Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA AG 22 014

The NIA Research and Entrepreneurial Development Immersion (REDI): Entrepreneurial Small Business Transition Award is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding opportunity from the National Institute on Aging (NIA) that uses the Small Business Technology Transfer Research (STTR) mechanism to help early career scientists build real entrepreneurial experience while advancing a technology toward commercialization. In practical terms, it is designed for researchers who want to move their work out of the academic track and into an industry or startup pathway, and it does that by pairing traditional R&D support with structured entrepreneurial development. The program is framed as an immersion-style career development opportunity, meaning it is not just about funding experiments or product development, but also about building the skills, exposure, and professional transition needed to operate in a commercial environment.

This opportunity is offered under the R41/R42 activity codes, which correspond to the STTR phased award structure. R41 generally aligns with an early feasibility or proof-of-concept phase, and R42 typically supports further development toward a more mature prototype, validation, and commercialization readiness. The notice also states "Clinical Trial Optional," which means applicants may propose a study that includes a clinical trial if it makes sense for the technology, but a clinical trial is not required. That flexibility is useful for aging-related technologies that may range from diagnostics and digital health tools to therapeutics, devices, caregiving innovations, and other interventions where the right evaluation pathway may or may not require a formal clinical trial at that stage.

Eligibility is centered on small businesses, consistent with STTR rules, and the program is categorized as a discretionary grant in the health domain. Importantly, foreign institutions are not eligible to apply, and non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are also not eligible. However, the announcement notes that foreign components (as NIH defines them in its Grants Policy Statement) may be allowed, which typically means a U.S.-based applicant organization might be able to include certain limited, well-justified foreign elements in the project when they are necessary for the work and permitted under NIH policy. Applicants would need to be careful to follow NIH definitions and requirements closely, because "foreign component" permission is not the same as allowing a foreign applicant or a foreign-based subaward to function as the main project driver.

From a program intent standpoint, the core idea is to accelerate the transition of an early career scientist into an industry-facing role by supporting two things at once: the scientific and technical development of the innovation, and the applicant's entrepreneurial growth. That typically implies milestones beyond standard research outputs, such as customer discovery, product-market fit exploration, regulatory planning, intellectual property strategy, commercialization planning, and building partnerships that help move the technology into the private sector. In other words, the grant is meant to fund not only the next technical steps, but also the professional shift from being primarily a researcher to being someone capable of leading or substantially contributing to a commercialization effort.

Administrative details in the source information identify the opportunity title as "NIA Research and Entrepreneurial Development Immersion (REDI): Entrepreneurial Small Business Transition Award (R41/R42 Clinical Trial Optional)," with Funding Opportunity Number RFA-AG-22-014, issued by NIH, with CFDA number 93.866, and an original closing date of 2021-10-26. The listing does not provide an award ceiling or expected number of awards in the provided fields, so those specifics would normally need to be confirmed in the full FOA document or related NIH notices.

  • The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "NIA Research and Entrepreneurial Development Immersion (REDI): Entrepreneurial Small Business Transition Award (R41/R42 Clinical Trial Optional)" and is now available to receive applicants.
  • Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.866.
  • This funding opportunity was created on 2021-06-10.
  • Applicants must submit their applications by 2021-10-26. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
  • Eligible applicants include: Small businesses.
Apply for RFA AG 22 014

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the NIA REDI: Entrepreneurial Small Business Transition Award?

The NIA Research and Entrepreneurial Development Immersion (REDI): Entrepreneurial Small Business Transition Award is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding opportunity from the National Institute on Aging (NIA). It uses the Small Business Technology Transfer Research (STTR) mechanism to support early career scientists who want to gain real entrepreneurial experience while advancing an aging-related technology toward commercialization.

What is the main goal of this program?

The program is designed to accelerate an early career scientist's transition from an academic-focused path to an industry or startup pathway. It aims to support both the R&D needed to move a technology forward and the entrepreneurial development needed to operate in a commercial environment.

How is this different from a typical research-only grant?

This opportunity is framed as an immersion-style career development experience. In addition to supporting technical development, it emphasizes structured entrepreneurial growth and exposure that help the applicant function in an industry-facing, commercialization-driven setting.

What funding mechanism does this opportunity use?

It uses the NIH STTR mechanism under the R41/R42 activity codes, which follow a phased award structure.

What do the R41 and R42 phases generally support?

R41 generally aligns with early feasibility or proof-of-concept work. R42 typically supports further development toward a more mature prototype, validation, and commercialization readiness.

Are clinical trials required?

No. The opportunity is listed as "Clinical Trial Optional," meaning you may propose a study that includes a clinical trial if it fits the technology and development plan, but a clinical trial is not required.

What kinds of technologies or projects might fit under this opportunity?

Based on the description, it can support aging-related technologies across a range of areas, including diagnostics, digital health tools, therapeutics, devices, caregiving innovations, and other interventions. The right evaluation approach may or may not include a clinical trial depending on the technology and stage of development.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is centered on small businesses, consistent with STTR rules. The program is categorized as a discretionary grant in the health domain.

Can a foreign institution apply?

No. Foreign institutions are not eligible to apply for this opportunity.

Can a non-U.S. component of a U.S. organization apply?

No. Non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are also not eligible to apply.

Are any foreign activities allowed within an otherwise U.S.-based application?

The announcement notes that foreign components (as NIH defines them in its Grants Policy Statement) may be allowed. This typically means a U.S.-based applicant organization might be able to include limited, well-justified foreign elements when necessary for the project and permitted under NIH policy.

Does allowing a "foreign component" mean a foreign organization can lead the project?

No. Permission for a foreign component is not the same as allowing a foreign applicant or a foreign-based subaward to function as the main project driver. Applicants would need to follow NIH definitions and requirements closely.

What types of non-technical milestones does this program emphasize?

The program intent suggests milestones beyond standard research outputs, such as customer discovery, product-market fit exploration, regulatory planning, intellectual property strategy, commercialization planning, and partnership-building to help move the technology into the private sector.

What does "immersion-style career development" mean in this context?

It means the program is intended to provide structured entrepreneurial development alongside research and development funding, supporting the applicant's professional transition into a commercial environment rather than focusing only on experiments or product development.

What is the official title of the funding opportunity?

The official title provided is: "NIA Research and Entrepreneurial Development Immersion (REDI): Entrepreneurial Small Business Transition Award (R41/R42 Clinical Trial Optional)."

What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FOA number)?

The Funding Opportunity Number listed is RFA-AG-22-014.

Which agency and institute are offering this opportunity?

The opportunity is issued by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and is associated with the National Institute on Aging (NIA).

What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?

The CFDA number provided is 93.866.

What was the original closing date listed for this opportunity?

The original closing date provided is 2021-10-26.

Is there information provided on the award ceiling or the expected number of awards?

No. The provided information does not list an award ceiling or an expected number of awards. Those details would normally need to be confirmed in the full FOA document or related NIH notices.

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