Download NEI Eye Institute

National Eye Institute
2020 Vision Place
Bethesda, MD 20892-3655
(301) 496-5248
www.nei.nih.gov
NEI scientific areas for the SBIR STTR program:
The NEI supports research with respect to blinding eye diseases, visual
disorders, mechanisms of normal visual function, preservation of sight, and the
special health problems and requirements of individuals with impaired vision.
Proposals for all areas of vision research are encouraged. Examples that may be
of interest to small businesses are provided below, but this list is not meant to be
exhaustive.
General Research Topics
NEI is interested in providing support for the development of new
technologies, strategies, research tools, reagents and methods that can be
applied to basic and translational research which will benefit vision health. This
encompasses research and development of innovative enabling technologies in
areas of genomics, proteomics and nanotechnology. More specific topics include
drug discovery, high throughput assays, drug delivery systems, gene therapy and
cell-based therapies, development of in vitro and in vivo disease models, surgical
devices and materials, telemedicine and teaching tools, and design and
fabrication of new or improved ophthalmic instruments for diagnosis and
treatment of eye disorders.
Retinal Diseases Program
Research and development of new therapeutic approaches for inflammatory
and degenerative diseases and for inhibition of abnormal angiogenesis in the
retina and choroid; development of better methods of diagnosing and treating
diabetic retinopathy and other vascular diseases; development of non-invasive
techniques for early diagnosis of macular degeneration and other retinal
degenerative diseases; development of instruments and procedures for improved
surgical management of retinal detachments; development of retinal prostheses
to help restore visual function; identification and characterization of factors
regulating retinal cellular proliferation and development that will facilitate retinal
regeneration and function; development of methods for cell or tissue
transplantation.
Corneal Diseases Program
Research and development of new therapeutic agents and drug delivery
methods for the treatment of corneal injury, infection, dry eye and other ocular
surface disorders; development of new biomaterials for corneal prostheses and
corneal transplants; development of instruments and procedures for correcting
the refractive power of the cornea and/or measuring the cornea's optical
properties or other physiological properties; new materials and manufacturing
processes for eyeglasses and contact lenses.
Lens and Cataract Program
Research and development of therapeutic agents for the prevention of
cataract; development of new approaches in the post-operative management of
cataract surgery; development of new surgical instruments for cataract extraction
and new biomaterials for replacement of the natural lens; development of
accommodative intraocular lenses.
Glaucoma and Optic Neuropathies Program
Research and development of new therapeutic agents, instruments, and
procedures for the diagnosis and treatment of glaucoma; development of noninvasive methods to measure changes in the optic nerve head and retinal fiber
layer.
Strabismus, Amblyopia, and Visual Processing Program
Research and development of new approaches using imaging techniques,
such as PET and MRI, to localize lesions and test the functioning of specific parts
of the visual system, especially those involved in higher order visual processing
and oculomotor processing; development of new tools and techniques for vision
screening; development of innovative techniques to study factors that facilitate
regeneration and guidance of nerve fibers.
Visual Impairment and Blindness Program
Research and development of instruments and methods to better specify,
measure, and categorize residual visual function; development and evaluation of
optical, electronic, and other devices that meet the rehabilitative and everyday
living needs of blind or visually-impaired persons.
NEI’s SBIR STTR FOAs currently available:
NEI has a single active small business RFA: (RFA-EY-09-001) “Innovative
Patient Outreach Programs and Ocular Screening Technologies to Improve
Detection of Diabetic Retinopathy (SBIR [R43/R44])”. It has a second receipt
date of December 23, 2009. The web link is
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-EY-09-001.html.
Other resources or programs available to the small business community:
NEI does participate in the Phase II Competing Renewal program (SBIR only).
Contact Information
Jerry Wujek, Ph.D.
Research Resources Officer
National Eye Institute/NIH
5635 Fishers Lane, Room 1300
Rockville, MD 20852
telephone: 301-451-2020
fax: 301-402-0528
email: [email protected]