The National Cancer Institute (NCI) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program encourages you to apply by February 27 for a new, innovative Phase II SBIR Phase II Bridge Award funding opportunity. The Bridge Award supports the next stage of development for previously funded NIH SBIR Phase II cancer therapy and cancer imaging technology projects and more than triples the amount of funding available to applicants through the NCI SBIR Program. The Phase II Bridge Award helps to:

• “Bridge” the funding gap, known as the “Valley of Death,” that currently exists between the end of the SBIR Phase II award and the next round of financing needed to advance a promising cancer therapy or imaging technology toward commercialization.
• Incentivize partnerships between NIH's SBIR Phase II awardees and third-party investors and/or strategic partners.

Available Funding
Budgets up to $1 million in total costs per year and project periods up to three years (a total of $3 million over three years) may be requested from the NCI. Development efforts may include pre-clinical R&D needed for regulatory filings (e.g., IND or PMA) or clinical trials. Competitive preference and funding priority will be given to applicants demonstrating the ability to secure substantial independent third-party investor funds (i.e., third-party funds that equal or exceed the requested NCI funds). Examples of third party investors include drug or device manufacturers, angel investors, venture capital investors, state investment funds, foundations, and universities. NCI plans to award up to $10 million in FY 2009 to up to 10 projects.

Eligibility
The Bridge Award funding opportunity is open to current and recently expired NIH SBIR Phase II projects. Current awardees must be in the final year of their Phase II project period to apply. In general, past Phase II projects should have ended within 24 months of the application receipt date. The NCI will consider longer periods of hiatus on a case-by-case basis.

The deadline to apply for the NCI SBIR Program Phase II Bridge Award is February 27, 2009.

We encourage you to learn more about this opportunity and apply!

How to Apply
View online resources and tips for applying that help small businesses prepare their grant applications and contract proposals. [ Learn more]

Resources for Small Business Applicants
The SBIR Development Center helps to build relationships with the business community and researchers by supporting small business applicants, and by fostering partnerships and collaborations between small businesses and third-party organizations. If you are interested in discussing your organization's project with NCI Development Center staff to explore how it aligns with NCI's priorities, please contact a Program Director at ncisbir@mail.nih.gov.

The National Cancer Institute Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Programs are government set-aside programs that seek to increase small business participation and private-sector commercialization of technology developed through federal research and development.

Sign up to receive updates about
SBIR & STTR funding opportunities at
http://sbir.cancer.gov