NOFO emphasizes addressing the needs and constraints of these populations and demonstrating how the proposed innovation will work in the contexts where disparities occur.
What barriers does NIH expect applicants to address?
The NOFO highlights barriers that often limit impact in communities experiencing disparities, including cost, accessibility, usability, trust, and fit with cultural and community norms. Applicants are expected to design with these barriers in mind so the innovation has a realistic chance of being adopted and used effectively.
Why is affordability and cultural acceptability emphasized?
The NOFO notes that many health technologies fail to reduce disparities when they are too expensive to deploy at scale, require infrastructure that underserved settings do not have, or are designed without considering language, literacy, cultural practices, community preferences, or real-world care delivery constraints. This opportunity prioritizes solutions that can actually be used and sustained in the communities they are meant to serve.
Does the opportunity require a commercialization path?
Yes in principle. This is an SBIR opportunity explicitly aimed at helping small businesses develop and move toward commercialization. The overall framing favors projects that can show a credible pathway from innovation to real-world adoption.
Where are projects expected to be deployed or used?
The NOFO describes real-world settings where solutions may need to function, such as community clinics, rural settings, home-based care environments, schools, or public health programs. Applicants are encouraged to show how the innovation fits into the environment(s) where it needs to work.
Can a non-U.S. organization apply?
No. Eligibility is limited to eligible United States small business concerns. Foreign organizations are not eligible to apply.
Can a U.S. small business include work outside the United States?
Non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply. However, the NOFO notes that foreign components may be allowed under NIH policy as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement. In practical terms, this suggests certain foreign activities might be permissible if justified, clearly described, and allowed under NIH rules, while the applicant organization must remain a U.S. small business and administer the project accordingly.
Which federal agency is offering this opportunity?
This is a discretionary grant opportunity from the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
What is the NOFO number for this opportunity?
The NOFO is identified as RFA-MD-24-006.
What is the timeline for this opportunity?
The opportunity was created on 2024-03-08, and the listed original closing date is 2026-12-09. The long runway is intended to give small businesses time to plan, form partnerships, and prepare a development and commercialization strategy aligned with the SBIR model.
What assistance listing (CFDA) numbers are associated with this opportunity?
The NOFO is associated with multiple Assistance Listing (CFDA) numbers reflecting its cross-cutting scope across NIH programs: 93.121, 93.233, 93.286, 93.307, 93.350, 93.361, 93.837, 93.838, 93.839, 93.840, 93.847, and 93.866.
What makes an application more competitive based on the description provided?
Based on the description, competitive applications typically show: (1) a clear understanding of the target population and the specific disparity being addressed; (2) a design that accounts for real barriers like cost, accessibility, usability, trust, and cultural fit; (3) a realistic plan for use in real-world settings; and (4) credible movement toward commercialization and adoption rather than a purely basic research effort.
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