Small Business Transition Grant for New Entrepreneurs (Parent R43/R44 Clinical Trial Optional)

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) plan to release a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) aimed at supporting early-career scientists transitioning into entrepreneurship. This initiative invites eligible U.S. small business concerns to apply for Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I and Fast-Track grants through the Small Business Transition Grant program. Beyond funding research and development efforts, the program emphasizes entrepreneurial training, mentoring, and career development for principal investigators, particularly those applying for the first time. A critical requirement is the inclusion of a dedicated mentor who commits measurable effort to the project, fostering guidance and support throughout the grant period. At this stage, applications are not yet being accepted; the announcement serves to give potential applicants adequate time to develop their proposals, assemble mentorship partnerships, and access career development resources. The NOFO will use the R43/R44 activity codes and targets U.S. small businesses with research capabilities aligned with the R&D missions of the participating NIH and CDC components. The program is coordinated through the NIH SEED Office of Extramural Research, which can be contacted for further information. This opportunity offers a valuable pathway for new entrepreneurs in the biomedical and public health sectors to advance both their scientific innovations and entrepreneurial skills.