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

The NIH is issuing a limited‑competition Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) to establish up to five new Research Evaluation and Commercialization Hubs (REACH). Eligible applicants are universities, public or private institutions of higher education, and nonprofit research entities that participate in the NIH STTR program. Each awarded hub will receive seed funding (total estimated $5 M across all awards) to build an academic entrepreneurship hub that: • Identifies high‑impact biomedical technologies emerging from academic research. • Provides early‑stage product‑definition funding (feasibility studies, prototypes, proof‑of‑concept). • Offers access to multidisciplinary expertise (science, regulatory, reimbursement, business, legal, project management). • Delivers entrepreneurship training and hands‑on commercialization experience. The hubs will operate as a consortium, leveraging public‑private partnerships and non‑federal matching funds. Applications are due 10 Nov 2026; awards are expected 30 Apr 2027 with project start anticipated 1 Jun 2027. Five awards are planned.