I am currently involved in a NIH grant. It was applied for by a research company in the northeast associated with a major university in Pennsylvania. My company participated as a sponsor. Essentially writing a letter to NIH suggesting that this particular technology might have some application in our industry and providing some oversight to the project.
The grant was for $100K and extended for two school years. The phases involved gathering data and developing an algorithm for it's analysis for the first year and the deveolpment of a computer simmulation of the final device. The next year is dedicated to creating a Proof of Concept (POC)device. The device will be finished some time in March.
All NIH expects is a report based on the test results derived from the POC device. At that time the grant will be concluded.
As a point of reference, there are no requirements or expectations from NIH.
It is the hope of the research company that the company I work for, as the sponsoring organization, will take up the continuation of the project and upon it's completion, license the technology within our industry. Given the test results so far and the state of the industry in regards to this particular technology this is not very likely.
The reality is, that this research company exists solely by applying for, and receiving these types of grants from the NIH, DARPA and whatever other government agency is providing them. They have been in existence for years and have not yet hit a home run. They, and the myriad of companies like them who derive their sustenance from these grants are supported by the benevolence and generosity of the government who provide these minor dollar amounts with very little oversight or involvement in the hopes that the technologies will benefit from the occasional success story.
regards,
frog
