Advanced Wearable Alcohol Real-time Ethanol Sensor (AWARES) FAQs
General
Is this an NIH grant application?
No – this application is not an NIH grant application and does not count towards the NIH application limit. Solicitation, review, and oversight of the program is coordinated by Cimit (an NIH contractor) as the RADx® Coordination Center with award issued by VentureWell’s (an NIH contractor) RADx® Award Management Center. Awards comply with NIH policies, but this application is not directly submitted to the NIH.
What is the “Deep Dive”?
The Deep Dive is a hands-on, interactive, diligence phase to assess the technology, identify key development risks, establish mitigation strategies, and refine a proposed technology development plan. During this phase, innovators will work directly with a RADx® team possessing healthcare and commercialization expertise. Depending on the maturity of each technology, this process will take from a few days to a few weeks.
Who do I contact if my question isn’t addressed in the FAQ?
For programmatic or technical questions, please email RADxNIBIB@mail.nih.gov with the subject line “Inquiry about AWARES Funnel.”
Submissions
Are there accessibility accommodations for application submissions?
Please email cimitcommunications@partners.org for instructions if your input devices are having trouble with the submission system. No material can be submitted directly to program staff, but staff can provide assistance.
Where do I submit?
Submit via the Cimit CoLab portal listed in the solicitation by the published deadline of January 20, 2027, 11:59pm Eastern Time. Applications emailed to staff will not be accepted.
Can I submit a video?
Yes. You may submit an optional ≤3-minute video link. It must complement (not replace) the 3-page supporting PDF(s). The video must support the technical and data requirements and not be a marketing video.
May I include references?
Yes, you may include as many references as you would like.
Should I submit copies of relevant publications?
Do not submit copies of relevant publications. All cited references should be readily available to reviewers through usual search mechanisms.
What other submission guidance is available?
We will not consider applications that are either substantially developed or contain sections substantially developed by AI. Submissions should be based on original ideas of applicants. For more information see the notice “Supporting Fairness and Originality in NIH Research Applications”.
Eligibility
Do applicants need to be located in the U.S.?
Applicants must have a place of business located in the United States, which operates primarily within the United States, or which makes a significant contribution to the United States economy through payment of taxes or use of American products, materials or labor. Organizations should be more than 50% directly owned and controlled by individuals who are citizens or permanent resident aliens of the United States. Only a Team Captain who is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, or a U.S.-based Entity, can receive the award.
What stage of development should the technology have achieved at the time of submission?
Applicants should provide an existing evidence base demonstrating sensor performance in a biologically relevant context. This program is not intended to support concept-stage development. Proposals should present prior data that substantiates the feasibility of the proposed sensing approach. A working prototype/breadboard or, at minimum, proof of concept supported by bench and/or in vivo data showing non-invasive measurement of blood alcohol with high accuracy and resolution.
What are the minimum entry requirements?
Submissions must propose a non-invasive wearable technology that measures blood alcohol concentration (BAC) directly or indirectly, including a working prototype/breadboard or, at minimum, proof-of-concept bench and/or in vivo data.
What is considered non-responsive?
Technologies requiring invasive sampling or detecting alcohol in breath or sweat are non-responsive.
Intellectual Property
Will my submission and technology-related information remain confidential?
Except for the Title and Abstract sections of the application, all other information is kept confidential. Please do not add any confidential information to the submission Title or Abstract. All proposal reviewers are required to sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) before accessing and reviewing submissions.
How is Intellectual Property (IP) handled?
Participants will retain their IP rights regardless of whether their project is selected for an award. They may release or further develop their technology independently without any waiting period. If the submitted prototype technology was developed with federal funding, the Bayh–Dole Act may apply.
Should I disclose any unprotected proprietary information in the submission?
Protecting proprietary information is the responsibility of the applicant and the applicant institution. Consistent with NIH policy, applicants are discouraged from submitting information considered proprietary and confidential unless it is deemed essential for proper evaluation of the application. However, when the application contains information that constitutes trade secrets, or information that is commercial or financial, or information that is confidential or privileged, identify the pages in the application that contain this information by marking those paragraphs or lines with an asterisk (*) at the beginning of the paragraph.
Budget, Awards, and Contracts
In addition to funding, what types of support are included in this program?
Awardees will also receive wraparound support from RADx® mentors who are experienced in commercializing medical devices. Throughout the project, mentors will work with awardees to address key technical, business, regulatory, and commercialization considerations necessary to achieve design lock and move toward clinical validation and successful market entry.
Are there restrictions on how the award funds are used?
Funding cannot be used for animal studies or human subjects research.
What are my reporting responsibilities if I receive an award?
Reporting requirements will be determined in the contract negotiated with the RADx Awards Management center. They will primarily consist of progress reports and documentation of performance against the Work Package developed following the Deep Dive. The Work Package includes milestones, go/no-go stage gates, a timeline, and resources to de-risk the technology.