The purpose of this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is to encourage investigators to pursue translational activities and clinical feasibility studies to advance the development of therapeutic, and diagnostic devices for disorders that affect the nervous or neuromuscular systems.
Activities supported in this program include implementation of clinical prototype devices, non-clinical safety and efficacy testing, design verification and validation activities, obtaining an Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) for a Significant Risk (SR) study or Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval for a Non-Significant Risk (NSR) study, as well as a subsequent clinical feasibility study. The clinical study is expected to provide information about the device function or final design that cannot be practically obtained through additional non-clinical assessments (e.g., bench top or animal studies) due to the novelty of the device or its intended use. This FOA is a milestone-driven cooperative agreement program and will involve participation of NIH program staff in negotiating the final project plan before award and monitoring of research progress.
Participants in Blueprint MedTech receive funding for all activities to be conducted in their own laboratories. In addition, applicants will collaborate with NIH-funded consultants to receive assistance with specialty areas including regulatory, reimbursement, intellectual property, commercialization, and strategic partnerships. Participants can also augment their project with NIH contract research organizations that specialize in large animal testing, sterilization testing, biocompatibility assessment, manufacturing, and medical monitoring.
Individuals, institutions, or businesses developing their own devices or that already have established collaborations with device manufacturers are welcome to apply directly to this FOA or any of the companion opportunities. For more information see BP MedTech website: https://neuroscienceblueprint.nih.gov/neurotherapeutics/blueprint-medtech
Companion FOAs:
PAR-21-282 , U44 Blueprint Medtech: Small Business Translator (U44 - Clinical Trial Optional)
PAR-21-314 , U54 Blueprint MedTech: Incubator Hubs (U54 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
Deadlines:
- Letter of Intent Due Date(s): 60 days prior to the application due date.
- Application Due Dates: Oct 20, 2021; Feb 18, 2022; Jun 20, 2022; Oct 18, 2022; Feb 21, 2023; Jun 19, 2023; Oct 18, 2023; Feb 20, 2024; Jun 20, 2024; Sep 27, 2024
PAR-21-315 Expiration date: September 28, 2024 per Notice NOT-NS-24-074