SBIR Phase II Bridge Awards to Accelerate the Development of New Cancer Therapies and Cancer Imaging Technologies Toward Commercialization (SBIR [R44])

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Purpose. This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA), launched as a pilot initiative at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) by the National Cancer Institute (NCI), solicits Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) applications from small business concerns (SBCs) that seek additional NIH funding to support the next stage of development for previously-funded NIH SBIR Phase II projects applicable to cancer therapies and cancer imaging technologies. The purpose of this FOA is to address the funding gap known as the Valley of Death between the end of the SBIR Phase II award and the commercialization stage. This FOA is also designed to promote partnerships between NIHs SBIR Phase II awardees and third-party investors and/or strategic partners to facilitate and accelerate the capital intensive steps that are required to commercialize new products/technologies emerging from NIH-funded SBIR Phase II projects. Applicants responding to this FOA must provide a specific commercialization plan that includes details on any independent third-party investor funding that has already been secured or is anticipated. It is expected that the level of this independent third-party funding will equal or exceed the NCI funds being requested throughout the Phase II Bridge Award project period. NCI support is thus intended to benefit cancer patients by accelerating the development of new cancer therapies (including anticancer agents and oncological therapeutic devices) and imaging devices/technologies toward commercialization. Only applications proposing projects in these areas will be considered responsive. Proposed projects may address preclinical and/or clinical stages of technology development. Clinical trials may be proposed as needed but are not required.

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