NINR Areas of Interest for SBIR/STTR Applicants
Digital health tools offer significant new opportunities to improve medical outcomes and enhance the efficiency of care via the convergence of devices, data interoperability and/or artificial intelligence (AI). Individuals can take advantage of these tools to track and better manage their own health while healthcare providers can use them to improve their ability to accurately diagnose and treat disease and enhance treatment plans for patients. A more holistic view of patient health can be given to healthcare providers through the increased access to data, while mobile health apps and software can support, sometimes predictively, clinical decisions caregivers and patients need to make. Accordingly, NINR is interested in the translational development and implementation of a broad array of health products, technologies or services. This list is NOT ALL INCLUSIVE and some research areas fall into multiple categories. Schedule an appointment with us to discuss your project.
Digital Health:
- Wearable or remote sensing devices - e.g. technologies that passively monitor biology, behavior and context of use to maintain/promote health and/or minimize the physical and psychological burdens on caregivers while caring for individuals with acute or chronic conditions.
- Point-of-care (POC) diagnostic/intervention devices - especially as they relate to pain, sleep and the recovery from infection.
- mHealth technologies - e.g., development of evidence-based apps for mobile and wireless devices (smartphones, tablets, etc.), especially for use in combination with wearable or remote health-related sensors.
- Smart speaker / smart home technologies for remote monitoring, telehealth, self-management and patient assistance, coordinated family/provider care, communication, end-of-life palliative care, etc.
- Telehealth / telemedicine - e.g., development of technologies to facilitate the diagnosis, consultation, education/communication, clinical care and self-management of an individual’s health and wellness, etc.
- Health information/integration technologies (hIT) - e.g., Development of an integrative technology that leverages "big data" from wearables, mHealth, EHR, biotypes, biomarkers, and/or social determinants health, etc. to holistically inform personalized health strategies, shared decision making and reduced health disparities - especially technologies that use the FHIR® standard (NOT-OD-19-122).
- Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based tools - e.g., ML/DL-based algorithms/software within a telehealth platform that leverages hIT "big data" to predict disease risk/progression and improve clinical decision making, especially related to end-of-life and palliative care.
Medical Robot Systems (including, but not limited to):
- Rehabilitative robots - e.g., systems that enhance motor learning and functional recovery after injury or illness.
- Physically-assistive robots - e.g., systems that assist individuals with activities of daily living.
- Psychosocially-assistive robots - e.g., interactive systems to enhance mood, mitigate the effects of loneliness, and enhance social connection and communication.
- Telepresence robots - e.g., systems that allow for access to specialty services in a rural health clinic.
- Development of medical devices, including AI/ML-based software as a medical device (SaMD)
- Interventions for decision support - e.g., Develop and implement interventions that enhance communication between individuals, caregivers and health care providers; tools that promote caregiver support