The National Institutes of Health (NIH), under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, invites applications for the "Innovations for Healthy Living – Improving Minority Health and Eliminating Health Disparities" Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant program. This funding opportunity supports U.S.-based small businesses in the development and commercialization of innovative technologies, services, or products aimed at improving health outcomes and eliminating disparities among populations disproportionately affected by illness and barriers to healthcare. The participating NIH components include several specialized institutes, such as the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD), National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), National Institute on Aging (NIA), and others.
The purpose of this grant is to support small businesses in creating solutions that are effective, affordable, and culturally appropriate, specifically targeting underserved populations including racial and ethnic minorities, socioeconomically disadvantaged groups, and rural communities. Projects may address a wide range of health concerns and social determinants through innovative methods such as digital health tools, mobile health technologies, educational platforms, or data integration solutions. Projects must explicitly address minority health or health disparities to be eligible and reviewed.
Applicants can propose Phase I, Phase II, or Fast-Track submissions with budgets typically capped at $306,872 for Phase I and $2,045,816 for Phase II. The award durations are up to six months for Phase I and up to two years for Phase II. Some institutes may approve higher budgets under SBA-approved waiver topics. The anticipated number of awards and total funding commitment vary by institute. No cost-sharing is required, and eligibility is limited to U.S. small business concerns that meet specific ownership and operational criteria.
Applications must comply with NIH SBIR submission instructions and be submitted electronically through one of the approved systems: NIH ASSIST, Grants.gov Workspace, or an institutional system-to-system solution. Letters of Intent are due 30 days before application deadlines. The next upcoming submission deadline is December 10, 2025, with additional due dates on a semiannual basis. The opportunity is set to expire on November 17, 2025. Applicants are encouraged to consult relevant program officials for specific institute interests and alignment prior to submission.
Evaluation of submissions will follow NIH’s peer review process, assessing criteria such as significance, innovation, approach, investigator qualifications, and the potential for commercialization. Additional considerations include responsiveness to minority health or health disparities goals, scientific rigor, and technical merit. NIH may deny awards or require additional disclosures for applicants with foreign affiliations deemed a national security risk.
Contact information for scientific, submission, and grants management queries is provided in the funding announcement. Applicants must ensure compliance with all NIH and SBIR program policies and maintain active registration with SAM.gov, Grants.gov, SBA Company Registry, and eRA Commons to be eligible for award consideration.
