Grants for Small businesses - Science and Technology

The intent of the Breakthrough Award is to support promising research that has high potential to lead to or make breakthroughs in breast cancer. The critical components of this award mechanism are:Impact: Research supported by the Breakthrough Award will have the potential for a major impact and accelerate progress toward ending breast cancer. The impact may be near-term or long-term but must move beyond a minor advancement and have the potential to lead to a fundamentally new approach that is significantly more effective than interventions already approved or in clinical development. Applications are expected to identify the breast cancer patients or at-risk individuals who would ultimately benefit from the proposed research.Research Scope: The Breakthrough Award is structured with four different funding levels. The levels are designed to support major (but not all) stages of research that will lead to clinical application. Each level has a defined research scope. It is the responsibility of the Principal Investigator (PI) to select the level that aligns with the scope of the proposed research. The funding level should be selected based on the research scope defined in the program announcement, and not on the amount of the budget.The current program announcement discusses the Breakthrough Award Levels 1 and 2. Funding Levels 3 and 4 are available under other program announcements (HT942524BCRPBTA3 and HT942524BCRPBTA4, respectively). The PI is strongly encouraged to review the research scope defined under each funding level as described in the corresponding Breakthrough Award program announcement before submitting the pre-application. An application that does not meet the intent of the funding level selected will not be recommended for funding, even if it might meet the intent of a different funding level.The following are general descriptions, although not all-inclusive, of the scope of research projects that would be appropriate to propose under the current program announcement: Funding Level 1: Innovative, high-risk/high-reward research that is in the earliest stages of idea development or is an untested theory that addresses an important problem. To foster research that yields new avenues of investigation, preliminary data are not required. Proof of concept is the anticipated outcome. Funding Level 2: Research that is already supported by substantial preliminary or published data and strongly validates clinical translation in a well-defined context within thebreast cancer landscape. Funding Level 2: Population Science and Prevention Studies: Population Science and Prevention Studies should involve investigations into why certain human patient populations differ in cancer risk or clinical prognosis. The studies should focus on the analysis of human data and biospecimens. Research should be already supported by substantial preliminary or published data and strongly validate clinical translation in a well-defined context within the breast cancer landscape. With compelling justification, population science and prevention studies may request higher levels of funding and an additional year in the period of performance.Partnering PI Option: The Breakthrough Award encourages applications that include meaningful and productive partnerships between investigators. The Partnering PI Option is structured to accommodate two PIs. One PI will be identified as the Initiating PI and will be responsible for the majority of the administrative tasks associated with application submission. The other PI will be identified as a Partnering PI. Both PIs should contribute significantly to the development of the proposed research project, including the Project Narrative, Statement of Work (SOW), and other required components. The PIs may have expertise in similar or disparate scientific disciplines, but each PI is expected to bring distinct contributions to the application. The application should clearly demonstrate that both PIs have equal intellectual input into the design of the project and will devote similar and appropriate levels of effort to the conduct of the project. It is expected that funding will be balanced between both PIs unless appropriately justified. New partnerships are encouraged, but not required. The application is expected to describe how the PIs unique expertise combined as a partnership will better address the research question, how the unique expertise that each individual brings to the application is critical for the research strategy and completion of the SOW, and why the work should be done together rather than through separate efforts. To meet the intent of the Partnering PI Option, applicants are discouraged from being named as a Partnering PI on multiple Breakthrough Award Levels 1 and 2 applications unless they are clearly unique, meaningful partnerships addressing distinct research questions. Applications in which a mentor and their current postdoctoral fellow or junior investigator are named as Initiating and Partnering PIs do not meet the intent of the Partnering PI Option. Applications where one PI is providing samples, animal models, or investigational agents while the other PI is conducting most, or all of the experiments and analyses, do not meet the intent of the Partnering PI Option. If recommended for funding, each PI will be named on separate awards to the recipient organization(s). Each award will be subject to separate reporting, regulatory, and administrative requirements. For individual submission requirements for the Initiating and Partnering PIs, refer to Section II.D.2, Content and Form of the Application Submission.Personnel: Applications are expected to include an appropriate and robust research team with the combined backgrounds and breast cancer-related expertise to enable successful conduct of the project.Research involving human subjects and research involving human anatomical substances and data is permitted; however, clinical trials are not allowed under this funding opportunity.Applications seeking support for a clinical trial may be submitted to the FY24 BCRP Breakthrough Award Level 3 and Level 4 program announcements (HT942524BCRPBTA3 and HT942524BCRPBTA4, respectively).A congressionally mandated Metastatic Cancer Task Force was formed with the purpose of identifying ways to help accelerate clinical and translational research aimed at extending the lives of advanced state and recurrent patients. As a member of the Metastatic Cancer Task Force, CDMRP encourages applicants to review the recommendations (https://health.mil/Reference-Center/Congressional-Testimonies/2018/05/03/Metastatic-Cancer-Research) and submit research ideas to address these recommendations provided they are within the limitations of this funding opportunity and fit within the FY24 BCRP priorities.Innovative research involving nuclear medicine and related techniques to support early diagnosis, more effective treatment, and improved health outcomes of active-duty Service Members and their Families is encouraged. Such research could improve diagnostic and targeted treatment capabilities through noninvasive techniques and may drive the development of precision imaging and advanced targeted therapies.The proposed research must be relevant to active-duty Service Members, Veterans, military beneficiaries, and/or the American public. Collaborations between researchers at military or Veteran institutions and non-military institutions are strongly encouraged. These relationships can leverage knowledge, infrastructure, and access to unique clinical populations that the partners bring to the research effort, ultimately advancing cancer research that is of significance to the Warfighter, military Families, and the American public.Clinical trials are not allowed. A clinical trial is defined in the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 45, Part 46.102 (45 CFR 46.102) as a research study in which one or more human subjects are prospectively assigned to one or more interventions (which may include a placebo or another control) to evaluate the effects of the interventions on biomedical or behavioral health-related outcomes.Studies that do not seek to measure safety, effectiveness, and/or efficacy outcome(s) of an intervention are not considered clinical trials.For the purposes of this funding opportunity, research that meets the definition of a clinical trial is distinct from clinical research. Clinical research encompasses research with human data, human specimens, and/or interaction with human subjects. Clinical research is observational in nature and includes:(1) Research conducted with human subjects and/or material of human origin such as data, specimens, and cognitive phenomena for which an investigator (or co-investigator) does not seek to assess the safety, effectiveness, and/or efficacy outcomes of an intervention. Research meeting this definition may include but is not limited to: (a) mechanisms of human disease, (b) diagnostic or detection studies (e.g., biomarker or imaging), (c) health disparity studies, and (d) development of new technologies.(2) Epidemiologic and behavioral studies that do not seek to assess the safety, effectiveness, and/or efficacy outcomes of an intervention.(3) Outcomes research and health services research that do not fit under the definition of clinical trial.Excluded from the definition of clinical research are in vitro studies that utilize human data or specimens that cannot be linked to a living individual and meet the requirements for exemption under 46.104(d)(4) of the Common Rule.The funding instrument for awards made under the program announcement will be grants (31 USC 6304).The anticipated direct costs budgeted for the entire period of performance for an FY24 BCRP Breakthrough Award Funding Level 1 should not exceed $450,000 for applications with a single PI or $750,000 if applying under the Partnering PI Option.The anticipated direct costs budgeted for the entire period of performance for an FY24 BCRP Breakthrough Award Level 2 should not exceed $1.0M for applications with a single PI or $1.5M if applying under the Partnering PI Option.The anticipated direct costs budgeted for the entire period of performance for an FY24 BCRP Breakthrough Award Funding Level 2, Population Science and Prevention Studies, should not exceed $1.5M for applications with a single PI or $2.0M if applying under the Partnering PI Option. Refer to Section II.D.5, Funding Restrictions, for detailed funding information.Awards supported with FY24 funds will be made no later than September 30, 2025.The CDMRP expects to allot approximately $20.9M to fund approximately 14 Breakthrough Award Levels 1 and 2 applications. Funding of applications received is contingent upon the availability of federal funds for this program, the number of applications received, the quality and merit of the applications as evaluated by peer and programmatic review, and the requirements of the government. Funds to be obligated on any award resulting from this funding opportunity will be available for use for a limited time period based on the fiscal year of the funds. It is anticipated that awards made from this FY24 funding opportunity will be funded with FY24 funds, which will expire for use on September 30, 2030.

This funding opportunity provides additional financial support to active health services research projects facing unforeseen costs, helping researchers continue their work effectively.

The Opelousas Downtown Development District (ODDD), with support from the City of Opelousas and Opelousas Main Street (OMS), is launching the fifth round of funding for its Building Improvement Grant (BIG) program. This program is a grant/reimbursement initiative designed to empower property and business owners in rehabilitating commercial buildings. The overarching mission alignment for this program is to create a positive visual impact within the city, stimulate private investment, and diligently preserve Opelousas' historic identity and cultural assets. The primary beneficiaries of this grant program are property and business owners within the Opelousas Downtown Development District who own commercial buildings. The core impact goals are to foster economic development through private investment, enhance the aesthetic appeal of the downtown area, and ensure the safeguarding of the city's rich historical and cultural heritage. The program directly supports the revitalization of commercial spaces, which, in turn, contributes to a more vibrant and economically robust downtown. The program's priorities and focuses are clearly on tangible and permanent building improvements. Eligible uses of funds are comprehensive, including restoration and renovation of buildings, installation of awnings (without signage), brick cleaning or re-pointing, accent lighting, removal of deteriorating or inappropriate materials visible from the street, and restoration of windows, doors, and original exterior/interior architectural features. Additionally, interior work related to ceiling repair, electrical, and plumbing is covered, as well as work on roofs, cornices, gutters, downspouts, and the cleaning, preparation, and painting of walls and trim. These priorities are aimed at holistic improvement of commercial properties. The expected outcomes include a noticeable improvement in the visual appeal of downtown Opelousas, an increase in private investment in commercial properties, and the successful preservation of historic buildings. While not explicitly stated as "measurable results" in the traditional sense, the program's structure and goals imply that the number of rehabilitated buildings, the amount of private investment stimulated, and the visible improvements in the downtown area would serve as key indicators of success. The program offers a total of $200,000 in grant funds, with a maximum application amount of $10,000 per project, providing a clear framework for financial allocation and impact tracking.

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is offering grants through its relaunched Materials Management grants program, now named the Reduce, Reuse, Reimagine Grants Program. This initiative aims to support statewide efforts in reducing the environmental and human health impacts of materials throughout their entire life cycle. The program's core mission is to build local capacity and foster community-driven solutions that address the environmental, social, and health consequences arising from the production, consumption, use, and disposal of materials. This aligns with a broader strategic goal of promoting sustainable consumption and material use, creating environmental and health benefits, and inspiring innovative projects. The program primarily targets a diverse range of eligible applicants, including local governments, nonprofit organizations (501(c)3 or 501(c)4 status) or fiscally sponsored organizations, organizations created by an Oregon public entity, Tribal nations, public schools, public universities, community colleges, and small businesses of 50 people or less. The impact goals are centered on empowering community action to reach environmental solutions, advancing equity, and ensuring environmental justice by providing resources to historically underserved and underrepresented communities across Oregon. The program seeks to fund projects that offer promising solutions to reduce material impacts, ultimately aiming for a more sustainable future. For the 2024 grant cycle, the program's annual funding area is specifically focused on waste prevention. This priority reflects an environmentally centered approach to reduce the consumption of natural resources and the generation of waste before items become trash or pollution. Waste prevention activities encompass changes in product design, reduced usage, extended product life, or repair. Examples of eligible activities include farmers markets purchasing reusable dishes, establishing or expanding community tool libraries, small businesses adopting new technologies to reduce plastic labels, and stores investing in bulk storage for low-waste products. Eligible activities also include education and outreach, training, research, program/policy development, and workforce development. The expected outcomes and measurable results of the Reduce, Reuse, Reimagine Grants Program include a tangible reduction in the environmental and human health impacts of materials. This will be measured by the successful implementation of innovative projects and programs that embody waste prevention principles. The program anticipates creating environmental and health benefits through more sustainable consumption and material use practices. Furthermore, it aims to advance equity and environmental justice by ensuring resources reach communities that have historically been underserved, fostering localized solutions and building capacity within these communities. The total funding available for the 2024 grant cycle is up to $1,000,000, with individual grant awards ranging from a minimum of $25,000 to a maximum of $125,000, providing significant resources for impactful initiatives.

This funding opportunity is designed to support researchers and organizations developing advanced communication and networking technologies to enhance the operational capabilities of the Navy and Marine Corps.

The OCRP Investigator-Initiated Research Award is intended to support high-impact research that addresses a critical need and has the potential to make an important contribution to ovarian cancer or patient/survivor care. Research projects may focus on any phase of research, from basic laboratory research through translational research, excluding clinical trials. The application must demonstrate logical reasoning and a sound scientific rationale established through a critical review and analysis of the literature for the application to be competitive. Applications must include preliminary data that are relevant to ovarian cancer and support the proposed research project. These data may be unpublished or from the published literature.

This funding opportunity supports research and development projects aimed at advancing air dominance technologies, targeting higher education institutions, non-profits, for-profits, and small businesses involved in innovative defense solutions.

The "ROSES 2024: A.41 SERVIR Applied Sciences Team" grant is a funding opportunity supported by NASA and USAID, aiming to enhance the use of Earth observations to address environmental and developmental challenges in Africa, Asia, and Latin America by co-developing practical applications of satellite data to support decision-making in areas like agriculture, water security, and climate resilience.

This grant provides funding for innovative research projects aimed at improving the understanding and treatment of eye injuries and visual dysfunction related to military service.

The Chautauqua County Department of Planning and Development in New York is offering a matching grant of $10,000 to $100,000 for a duration of 3 years to not-for-profit organizations, schools, governmental agencies, businesses, and landowners for the development of tourism events and attractions, with a focus on increasing visibility and visitor numbers.

This grant provides funding and support to early-stage U.S. startups developing innovative technologies that can meet critical needs of the Department of Defense.

This program provides funding for researchers and innovators to develop advanced technologies for rapidly identifying and sequencing complex protein-based biothreats, enhancing national security and defense capabilities.

This grant option, part of the Minnesota Spinal Cord Injury and Traumatic Brain Injury Research Grant Program, aims to support early-stage research into innovative treatments and rehabilitative techniques for spinal cord and traumatic brain injuries. The Tier 1 Pilot Project Grant does not require preliminary data but encourages it, reflecting early investment as researchers prepare to seek larger grants. The funding amount can reach up to $125,000 for a project duration of two years with an additional one-year no-cost extension.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to U.S.-based small businesses that have previously received Phase I awards to further develop and commercialize innovative research in agriculture, food systems, and environmental sustainability.

This grant provides funding to early-stage companies in the U.S. and Canada that are developing innovative software and AI solutions aimed at combating climate change and promoting sustainability.

This grant provides financial assistance to businesses in Takoma Park for enhancing their storefronts, promoting a vibrant commercial environment.

The CATALYST Grant aims to enhance the capabilities, efficiency, and competitiveness of small and medium-sized manufacturers in South Carolina by promoting the adoption of Advanced Manufacturing Technologies (AMT), Quality Management Systems (QMSs), and Lean Manufacturing tools. Eligible manufacturers must have a NAICS code beginning with 31, 32, or 33, be physically located in South Carolina for at least one year, operate within the Department of Defense supply chain, and employ at least four workers. The grant supports consultative assessments to identify opportunities for AMT deployment and funds pilot projects in areas such as augmented reality training, digital work instructions, and robotics. The grant application opens on October 5, 2023, following an informational webinar, and closes on June 30, 2024, or when all slots are filled. The grant provides funding for projects recommended by AMT assessments, as well as QMS and Lean Manufacturing implementations to help manufacturers eliminate waste and reduce rework, improving their effectiveness as DIB suppliers.

This funding opportunity supports U.S.-based small businesses in developing and manufacturing therapeutic extracellular vesicles for regenerative medicine applications, focusing on tissue and organ repair.

The FY24 DMDRP CTRA mechanism supports advanced translational research that will accelerate the movement of promising ideas in DMD research into clinical applications. Translational research may be defined as an integration of basic science and clinical observations. However, applicants should not view translational research as a one-way continuum from bench to bedside. The research plan must involve a reciprocal flow of ideas and information between applied and clinical research. As such, applications must include preliminary and/or published data relevant to DMD to support the proposed research project.This mechanism is intended to support established projects that have moved beyond the realm of basic research and proof of concept studies and have the potential to result in a near-term impact in clinical research or the clinic. Research projects investigating therapies that will be efficacious across the life span, including infants, toddlers, and non-ambulatory individuals, are strongly encouraged. Pilot, proof-of-principle clinical trials, and correlative studies to better inform development of drugs, devices, and other interventions are allowed.Early-Career Partnering PI Option: The FY24 DMDRP encourages applications that include meaningful and productive collaborations between investigators. In an effort to promote enhanced research capacity within the DMD field, the FY24 CTRA includes an option for an Early-Career Partnering Principal Investigator (PI). The Partnering PI Option is structured to accommodate two PIs. One PI will be identified as the Initiating PI and will be responsible for the majority of the administrative tasks associated with application submission. The Early-Career PI will be identified as the Partnering PI. Both PIs should contribute significantly to the development and execution of the proposed research project. If recommended for funding, each PI will be named on separate awards to the recipient organization(s). Each award will be subject to separate reporting, regulatory, and administrative requirements. For individual submission requirements for the Initiating and Partnering PI, refer to Section II.D.2, Content and Form of the Application Submission.The FY24 DMDRP CTRA offers two funding levels (refer to Section II.D.5 Funding Restrictions). Only one funding level category may be chosen per application, and the choice of application category is at the discretion of the applicant. The following are generalized descriptions of the scope of the research appropriate for each funding level:Funding Level 1: Funding Level 1 is intended to support smaller, less complex preclinical and/or clinical research. Pilot clinical trials are allowed. The proposal/applications direct costs budgeted for the entire period of performance should not exceed $650,000.Funding Level 2: Funding Level 2 is intended to support larger, more complex preclinical and/or clinical research. Pilot clinical trials are allowed. The proposal/applications direct costs budgeted for the entire period of performance should not exceed $1.35M.Additionally, both funding levels will support an Early-Career Partnering PI Option at the same maximum direct costs and periods of performance, respectively.For the purposes of this funding opportunity, research that meets the definition of a clinical trial is distinct from clinical research. Both pilot clinical trials and clinical research are permitted under this mechanism.A clinical trial is defined in the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 45, Part 46.102 (45 CFR 46.102) as a research study in which one or more human subjects are prospectively assigned to one or more interventions (which may include a placebo or another control) to evaluate the effects of the interventions on biomedical or behavioral health-related outcomes.Studies that do not seek to measure safety, effectiveness, and/or efficacy outcome(s) of an intervention are not considered clinical trials.Clinical research encompasses research with human data, human specimens, and/or interaction with human subjects. Clinical research is observational in nature and includes:(1) Research conducted with human subjects and/or material of human origin such as data, specimens, and cognitive phenomena for which an investigator (or co-investigator) does not seek to assess the safety, effectiveness, and/or efficacy outcomes of an intervention. Research meeting this definition may include but is not limited to: (a) mechanisms of human disease, (b) diagnostic or detection studies (e.g., biomarker or imaging), (c) health disparity studies, and (d) development of new technologies.(2) Epidemiologic and behavioral studies that do not seek to assess the safety, effectiveness, and/or efficacy outcomes of an intervention.(3) Outcomes research and health services research that do not fit under the definition of clinical trial.Excluded from the definition of clinical research are in vitro studies that utilize human data or specimens that cannot be linked to a living individual and meet the requirements for exemption under 46.104(d)(4) of the Common Rule.All investigators applying to FY24 DMDRP funding opportunities and conducting clinical research are encouraged to consult the Strategies to Promote Diversity in Muscular Dystrophy Research Participation developed by the MDCC.

This funding opportunity provides financial support for the design and operation of a facility that extracts and refines rare earth elements from unconventional sources, aimed at strengthening domestic supply chains and reducing reliance on foreign materials.