HealthVentures

Translating Health Sciences Research into Real-World Impact

A specialized track for faculty and researchers pursuing SBIR/NIH funding and commercialization pathways

From Bench to Bedside

Empowering health sciences faculty to translate groundbreaking research into commercial ventures that improve patient outcomes

Research Translation Workshops

Structured seminars teaching faculty how to identify commercializable research, assess market needs, and develop compelling value propositions for health innovations.

  • Technology assessment frameworks
  • Clinical need validation methods
  • Commercialization pathway planning

Mentorship Programs

Connect with successful faculty entrepreneurs who have navigated the path from bench to bedside, securing SBIR/NIH funding and building health ventures.

  • One-on-one guidance from funded PIs
  • Peer learning communities
  • Industry advisor connections

Institutional Integration

Partner with technology transfer offices, innovation centers, and entrepreneurship programs to create seamless pathways from discovery to commercialization.

  • TTO collaboration frameworks
  • IP strategy development
  • Licensing and spinout support

NIH SBIR/STTR Funding Pathway

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is the largest source of SBIR/STTR funding for health-related innovations, awarding over $1.3 billion annually

1

Identify Clinical Unmet Need

Use Altitut's customer discovery platform to conduct structured interviews with clinicians, patients, and healthcare stakeholders. Document evidence of the clinical problem your research addresses and validate the need for your solution.

2

Develop Commercial Strategy

Map the regulatory pathway (FDA, CE Mark), identify reimbursement strategies, and define your target market. NIH reviewers evaluate commercial potential rigorously—demonstrate you understand the path to market.

Regulatory Strategy

Define FDA classification and clearance pathway

Market Analysis

Size market and identify early adopters

Reimbursement

Plan payer strategy and pricing model

3

Build Technical Excellence

Demonstrate feasibility with preliminary data, outline specific aims with measurable milestones, and showcase your team's expertise. NIH values rigorous science backed by initial proof-of-concept.

Preliminary DataSpecific AimsResearch PlanTeam Qualifications
4

Perfect Your Pitch & Proposal

Use Altitut's AI-powered feedback to refine your value proposition, practice your specific aims, and ensure clarity in both written proposals and oral presentations. Iterate until your story resonates.

Pro Tip:

NIH reviewers spend approximately 15-20 minutes to make a funding decision on each proposal. Make every word count.

NIH Institute Opportunities

Target your proposal to the right NIH institute or center based on your research focus

NCI

National Cancer Institute

Cancer prevention, diagnosis, and treatment innovations

NHLBI

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

Cardiovascular, pulmonary, and blood disease solutions

NIAID

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases

Vaccines, diagnostics, and therapeutics for infectious diseases

NIDDK

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

Diabetes management, digestive health, and kidney disease

NIMH

National Institute of Mental Health

Mental health diagnostics, treatments, and digital therapeutics

NIA

National Institute on Aging

Age-related disease prevention and healthy aging solutions

Purpose-Built Tools for Health Sciences

Everything you need to translate research into funded health ventures

Clinical Need Validation

Conduct structured interviews with clinicians, patients, and healthcare administrators to document unmet needs and validate product-market fit

NIH Proposal Templates

Pre-structured specific aims pages, research strategies, and commercialization plans aligned with NIH SBIR/STTR requirements

Regulatory Pathway Planning

Interactive tools to map FDA classification, clearance strategy, and compliance requirements for your medical device or therapeutic

Value Proposition Coach

AI-powered feedback on your clinical value proposition, ensuring you can articulate patient benefit, health economic impact, and competitive advantage

Ready to Translate Your Research?

Join health sciences faculty who are turning breakthrough research into NIH-funded ventures that improve patient lives