The National Institutes of Health (NIH), through its Office of Research Infrastructure Programs (ORIP), is offering a funding opportunity titled "Novel Tools and Devices for Animal Research Facilities and to Support Care of Animal Models (R43/R44 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)." This initiative, part of the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program, is intended to encourage small business concerns (SBCs) to design and develop innovative tools and devices aimed at improving the health, welfare, and management of research animals. The goal is to support projects that can advance technologies in animal research facilities, improving conditions for animal models used in biomedical and biobehavioral research, and addressing challenges related to the reproducibility of experiments that use these models.

The purpose of this funding opportunity is to enhance equipment and operational procedures in animal research facilities to optimize environmental conditions and improve animal welfare. It seeks innovative devices that can precisely monitor critical factors such as temperature, humidity, vibrations, and noise, which affect the well-being and physiological responses of research animals. These tools are necessary to address variations in environmental conditions that lead to inconsistent experimental outcomes. In addition, the development of noninvasive monitoring devices for tracking animal behavior and physiological responses, as well as tools to automate feeding and handling procedures, is a priority.

The scope of the funding covers the development of novel devices for better monitoring of environmental conditions in research facilities, including pathogen detection, automated feeding systems, and improved systems for measuring physiological parameters. Additionally, innovative tools for the safe handling and restraint of animals that reduce stress and improve research reproducibility are sought. Projects focusing on devices for the specific management of diseases or research protocols are excluded. The funding limits are set at $259,613 for Phase I and $1,730,751 for Phase II, with the possibility of exceeding these caps by up to 50% with sufficient justification.

Eligible applicants are limited to United States-based small businesses that meet the Small Business Administration (SBA) criteria, including having fewer than 500 employees and being more than 50% owned by U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Applications from businesses majority-owned by venture capital firms, hedge funds, or private equity firms are subject to additional certification requirements. The funding mechanism does not allow for clinical trials and is focused strictly on technological and operational improvements for research facilities using animal models.

The application process requires strict adherence to the SBIR-specific guidelines in the SF424 (R&R) application package. Submissions are made through NIH's ASSIST system, Grants.gov Workspace, or an institutional system-to-system solution. No pre-submission letter of intent is required, and applications must follow standard due dates set by NIH. Successful proposals will undergo a rigorous peer-review process to evaluate the significance, innovation, and feasibility of the proposed work, with an emphasis on commercial potential and the project's impact on animal research practices.

Deadlines follow NIH's standard application cycle, with scientific merit reviews, advisory council reviews, and earliest start dates also adhering to standard schedules. The final expiration date for this opportunity is January 6, 2025. Applicants are encouraged to engage with NIH program officials during the planning process to ensure their proposals align with the funding objectives.