Through this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), the National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI), National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB), and National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) intend to support early-career academic scientists interested in transitioning to entrepreneurship while also supporting the transfer of technology from academic laboratories into small businesses. Both small businesses and universities are drivers of technological innovation in the United States (U.S.), often working together to advance innovative ideas into products that can benefit the U.S. population. While most NIH funding supports basic research in university laboratories, the NIH also supports innovative technology development in U.S. small businesses through its SBIR and STTR programs. As technologies transition from academic discovery to small businesses, two common challenges arise, identifying the right team with the right expertise to take the product into a small business, and funding for early-stage technology development. This NOFO seeks to address both challenges simultaneously by having two equally important goals: entrepreneurial mentoring support, and product development support.
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