Notice Number: NOT-GM-17-022

Key Dates
Release Date: August 30, 2017

Estimated Publication Date of Announcement: October 2017
First Estimated Application Due Date: December 2017
Earliest Estimated Award Date: July 2018
Earliest Estimated Start Date: August 2018

Issued by
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)

Purpose

The purpose of this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is to provide opportunities for eligible small business concerns (SBCs) to submit SBIR grant applications to develop interactive digital media science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) resources that address student career choice and health and medicine topics for: (1) pre-kindergarten to grade 12 (P-12) students and pre- and in-service teachers ("Teachers") or (2) Informal science education (ISE) audiences, i.e., outside the classroom.

It is anticipated that this SBIR FOA will facilitate the translation of new or existing health and medicine-based, P-12 STEM curricula and museum exhibits into educational Interactive Digital Media STEM (IDM STEM) resources that will provide a hands-on, inquiry-based and learning-by-doing experience for students, teachers and the community.

The FOA is expected to be published in Fall 2017 with an expected application due date in Fall 2017.

This FOA will utilize the R43/R44 activity codes. Details of the planned FOA are provided below.

Research Initiative Details

IDM is a bridge technology that converts game-based activities from a social pastime to a powerful educational tool that challenges students with problem solving, conceptual reasoning and goal-oriented decisions. Well-designed interactive digital media resources mimic successful teacher pedagogy and exploit student interest in games for learning. The science education research objective of this FOA is the development of new IDM resources that will advance our understanding of how STEM-based gaming can improve student learning. It is anticipated that increasing underserved and minority student achievement in STEM fields through IDM STEM resources will encourage these students to pursue health-related careers that will increase student economic and social opportunities and benefit their communities.

Types of applications submitted to this FOA may vary with the target audience, scientific content, educational purpose and method of delivery. IDM STEM resources may include, but are not limited to: game-based curricula; attitudes changes towards learning; new skills development; teamwork and group activities; public participation in scientific research (citizen science) projects and behavioral changes in lifestyle and health. IDM STEM resources designed to increase the number of underserved students (e.g., American Indian, Alaskan Native, Pacific Islanders, African American, Hispanic, female, disabled, or otherwise underrepresented) considering careers in basic, behavioral or clinical research are encouraged.

IDM STEM resources may be designed for use in-classroom or out-of-classroom settings, e.g., as supplements to existing classroom curricula, for after school science clubs, libraries, hospital waiting rooms and science museums. IDM resources may target children in group settings or individually, with or without adult or Teacher participation or supervision.

The proposed project may use any IDM or gaming technology and platform.

APPLICATIONS ARE NOT BEING SOLICITED AT THIS TIME.

Inquiries

Please direct all inquiries to:

Tony Beck, Ph.D.
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Telephone: 301-480-4623
Email: [email protected]