Reminder: NHLBI FY2017 Small Business Topics of Special Interest (TOSI) for the SBIR/STTR Programs

Notice Number: NOT-HL-16-479

Key Dates
Release Date: December 12, 2016

Related Announcements
NOT-HL-16-332
PA-16-302
PA-16-303
PAR-14-088

Issued by
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)

Purpose

NHLBI reminds the community of Small Business Topics of Special Interest (TOSI) that are of programmatic priority. The Small Business TOSI listing may be accessed at http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/research/funding/sbir/funding-opportunities/omnibus_grant_solicitation.htm.

TOSI will change periodically as Institute programmatic interests dictate. These topics are NOT formal announcements for applications (i.e., Funding Opportunity Announcements). Although funds are not set aside for awards on these topics, applications submitted in response to TOSI are eligible for special funding consideration. TOSI applications will be peer reviewed by SBIR/STTR study sections at the NIH Center for Scientific Review (CSR).

Small business applicants should submit investigator-initiated applications through the Omnibus solicitations:

  • Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) - R41/R42 - PA-16-303
  • Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) - R43/R44 - PA-16-302
  • Direct Phase II SBIR Grants to Support Biomedical Technology Development (SBIR) - R44 - PAR-14-088

Investigators interested in developing applications for these topics are encouraged to discuss their ideas with the NHLBI program official indicated for each topic. For general questions about the NHLBI Small Business program, applicants are encouraged to contact the NHLBI Office of Translational Alliances and Coordination (http://bit.ly/ContactNHLBIsbir).

Applications submitted in response to the Omnibus Grant Solicitations are NOT limited to the research and development areas described below.

Instructions for submitting applications in response to the following areas:
At the beginning of the title, please include the following four characters: HLS-
Please note that NIH limits title character length to 200 characters including the spaces between words and punctuation.

In the first sentence of the abstract, please include the code shown in the last column of the table below. This coding is for internal NHLBI tracking purposes only.

Topic

Point of Contact

Code

Animal and Cellular Models:

  • for rare non-malignant and pre-malignant (MDS & MPD) hematologic disorders
  • for complications associated with thrombosis
  • for transfusion of blood products or cell-based therapies

Phyllis Mitchell, phyllis.mitchell@nih.gov

HLS17-01

Research tools: Imaging, reagents, assays including microassays, microfluidics, bioinformatics and nanotechnology for investigations of blood diseases, transfusion and cellular therapies

Phyllis Mitchell, phyllis.mitchell@nih.gov

HLS17-02

Diagnostics: devices, biomarkers, imaging, and assays for non-malignant blood disorders

Phyllis Mitchell, phyllis.mitchell@nih.gov

HLS17-03

Therapeutics: drugs, blood product and cellular therapies, and gene therapy for non-malignant blood disorders

Phyllis Mitchell, phyllis.mitchell@nih.gov

HLS17-04

E-medicine Apps for patients and medical professionals to improve the management of and reduce the impact of non-malignant blood diseases

Phyllis Mitchell, phyllis.mitchell@nih.gov

HLS17-05

Development of molecular imaging reagents/techniques and nanotechnology-based drug delivery systems that detect and allow for specific targeting of lung diseases, such as plexiform lesions in PAH (pulmonary arterial hypertension), microvascular loci susceptible to rarefaction/pruning in obstructive airway diseases like emphysema, or fibrotic triggers in IPF (idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis).

Sara Lin, linq@nhlbi.nih.gov

HLS17-06

Development of reagents and methods to identify and isolate stem/progenitor cells, and direct differentiation to specific functional organ units. These reagents may include antibodies for stem/progenitor cell detection and sorting, biomaterials for optimizing the microniches of stem/progenitor cells, as well as methods for 3-D regeneration of tissue.

Sara Lin, linq@nhlbi.nih.gov

HLS17-07

Development and validation of techniques (or algorithms) to study the microbiome in situ, including, but not limited to:

  • Sampling the microbiome of different lung or gut segments while minimizing contamination from other locations.
  • Development of an analytical system to study the metabolic products of the lung and gut microbiome from breath condensate

Lis Caler, lis.caler@nih.gov

HLS17-08

Characterization and in vivo or in vitro applications of miRNA panels that target lung-resident mesenchymal or fibroblast cells and directly or indirectly promote lung repair or regeneration

Sara Lin, linq@nhlbi.nih.gov

HLS17-09

Development of high throughput methods to apply microfluidics technology in discovery of molecular profiles (DNAs, RNAs, proteins, or metabolites) in a large number of sputum or exhaled breath condensate samples collected from lung disease patients.

Lisa Postow, lisa.postow@nih.gov

HLS17-10

High-definition, conformal, biocompatible mesh technologies made from nanoscale materials are revolutionizing electronic-tissue interfaces. Applications that leverage this technology should expand or enhance the ability of present systems to monitor and treat cardiovascular and pulmonary disorders such as arrhythmias, sleep apnea, asthma, and COPD.

David Lathrop, lathropd@nhlbi.nih.gov

HLS17-11

Develop new and improved methods to assess, monitor, or predict cardiovascular toxicity of therapeutic agents. Methods or assay platforms that utilize in vitro (e.g., re-programmed cells and engineered 3D-tissue constructs) and in silico approaches are encouraged.

Bishow Adhikari, adhikarb@mail.nih.gov

HLS17-12

For citizens returning to an urban environment after release from prison or jail, develop and validate mobile app solutions they can use to improve their health outcomes related to cardiovascular diseases including but not limited to hypertension. For example, these solutions should use evidence-based guidelines for the management of cardiovascular disease such as care planning, medication management, assessment or monitoring of cardiovascular disease and decision support that includes multi-level (health systems, provider, and patient) facets. Solutions should also include user support documentation for all potential users of the technology, including but not limited to patients, family/caregivers, and providers.

Erin Iturriaga, iturriae@mail.nih.gov

HLS17-13

New animal models for the study of chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) and post-thrombotic syndrome, and innovative approaches for their prevention and treatment.

Cheryl McDonald, mcdonalc@mail.nih.gov

HLS17-14

Development of mechanical circulatory support devices for individuals with congenital heart disease and single ventricle physiology after Fontan surgical palliation.

Kristen Burns, Kristin.burns@nih.gov

HLS17-15

Novel non-invasive strategies that detect early subclinical changes in cardiac structure, function, and /or tissue are needed to improve detection and monitoring of chemotherapy-induced cardiac injury in order to improve cardioprotection and effectiveness of cancer therapeutics. Strategies that increase sensitivity and precision of existing or enhance imaging technologies with respect to normal and altered cardiac structure, function, energetics, and metabolism are sought. Pre-clinical or patient studies using molecular changes or biomarkers to enhance early detection of cardiac derangements are also responsive.

Patrice Desvigne-Nickens, Patrice.Desvignenickens@nih.gov

HLS17-16

Develop innovative technology and/or service delivery models or designs to increase the adoption, uptake, and sustainability of evidence-based guideline recommendations for the management of heart, lung, blood, and sleep disorders. These should include multi-level (health systems, provider, and patient) facets and benefit ethnic/racial minority groups, rural populations, and low socioeconomic status groups.

Uche Sampson, uchechukwu.sampson@nih.gov

HLS17-17

The NHLBI Office of Translational Alliances and Coordination (OTAC) offers assistance to applicants and awardees regarding regulatory approval, commercialization, and business plan development. NHLBI OTAC also hosts Small Biz Hangouts, a free educational series covering the basics of biomedical technology development. Archived events can be found on the NHLBI YouTube channel (http://bit.ly/SmallBizHangouts-YouTube). Sign up for the NHLBI listserv (http://bit.ly/NHLBI-SBIR-Updates) and visit our website (http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/sbir) to learn about upcoming events and available resources.

Inquiries

Please direct all inquiries to:

Jennifer Shieh, Ph.D.
Small Business Coordinator
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
Telephone: 301-496-2149
Email: nhlbi_sbir@mail.nih.gov