Resources for Technology Dissemination (U24 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | RFA EB 18 002

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA EB 18 002

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding opportunity titled "Resources for Technology Dissemination (U24 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" (Funding Opportunity Number RFA-EB-18-002; CFDA 93.286) supports projects that take already working, validated imaging and bioengineering technologies and push them out of individual labs and into the hands of real end users in the broader research community. The core idea is practical dissemination, not early-stage invention: the technology should already exist as a functioning prototype with evidence it works reliably, and the proposed work should focus on turning that prototype into something other researchers can actually adopt and use consistently for high-quality research.

This FOA is specifically aimed at technologies that are likely to have high impact but are not expected to be disseminated through normal commercial routes. In other words, if the natural next step would typically be a startup, licensing deal, or industry partnership, that is not the path this program is trying to fund. Instead, it is designed for non-commercial, lab-to-user distribution where the applicant takes responsibility for making the technology usable beyond the originating lab even though commercialization or industry scaling is not anticipated. The technologies can include devices, software, methods, chemical agents, or related imaging and bioengineering tools, as long as they are novel, reliable, and ready for the kind of refinement and packaging that enables wide research use.

The work supported under this program is centered on dissemination-enabling activities. Examples include setting up and executing quality control processes so units or releases are consistent, scaling up production so the tool can be provided to multiple users (without turning it into a commercial operation), developing documentation and training materials, offering user training or onboarding, and making targeted technical improvements that stay within the scope of the existing prototype. Importantly, the technical improvements are expected to be incremental and practical: the FOA emphasizes applying proven techniques or leveraging existing resources, rather than undertaking high-risk research and development that would resemble creating a new technology from scratch.

Several activities are explicitly called out as non-responsive. Projects that involve clinical trials are not allowed under this FOA. Similarly, efforts focused on commercialization, forming academic-industry partnerships as the dissemination vehicle, or simply providing services using existing equipment (rather than disseminating the tool itself as a resource) do not fit the program. The overall expectation is that the award supports a resource-like dissemination effort: taking something that works, hardening and packaging it, and distributing it to users with the support needed for reliable adoption.

The funding mechanism is a U24 cooperative agreement, which generally means NIH expects substantial involvement during the project, with coordination and oversight typical of resource and infrastructure-style awards. The opportunity category is discretionary, and the activity area is health-related technology dissemination. The source information lists an award ceiling of $250,000 and indicates expected awards were not specified in the provided snippet. The original closing date shown is February 27, 2019, and the posting (creation) date is December 26, 2018.

Eligibility is broad and includes many types of domestic applicants and several non-domestic entities. Eligible applicants include state, county, and local governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (other than higher education institutions); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; small businesses; and other organizations. The FOA also highlights additional eligible groups such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), eligible federal agencies, faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, Indian/Native American tribal governments other than federally recognized, and foreign (non-U.S.) organizations.

In practical terms, a competitive project under this FOA would look like a well-structured plan to operationalize and distribute a validated imaging or bioengineering tool to multiple research users: clear quality standards, reproducible build or release processes, documentation and training, a reasonable distribution model that is not commercial, and a support approach that helps users successfully implement the technology. The focus is on reliability, usability, and reach, with the end goal of turning a proven prototype into a broadly usable research resource.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Resources for Technology Dissemination (U24 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.286.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2018-12-26.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2019-02-27. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $250,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For-profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others.

Apply for RFA EB 18 002

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