Opportunity Information: Apply for PA 17 147
The NIH funding opportunity titled "Development of Highly Innovative Tools and Technology for Analysis of Single Cells (SBIR) (R43/R44)" (PA-17-147) is a discretionary grant program designed to support small businesses that want to build and validate next-generation technologies for single-cell analysis. The core idea is to push beyond current methods so researchers can study biology at the level of individual cells, rather than averaging signals across many cells. By doing that, these tools can reveal how cell populations differ from one another, how cellular states change over time, and how cells communicate and interact in complex tissues. The long-term goal is practical: to move promising inventions toward commercialization so they can be broadly adopted across biomedical research and, ultimately, improve how health and disease are understood at a mechanistic level.
This FOA specifically targets innovations that deliver clear, measurable improvements over existing single-cell technologies. Applicants are expected to spell out what the current state of the art looks like and use that as a benchmark for comparison, rather than making vague claims of novelty. The proposed approach should substantially outperform existing tools in one or more meaningful dimensions, such as sensitivity (detecting very small amounts of a signal), selectivity (distinguishing closely related targets), spatiotemporal resolution (capturing where something happens in a cell or tissue and how it changes over time), scalability (handling larger numbers of cells efficiently), multiplexing (measuring many molecular features at once), or enabling non-destructive measurements (so cells can potentially be tracked, perturbed, or used downstream after analysis). In practice, this can include new platforms for single-cell genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, epigenomics, imaging-based assays, microfluidics, functional profiling tools, or integrated hardware-software systems that make single-cell measurements more accurate, higher-throughput, or more biologically informative.
The mechanism is SBIR, using the R43/R44 pathway, which generally corresponds to a phased development structure that fits technology maturation and commercialization goals. While the FOA text here does not list award caps or expected award counts, the intent is clearly development-focused: proposing, building, and validating tools robustly enough to be useful for real research settings and attractive for commercialization. A companion opportunity exists for the STTR mechanism (PA-17-148), which is relevant for teams structured around formal small business and research institution partnerships under STTR rules, but this particular announcement is the SBIR version for eligible small business concerns.
Eligibility is limited to small businesses. Foreign institutions (non-U.S. entities) are not eligible to apply, and non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are also not eligible to apply. However, the FOA notes that "foreign components" as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement may be allowed, which typically means certain project elements can be performed abroad if they are well-justified, clearly described, and comply with NIH policy, but the applicant organization itself must still be an eligible U.S. small business under SBIR rules.
Administratively, the program is run by the National Institutes of Health, and it is associated with multiple CFDA numbers spanning NIH institutes and centers (including 93.113, 93.121, 93.213, 93.242, 93.279, 93.350, 93.393 through 93.399, 93.846, 93.847, 93.859, and 93.867), reflecting that single-cell technology development is relevant across many disease areas and research domains. The announcement was created on 2017-02-01, with an original closing date listed as 2020-01-05 in the provided source data. Overall, the opportunity is aimed at small companies that can clearly articulate the limitations of current single-cell tools, propose a credible and innovative leap forward, and show a development and validation plan that supports eventual commercialization and broad utility in biomedical research.Apply for PA 17 147
- The National Institutes of Health in the education, environment, food and nutrition, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Development of Highly Innovative Tools and Technology for Analysis of Single Cells (SBIR) (R43/R44)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.113, 93.121, 93.213, 93.242, 93.279, 93.350, 93.393, 93.394, 93.395, 93.396, 93.399, 93.846, 93.847, 93.859, 93.867.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2017-02-01.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2020-01-05. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Eligible applicants include: Small businesses.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the name of this NIH funding opportunity?
The funding opportunity is titled "Development of Highly Innovative Tools and Technology for Analysis of Single Cells (SBIR) (R43/R44)" and is identified as PA-17-147.
What is the main purpose of PA-17-147?
This opportunity supports small businesses that want to develop and validate next-generation tools and technologies for analyzing biology at the level of individual cells. The intent is to push beyond existing single-cell methods and move promising inventions toward commercialization so they can be broadly adopted in biomedical research.
Why does the FOA emphasize single-cell analysis instead of measuring many cells at once?
The FOA highlights that measuring many cells together can average signals and mask differences between cells. Single-cell tools can reveal how cell populations differ, how cellular states shift over time, and how cells communicate and interact in complex tissues.
What type of funding mechanism is used in this announcement?
This is an SBIR opportunity using the R43/R44 pathway, which generally aligns with phased technology development and commercialization goals.
Is this opportunity focused on research discovery or technology development?
Based on the description provided, the intent is development-focused: proposing, building, and validating tools robustly enough for real research settings and for eventual commercialization.
What kinds of improvements does NIH expect compared with existing single-cell technologies?
The FOA targets innovations that deliver clear, measurable improvements over the current state of the art. Proposed tools should substantially outperform existing technologies in one or more meaningful dimensions, such as sensitivity, selectivity, spatiotemporal resolution, scalability, multiplexing, or enabling non-destructive measurements.
Does the FOA require applicants to compare their technology to the current state of the art?
Yes. Applicants are expected to describe the current state of the art and use it as a benchmark for comparison, rather than relying on vague claims of novelty.
What does "sensitivity" mean in the context of this FOA?
In this context, sensitivity refers to the ability of a tool to detect very small amounts of a signal at the single-cell level.
What does "selectivity" mean in the context of this FOA?
Selectivity refers to the ability to distinguish closely related targets (for example, similar molecules or signals) during single-cell analysis.
What does "spatiotemporal resolution" refer to?
Spatiotemporal resolution refers to capturing where something happens in a cell or tissue (spatial) and how it changes over time (temporal).
What does "scalability" mean for single-cell tools?
Scalability refers to handling larger numbers of cells efficiently, which can be important for high-throughput studies and broader usability in research settings.
What does "multiplexing" mean in this FOA?
Multiplexing refers to measuring many molecular features at once in single cells, rather than measuring only a small number of markers or signals.
What are "non-destructive measurements" and why are they important here?
Non-destructive measurements are approaches that can analyze cells without destroying them, potentially allowing cells to be tracked over time, perturbed experimentally, or used downstream after analysis.
What types of technologies or platforms are within scope for this FOA?
The scope described includes new platforms for single-cell genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, epigenomics, imaging-based assays, microfluidics, functional profiling tools, and integrated hardware-software systems that improve the accuracy, throughput, or biological informativeness of single-cell measurements.
Is this FOA limited to a specific disease area or NIH institute?
The description indicates it is relevant across many disease areas and research domains. It is associated with multiple CFDA numbers spanning NIH institutes and centers, suggesting broad NIH interest in single-cell technology development.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is limited to small businesses. The applicant organization must be an eligible U.S. small business concern under SBIR rules.
Are foreign (non-U.S.) institutions allowed to apply?
No. Foreign institutions (non-U.S. entities) are not eligible to apply under this FOA.
Are non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations eligible to apply?
No. Non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply, based on the information provided.
Does the FOA allow any part of the project to be performed outside the United States?
The FOA notes that "foreign components" (as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement) may be allowed. This typically means certain elements can be performed abroad if they are well-justified, clearly described, and comply with NIH policy, while the applicant must still be an eligible U.S. small business.
Is there a related opportunity for teams pursuing STTR instead of SBIR?
Yes. A companion opportunity exists for the STTR mechanism: PA-17-148. This announcement (PA-17-147) is the SBIR version.
What is the long-term goal NIH highlights for projects funded under this FOA?
The long-term goal described is to move promising single-cell inventions toward commercialization so they can be broadly adopted, supporting biomedical research and improving mechanistic understanding of health and disease.
Does the provided information list award caps or the expected number of awards?
No. The provided text states that award caps and expected award counts are not listed in the FOA information included here.
When was this funding opportunity created?
The announcement was created on 2017-02-01.
What closing date is listed in the provided source data?
The original closing date listed in the provided source data is 2020-01-05.
Which federal agency administers this program?
The program is run by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Which CFDA numbers are associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is associated with multiple CFDA numbers, including 93.113, 93.121, 93.213, 93.242, 93.279, 93.350, 93.393 through 93.399, 93.846, 93.847, 93.859, and 93.867.
What characteristics make an applicant a strong fit for this FOA?
Based on the description provided, a strong fit is a small company that can clearly articulate limitations of current single-cell tools, define a measurable benchmark against the state of the art, propose a credible and innovative leap forward, and present a development and validation plan aligned with commercialization and broad utility in biomedical research.
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