NIH SBIR/STTR Funded-Pattern Map

Technology area

Research tool / assay

2,302 funded awards, $1.50B total, FY2023-FY2025.

Data current as of 2026-05-11

Pattern read

Research tool or assay is by far the largest tag (2,302 records / $1.50B) and the most diffuse (1.8% concentration at the top three orgs). It cuts across every IC because every IC funds research-tool development. NIAID leads at 423 (reagents, model systems, infectious-disease tools), NCI at 329 (cancer model systems and assays), NHLBI at 278. Mechanism mix is the most diversified in the dataset: 1,144 R44, 604 R43, 363 R41. STTR participation is high. Median award is $500K. The tag is broader than most because the rule patterns also catch supporting-technology work embedded in therapeutic-focused records, so the absolute count overstates pure tool/assay company activity.

Fit indicators

  • Every IC funds work that surfaces here. There's no wrong IC for tool/assay work in principle.
  • The most diffuse landscape in the dataset (1.8% concentration). No dominant incumbents.
  • Strong STTR share. Academic-instrumentation-origin teams have a viable path.

Watchouts

  • The tag is broad. Rule patterns catch supporting-technology language in therapeutic records, so the count overstates tool-company-led work. Read underlying titles before extrapolating.
  • Research-tool pitches that don't articulate a paying customer outside NIH have historically been weak in commercial-potential review.

Where the money sat, by Institute / Center

IC funding decisions are set by portfolio priorities, NOFO scope, and program-officer judgment. These are funded records, not predictions of future funding.

ICNameRecordsMedian award
AI (NIAID) National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases 423 $306,500
CA (NCI) National Cancer Institute 329 $803,479
HL (NHLBI) National Heart Lung and Blood Institute 278 $666,210
AG (NIA) National Institute on Aging 196 $499,952
GM (NIGMS) National Institute of General Medical Sciences 190 $363,674
DK (NIDDK) National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases 185 $572,743
NS (NINDS) National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke 145 $499,953
AR (NIAMS) National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases 70 $302,551
HD (NICHD) Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development 62 $806,959
TR (NCATS) National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences 59 $350,064
EY (NEI) National Eye Institute 59 $622,448
MH (NIMH) National Institute of Mental Health 54 $600,028
DA (NIDA) National Institute on Drug Abuse 51 $403,636
ES (NIEHS) National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences 51 $313,372
DC (NIDCD) National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders 29 $338,296
DE (NIDCR) National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research 27 $399,635
HG (NHGRI) National Human Genome Research Institute 24 $399,743
OD NIH Office of the Director 22 $488,870
AA (NIAAA) National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism 18 $461,650
EB (NIBIB) National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering 12 $306,509
AT (NCCIH) National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health 9 $631,174
MD (NIMHD) National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities 8 $1,217,381
NR (NINR) National Institute of Nursing Research 1 $306,817

FOA / NOFO routes

Opportunity number prefixes: PA = Parent Announcement (broad, omnibus, multiple ICs), PAR = Parent with Special Review, PAS = Parent with set-aside funds, RFA = Request for Applications (targeted, single-IC, fixed budget). Status unknown means the pipeline has not verified whether the FOA is currently posting awards; the SBIR omnibus has been in reauthorization gap during this window. See the glossary for full definitions.

OpportunityStatusRecords
PA-22-176 unknown 516
PA-23-230 unknown 355
PA-21-259 unknown 265
PA-22-178 unknown 169
PA-24-245 unknown 163
PA-23-232 unknown 110
PA-21-262 unknown 73
PA-24-247 unknown 72
PA-20-260 unknown 61
PAS-22-196 unknown 56
PA-20-272 unknown 41
PAS-19-316 unknown 34
PA-20-265 unknown 29
PAS-22-197 unknown 27
PA-21-345 unknown 23
RFA-DA-23-021 unknown 19
PA-22-177 unknown 18
PA-19-272 unknown 16
PAR-22-073 unknown 16
RFA-HL-23-009 unknown 15
PAR-21-225 unknown 15
PAS-19-317 unknown 14
PA-24-246 unknown 12
PA-21-260 unknown 11
PA-23-231 unknown 11
PA-20-262 unknown 8
RFA-HL-23-008 unknown 8
RFA-CA-21-001 unknown 7
PAR-24-131 expired 7
RFA-NS-20-010 unknown 5
PA-20-047 unknown 5
PA-22-179 unknown 5
PA-25-212 unknown 5
PAR-23-032 unknown 5
RFA-CA-22-025 unknown 4
PA-19-273 unknown 4
PAR-21-114 unknown 4
RFA-CA-23-035 unknown 4
RFA-NS-20-011 unknown 4
RFA-DA-19-019 unknown 3
RFA-MD-23-003 unknown 3
RFA-DA-22-023 unknown 3
RFA-ES-23-008 unknown 3
RFA-CA-24-023 unknown 3
RFA-NS-23-006 unknown 3
RFA-NS-23-007 unknown 3
RFA-ES-22-006 unknown 3
PA-18-574 unknown 3
RFA-DK-21-011 unknown 3
RFA-DA-24-038 unknown 2
RFA-CA-23-034 unknown 2
RFA-AG-24-042 unknown 2
RFA-MD-22-003 unknown 2
PA-23-233 unknown 2
RFA-DA-22-001 unknown 2
PAR-21-030 unknown 2
PAR-21-266 unknown 2
RFA-AG-22-014 unknown 2
PA-20-261 unknown 2
PA-19-271 unknown 2
PA-18-566 unknown 2
RFA-NS-20-009 unknown 2
PA-18-871 unknown 2
PAR-21-247 unknown 2
PAR-22-102 unknown 1
PAR-24-044 expired 1
RFA-AA-24-001 unknown 1
RFA-AA-24-002 unknown 1
RFA-DA-25-053 unknown 1
RFA-CA-24-022 unknown 1
PAR-24-222 expired 1
PA-24-248 unknown 1
PA-20-025 unknown 1
PAR-20-129 unknown 1
RFA-MD-23-002 unknown 1
RFA-DA-24-018 unknown 1
PA-17-302 unknown 1
PAR-19-335 unknown 1
RFA-DA-19-020 unknown 1
PA-18-819 unknown 1
RFA-HL-19-017 unknown 1
RFA-CA-21-036 unknown 1
PA-18-575 unknown 1
PAR-20-098 unknown 1
RFA-ES-20-008 unknown 1
RFA-CA-20-033 unknown 1
RFA-ES-20-016 unknown 1
PA-21-261 unknown 1
RFA-DK-21-012 unknown 1
RFA-AG-23-029 unknown 1

Comparable funded projects

ApplIDFYICTitleOrganizationAmount
10598447 2025 CA Early clinical development of a novel IL-7R antibody for treating children with relapsed T-cell leukemia FANNIN PARTNERS, LLC $999,997
10845690 2025 HL Development of the Inspired Therapeutics NeoMate Mechanical Circulatory Support System for Neonates and Infants INSPIRED THERAPEUTICS, LLC $2,632,311
10907583 2025 CA Development of a Universal Assay for Minimal Residual Disease in Acute Myeloid Leukemia using Duplex Sequencing TWINSTRAND BIOSCIENCES, INC. $1,985,831
10930943 2025 CA Point of Care HPV 16/18/45 DNA Test for Cervical Cancer CROSSLIFE TECHNOLOGIES, INC. $994,439
10931496 2025 CA Aerosolized Epigenetic Therapy for Metastatic Lung Cancer NOB HILL THERAPEUTICS, INC. $1,138,913
10932102 2025 NS Next-generation nanomedicine for acute ischemic stroke NANOMUSE, LLC $351,461
10932426 2025 NS Kv2.1-Targeted First in Class Neuroprotective Therapeutic for Acute Ischemic Stroke CELDARA MEDICAL, LLC $421,106
10932485 2025 DE RegendoGEL for guided pulp and dentin regeneration REGENDODENT, INC. $398,785

Review panels that have appeared on these records

Panel names use NIH's Center for Scientific Review (CSR) format: a 2-4 letter study-section code plus a meeting-cycle number in parentheses (e.g. ISB (12) = Instrumentation and Systems Development, cycle 12). SBIR/STTR review groups are temporary, meeting-specific bodies. The names below describe panels that have appeared on the cited funded-project records, not where future applications get assigned. NIH assigns panels at the time of submission based on the application content.

Limitations

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