Limited Competition: NIH Research Evaluation and Commercialization Hubs (REACH) (SB0 Clinical Trial Optional)

Sponsor: NIH
Internal Deadline: 10/13/2026
Institutional Submission Limit: 1
Sponsor Deadline: 11/10/2026
Program Website

The NIH Research Evaluation and Commercialization Hub (REACH) program will accelerate the creation of small businesses and the transition of discoveries originating from academic research into products that improve patient care and enhance health. REACH Hubs foster the technology development and commercial availability of therapeutics, preventatives, diagnostics, devices, and research tools that address unmet patient and public health needs across the entire NIH mission.

Candidate technology development projects should have moved beyond scientific discovery into the early stages of product development. As a guiding principle, projects should focus on a potential commercial product that requires additional research, development, or validation to demonstrate feasibility and proof of concept, positioning it to become competitive for a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) or Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) award. Although every technology development project is unique, broad guidelines for different types of projects are as follows:

• Small Molecule Therapeutics: The compound is at the lead optimization or preclinical stage. The target is known, and/or there is some method or assay to determine its effect.


• Biologics or Cell Based Therapies: The biologic or cell population has been identified and some reasonable method of development, sourcing, manufacture, or proliferation is proposed. Mechanism of action has been determined to a sufficient level that there is a reasonable understanding of the product to be developed or tested in the project.


• Interventional Medical Device: Physiologic experiments have been conducted or reported in the literature, providing rationale for prototype development. The proposal includes prototype development and testing, either on the bench or in animals. 


• Diagnostic Medical Device/IVD/MDx: The proposal includes prototype development and some method of testing.


• Research Tools: The tool should address a clear unmet research need or demonstrate commercially meaningful differentiation with alternative methods. The proposal should include measurable technical endpoints and validation. 


• Health IT, Software, Apps, and Algorithms: The project should be beyond the concept stage with an existing prototype or code base supported by prior evidence. The proposal should include measurable technical endpoints and validation to demonstrate efficacy, utility, usability, or readiness for commercialization.

The Hubs will establish novel partnerships, strengthen existing alliances between stakeholders (including academic, non-profit, and industry sectors), provide entrepreneurial educational opportunities for innovators, and create cultural and systemic changes to more rapidly transform breakthrough innovations into products that will have health, economic, and societal impact.

Only one application per institution (normally identified by having a unique NIH IPF number) is allowed.

Submission Process

Limited submissions MUST be coordinated with the Office of the Vice President for Research.

If interested in applying for this opportunity, please combine the following items into a single PDF and email to resdev@mailbox.sc.edu by 5pm on the INTERNAL DEADLINE above:

• Cover page with grant program name & number (if applicable) to which you are applying, your project title, PI (name, department/unit, & email), and list of co-PIs/key collaborators (name & department/unit)
• a two-page project abstract addressing key components/criteria for this specific grant program
• a 2-3 page CV/biosketch for the PI (SCiENcv preferred)