National Cancer Institute (NCI) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Innovative Concept Award Program - Fiscal Year 2026

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) is soliciting proposals from small business concerns to perform key activities to demonstrate technical feasibility and proof-of-concept for the development of highly innovative and potentially transformative technologies in the following areas:

• Topic 1: Development of therapeutic or preventative technologies for treatment or prevention of Pediatric Cancers and/or Rare Cancers.


• Topic 2: Development of devices, diagnostic technologies, or digital health tools for treatment, detection, and diagnosis of Pediatric Cancers and/or Rare Cancers.

For this solicitation, rare cancers with a 5-year survival rate of less than 50% are encouraged and rare cancers include all the cancers listed by the NIH Genetics and Rare Diseases Information Center (https://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/diseases/diseases-bycategory/1/rare-cancers). For more information regarding 5-year cancer survival rates, see the NCI Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program (SEER) database at https://seer.cancer.gov/.

Preliminary data is not required. However, the proposal must have a sound scientific premise either based on the offeror’s own research or literature evidence. Proposals shall both identify an anticipated product to be developed and clearly lay out the anticipated development path. Proposals must clearly identify the clinical problem and cancer type(s) along with adequate justification. In addition, the offerors should propose experiments to obtain initial de-risking and proof-of-concept data. Awards will also include requirements to enhance entrepreneurial skills, to develop or refine a business model, and commercialization plan.

This Concept Award solicitation is intended to serve as a pipeline for the federal Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program. This is a total small business set-aside solicitation, and only proposals from eligible small businesses will be considered for award. This size standard is established by law for the SBIR program, regardless of the NAICS Code assigned. To be eligible as a small business, the offeror may have no more than 500 employees, including the employees of its Affiliates (see 13 C.F.R. § 121.702). For other requirements, see the SBA’s SBIR/STTR Policy Directive:

https://www.sbir.gov/sites/default/files/SBA%20SBIR_STTR_POLICY_DIRECTIVE_May2023.pdf.

The solicitation for the NCI SBIR Innovative Concept Award Program is anticipated to be available on or around April 14, 2025, and the expected closing date for receipt of proposals is September 26, 2025. There will be an interim white paper submission deadline in June to allow time for the NCI to provide feedback on whether the proposal within the scope of this solicitation.

NOTE – SBIR / STTR GRANT OPPORTUNITIES

Other SBIR and STTR contract and grant opportunities are also available. Companies are encouraged to visit: https://seed.nih.gov/small-business-funding/find-funding.

For general information regarding the NCI SBIR Program, please refer to: https://sbir.cancer.gov/.