Wearable Alcohol Biosensors (R43/R44 Clinical Trial Optional) | PAR 18 204

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 18 204

The Wearable Alcohol Biosensors (R43/R44 Clinical Trial Optional) opportunity, listed as PAR-18-204, is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) funding announcement aimed at helping small businesses create a new generation of wearable alcohol monitoring technology. The core goal is to support the design and production of a non-invasive, discreet wearable device that can estimate or monitor blood alcohol levels in real time, with a strong emphasis on approaches that can more directly quantify alcohol in blood or interstitial fluid rather than relying on measurements of alcohol that has passed through and exuded from the skin. In other words, NIH is looking for technologies that get closer to true blood alcohol concentration (BAC) measurement and that can do so continuously or near-continuously in a practical wearable form.

This announcement uses the SBIR phased grant mechanism (R43/R44), which is commonly structured to support early feasibility work and prototype development (Phase I) followed by further development, validation, and steps toward commercialization (Phase II). The “Clinical Trial Optional” designation means applicants may propose studies that include clinical trial elements if needed to validate performance, usability, or safety, but a clinical trial is not required for every project. The funding instrument type is a grant, and the activity category is health-related research and development. It is categorized as a discretionary funding opportunity under CFDA 93.273.

Eligibility is restricted to U.S. small businesses that meet SBIR requirements. Foreign institutions are not eligible to apply, and non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are also not eligible to apply. However, the notice indicates that “foreign components,” as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement, may be allowed in certain cases, which typically refers to limited portions of the work being performed outside the U.S. when there is a strong scientific justification and NIH approvals and policy conditions are met.

In practical terms, this opportunity is trying to catalyze wearable alcohol biosensing products that are accurate, unobtrusive, and capable of delivering real-time data suitable for health and behavioral applications. The focus on measuring alcohol in blood or interstitial fluid signals interest in sensing modalities that can better correlate with actual BAC, potentially improving accuracy and reliability relative to traditional transdermal alcohol detection methods. The original closing date shown for this specific listing is May 15, 2018, and the opportunity was created on November 28, 2017, indicating this is a posted solicitation from that time period rather than a newly issued call.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Wearable Alcohol Biosensors (R43/R44 Clinical Trial Optional)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.273.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2017-11-28.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2018-05-15. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Eligible applicants include: Small businesses.

Apply for PAR 18 204

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