Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 18 403
This NIH funding opportunity (PAR-18-403) supports Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) projects that create or advance interactive digital media (IDM) STEM learning resources focused on health and medicine. The central aim is to help small businesses work with a nonprofit research institution partner to develop digital, interactive STEM materials that can influence student career interests and improve understanding of health and biomedical topics. The program is designed for two main audience groups: (1) pre-kindergarten through grade 12 (P-12) students and the educators who teach them (including both pre-service and in-service teachers), and (2) informal science education audiences who learn outside traditional classrooms, such as museum visitors, families, and community learners.
The FOA defines IDM broadly as computer-based digital products or services that actively respond to user input, delivering content through combinations of text, animation, video, audio, simulations, or game-like experiences. The emphasis is on interactivity that supports learning by doing: users make choices, try tasks, receive feedback, and progress through experiences that can be tailored or controlled by the learner. The rationale behind the program is that there is strong evidence IDM can improve learning and engagement across many settings, from schools to adult education and workforce training, especially when it combines practice, guidance, and immediate feedback in an immersive environment.
A key expectation is that these STTR projects will help translate existing or new health- and medicine-based educational content into effective digital formats. That can include adapting P-12 STEM curricula, modules, lessons, or even museum exhibits into interactive resources that are more accessible, scalable, and engaging than traditional materials alone. The resulting products are intended to provide hands-on, inquiry-based experiences that encourage exploration and problem-solving and can be used by students, teachers, and broader community audiences in formal and informal learning environments.
From an administrative standpoint, this is a discretionary grant opportunity offered by the National Institutes of Health under the R41/R42 STTR mechanism, and clinical trials are not allowed under this announcement. Eligible applicants are small business concerns; however, consistent with STTR rules, projects must involve a formal collaboration with a research institution partner to conduct the R&D. Foreign (non-U.S.) organizations are not eligible to apply, and non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply, though foreign components may be permitted in limited cases as defined by NIH policy. The opportunity is associated with CFDA 93.859, was created on 2017-10-04, and lists an original closing date of 2019-09-05.Apply for PAR 18 403
- The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Interactive Digital Media STEM Resources for Pre-College and Informal Science Education Audiences (STTR) (R41/R42 - Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.859.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2017-10-04.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2019-09-05. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Eligible applicants include: Small businesses.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - NIH PAR-18-403 (STTR) Interactive Digital Media (IDM) STEM Learning Resources
1) What is PAR-18-403 trying to fund?
PAR-18-403 is an NIH funding opportunity that supports Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) projects to create or advance interactive digital media (IDM) STEM learning resources focused on health and medicine. The goal is to help develop digital, interactive STEM materials that can influence student career interests and improve understanding of health and biomedical topics.
2) What type of grant mechanism is used for this opportunity?
This opportunity uses the NIH STTR mechanism under R41/R42.
3) Who is the primary applicant allowed to apply?
Eligible applicants are small business concerns. The award is designed for small businesses conducting research and development (R&D) in collaboration with a partner research institution.
4) Is a partner organization required, or can a small business apply alone?
A formal collaboration with a nonprofit research institution partner is a key expectation and is required under STTR rules to conduct the R&D described in this funding opportunity.
5) What is the central purpose of requiring an STTR collaboration?
The program is designed to support small businesses working with a nonprofit research institution partner to develop effective digital, interactive STEM learning resources grounded in health and medicine content.
6) What audiences should the learning resources be designed for?
The FOA highlights two main audience groups:
- P-12 (pre-kindergarten through grade 12) students and the educators who teach them, including both pre-service and in-service teachers.
- Informal science education audiences who learn outside traditional classrooms, such as museum visitors, families, and community learners.
7) Does the opportunity focus only on classroom use?
No. The opportunity explicitly includes both formal learning environments (like schools and teacher settings) and informal science education environments (like museums and community learning settings).
8) What does NIH mean by "interactive digital media (IDM)" in this FOA?
IDM is defined broadly as computer-based digital products or services that actively respond to user input and deliver content through combinations of text, animation, video, audio, simulations, or game-like experiences.
9) What is meant by "interactive" in this context?
The emphasis is on interactivity that supports learning by doing. Users should be able to make choices, try tasks, receive feedback, and progress through experiences that can be tailored or controlled by the learner.
10) What kinds of content formats are within scope for IDM?
The FOA describes IDM as potentially including text, animation, video, audio, simulations, and game-like experiences, as long as the product actively responds to user input and supports interactive learning.
11) What subject area must the learning resources address?
The learning resources must be focused on health and medicine and presented as STEM learning resources tied to health and biomedical topics.
12) What is the program hoping to change or improve through these resources?
The FOA aims to create or advance digital materials that can influence student career interests and improve understanding of health and biomedical topics. It also emphasizes improving learning and engagement through interactive experiences.
13) Why does the FOA emphasize IDM for learning?
The rationale described is that there is strong evidence IDM can improve learning and engagement across many settings when it combines practice, guidance, and immediate feedback in an immersive environment.
14) What kinds of source materials can be translated into interactive resources?
The FOA expects projects to help translate existing or new health- and medicine-based educational content into effective digital formats. Examples mentioned include adapting P-12 STEM curricula, modules, lessons, or museum exhibits into interactive resources.
15) Are the projects expected to be new creations only, or can they adapt existing materials?
The FOA supports translating either existing or new educational content into interactive digital formats, including adapting existing curricula, lessons, modules, or exhibits.
16) What kinds of learning experiences should the final products provide?
The products are intended to provide hands-on, inquiry-based experiences that encourage exploration and problem-solving for use by students, teachers, and broader community audiences.
17) Where are the resulting products expected to be usable?
The FOA describes intended use across formal and informal learning environments, including classrooms, teacher-related settings, museums, families, and community learning contexts.
18) Is this a clinical trial funding opportunity?
No. Clinical trials are not allowed under this announcement.
19) Which federal agency is offering this grant opportunity?
This is a discretionary grant opportunity offered by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
20) Are foreign (non-U.S.) organizations eligible to apply?
No. Foreign (non-U.S.) organizations are not eligible to apply under this opportunity.
21) Can a U.S. organization include non-U.S. components in its application?
No. Non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply. The FOA notes that foreign components may be permitted only in limited cases as defined by NIH policy.
22) What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is associated with CFDA 93.859.
23) When was this funding opportunity created?
The FOA lists a creation date of 2017-10-04.
24) What is the original closing date listed for this opportunity?
The FOA lists an original closing date of 2019-09-05.
25) What is the overall theme or focus area of the funded R&D?
The focus is R&D to develop interactive digital media STEM learning resources related to health and medicine, with an emphasis on engaging, feedback-rich experiences that can be scaled and used widely in both formal and informal education settings.
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