Technologies for Improving Minority Health and Eliminating Health Disparities (R41/R42- Clinical Trial Optional) | RFA MD 21 005

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA MD 21 005

The funding opportunity titled "Technologies for Improving Minority Health and Eliminating Health Disparities (R41/R42 - Clinical Trial Optional)" (Funding Opportunity Number: RFA-MD-21-005) is a discretionary grant program offered by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) under CFDA 93.307. It uses the Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) mechanism, meaning it is designed specifically for eligible US small business concerns to partner with a research institution to translate scientific ideas into practical, commercial-ready solutions. The central purpose is to support the development of a product, process, or service that can be commercialized and that directly contributes to improving minority health and reducing, and ultimately eliminating, health disparities affecting NIH-defined populations that experience disparities.

The FOA is focused on technology development that is not only scientifically sound, but also realistic in real-world settings where disparities persist. NIH emphasizes that proposed technologies should be effective (able to produce meaningful health improvements), affordable (priced and structured so underserved communities and the systems serving them can actually adopt them), and culturally acceptable (designed in ways that fit the values, language needs, preferences, and lived realities of the populations intended to benefit). In practice, this can include a wide range of potential innovations, such as digital health tools, diagnostics, devices, care delivery platforms, data systems, screening technologies, decision support tools, or other interventions that can be deployed in clinical, community, public health, or home settings. The unifying requirement is that the technology targets minority health improvement and/or measurable reduction of health disparities and has a plausible pathway toward commercialization.

This opportunity is offered through the STTR R41/R42 phased structure, which generally supports early feasibility and proof-of-concept work in Phase I (R41) and more advanced research and development activities in Phase II (R42), with the intent of de-risking the technology enough to attract follow-on investment, partnerships, or procurement and to move toward market launch. The announcement notes that clinical trials are optional, which means applicants may propose clinical trial activities if they are appropriate and justified for the maturity of the technology, but they are not required to include a clinical trial to be responsive. That flexibility can be helpful for projects that are still in prototyping, validation, usability testing, implementation planning, or non-trial evaluation stages, while still allowing more clinically oriented projects to proceed with formal trial designs if needed.

Eligibility is limited primarily to US small business concerns, reflecting the STTR program's goal of stimulating commercialization from the US small business sector while leveraging research partnerships. Foreign institutions are not eligible to apply, and non-US components of US organizations are also not eligible to apply as applicants. However, the FOA indicates that foreign components, as defined under the NIH Grants Policy Statement, may be allowed in some circumstances, which typically means a project may include certain foreign activities or collaborations only if they are clearly justified as essential to the project and allowable under NIH policy, rather than being a primary base of operations or an applicant organization.

From an administrative standpoint, the announcement was created on March 11, 2021, with an original closing date of May 3, 2021. While the excerpt does not provide an award ceiling or expected number of awards, it clearly frames the program as a targeted technology development and commercialization effort aligned with NIH's mission to address inequities in health outcomes. Overall, the FOA is best suited for small businesses that can demonstrate (1) a clear health disparity problem and population focus, (2) a technology-driven solution that is feasible to develop and scale, (3) a thoughtful approach to affordability and cultural fit, and (4) a credible commercialization pathway that could support adoption in the communities most affected by the disparity.

• 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): 93.307.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2021-03-11.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2021-05-03. (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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