Miniaturization and Automation of Tissue Chip Systems (MATChS) (UT1/UT2 - Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

The Miniaturization and Automation of Tissue Chip Systems (MATChS) funding opportunity, issued by the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) within the National Institutes of Health (NIH), supports small business-led development of next-generation automated microphysiological systems (MPS). These systems simulate human organ functions on microfluidic chips, offering promising alternatives to traditional 2-D cell cultures and animal testing. While these systems are scientifically robust, their widespread adoption is limited due to large and complex instrumentation, low throughput, and the need for specialized expertise. MATChS aims to address these barriers by funding the development of portable, user-friendly, and automated MPS platforms. Applicants must be United States-based small business concerns (SBCs) eligible under the Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program. The MATChS program funds both Phase I (UT1) and Phase II (UT2) STTR cooperative agreements, supporting early-stage component development through to full system integration, validation, and commercialization. Proposals should include quantitative milestones, automation of manual processes, real-time biosensing, remote monitoring capabilities, and user-friendly software for system operation and data analysis. Projects must aim for high throughput, reliability, and cost-effective fabrication. The initiative builds on NCATS' prior achievements in the "Tissue Chips in Space" program, which tested MPS systems under microgravity conditions in partnership with NASA and the Center for Advancement of Science in Space. MATChS applicants are encouraged to apply insights from this program to terrestrial research and development, with a focus on simplifying MPS use in drug discovery and biomedical laboratories. Applications must be submitted through NIH systems such as ASSIST, Grants.gov, or institutional S2S platforms. Required components include a detailed milestone plan with measurable go/no-go criteria, a commercialization plan (for Phase II), and compliance with NIH data sharing policies. The application must adhere strictly to SBIR/STTR submission guidelines. While the letter of intent is not mandatory, it is recommended to assist NIH with planning. The program anticipates awarding up to $2.15 million for two Phase I and one Phase II project annually. Phase I awards may request up to $350,000 per year, while Phase II may receive up to $2.15 million annually, pending milestone achievement and NIH approval. Applications that solely develop new MPS models without automation/miniaturization elements are not responsive and will be excluded from review. The next application deadlines fall on February 24, 2025, and February 23, 2026, with advisory council review in October and earliest start dates in December. The funding opportunity is expected to recur annually, with the current cycle expiring November 17, 2025. Contact Dr. Dmitriy Krepkiy at NCATS for scientific inquiries and Imoni Washington for grants administration. Additional application support is available through the eRA Service Desk and NIH Grants Information services.