The NCCAM SBIR/STTR program is a set-aside program designed to support innovative research conducted by small businesses (SBIR) or small businesses in partnership with a research institution (STTR) Scientific merit, innovation and the potential for commercialization are important factors in the review criteria used in the scientific and technical evaluation process.

NCCAM supports innovative research on complementary and alternative healing practices within the context of rigorous science. NCCAM groups these practices into four major domains, as well as whole medical systems that include multiple domains:

1. Mind-body medicine (e.g., meditation, yoga);
2. Biologically based practices (e.g., herbal therapies, special diets);
3. Manipulative and body-based practices (e.g., chiropractic, massage);
4. Energy medicine (e.g., Reiki, qi gong);
5. Whole medical systems (e.g., traditional Chinese medicine, Ayurveda).

More information about NCCAM's mission and priorities is available in NCCAM's Strategic Plan.

Technology Research and Development

NCCAM encourages innovative technological research and development of commercializable CAM products that would fulfill the mission of NCCAM. The application may include basic, pre-clinical, and early phase clinical studies that can ultimately lead to a commercial CAM product. The areas of interest to NCCAM include but not limited to:

• Develop and validate methods for standardization and characterization of active ingredients in natural products;
  
  
• Develop and validate methods for standardization and characterization of active components of mind-body interventions;
  
  
• Develop and validate devices for measurements of putative healing energies;
  
  
• Develop and validate innovative biomarkers for measurement of stress for studying efficacy of mind-body therapies;
  
  
• Develop and validate standardized, reliable, and economical surrogate markers of brain states that correlate with brain imaging;
  
  
• Develop and validate technical imaging tools or instruments for studying manual therapies;
  
  
• Develop tools for pain management that are not conventionally accepted;
  
  
• Develop and validate innovative devices for CAM diagnosis and treatment; and
  
  
• Develop standardized complex botanical reference materials that will allow for comparison of research study products and validation of methodologies. Applicants should pay particular attention to the NCCAM Policy on biologically active agents.

Topics that are of Less Interest to NCCAM

The NCCAM Office of Communications is responsible for disseminating CAM information to the public. Therefore applications addressing database creation or maintenance, software development, or educational materials and courses (including CME courses or CD's) will not be considered relevant to the NCCAM SBIR/STTR program. Also not eligible for support are applications seeking to develop cookbooks for special diets or instructional materials for clinical practice. NCCAM does not fund clinical practice other than as a component of funded clinical research.

Top

Resources

As of December 1, 2005, SBIR/STTR grant applicants must submit applications online through Grants.gov using the SF424 (R&R) application package.
More information >>

• Active NCCAM Small Business Opportunities.
• NIH's Small Business Funding Opportunities includes forms, deadlines, conferences, partnering, etc.
• NIH SBIR/STTR Policy and Grantsmanship Information includes advice on preparing grants, indirect costs, etc.
• Advice on SBIR/STTR applications in a narrated PowerPoint presentation; developed by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Please contact NIAID if you are unable to access the presentation.
• Sample applications with annotations

Contact Information

To discuss a specific research area, please contact:

Dr. Carol Pontzer
Program Officer
National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine
6707 Democracy Boulevard
Suite 401, MSC 5475
Bethesda, MD 20892-5475
Phone: 301-435-6286
Fax: 301-480-3621
E-mail: pontzerc@mail.nih.gov

For administrative, finance and grant policy questions, please contact:

Mr. George Tucker
Grants Management Officer
6707 Democracy Boulevard
Suite 401, MSC 5475
Bethesda, MD 20892-5475
Phone: 301-594-9102
Fax: 301-480-1552
E-mail: gt35v@nih.gov