Vivifi Medical Awarded Competitive Grant from the National Science Foundation
Small Business Innovation Research Program Provides Seed Funding for R&D
Houston, TX, January 23, 2023 – VIVIFI MEDICAL has been awarded a National Science Foundation (NSF) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant for $1,000,000 to conduct research and development (R&D) work on Laparoscopic devices to treat Varicocele and related conditions.
Vivifi Medical is developing minimally invasive technologies for treatment of Varicocele and its related conditions. Varicocele is the most common cause of male infertility and is also associated with testicular pain, erectile disfunction, low free testosterone, and has recently been associated with development of Benign Prostate Hyperplasia (BPH). Vivifi aims at leveraging a challenging but highly effective procedure to treat Varicocele. This procedure was proposed in the 1980s, and was based on an advanced understanding of hemodynamics responsible for pathophysiology of Varicocele. This SBIR will result in development of technology that will lower the barrier to perform this highly challenging procedure, thereby making this procedure a reality for patients of varicocele, infertility, BPH and other men’s health conditions.
“We are very honored to be awarded this NSF Phase II award. This award will help us complete the development of our next generation laparoscopic technology for treatment of Varicocele and get ready for FDA Clearance.”Tushar Sharma, PhD – Founder & CEO of Vivifi Medical
Once a small business is awarded a Phase I SBIR/STTR grant (up to $275,000), it becomes eligible to apply for a Phase II (up to $1,000,000). Small businesses with Phase II funding are eligible to receive up to $500,000 in additional matching funds with qualifying third-party investment or sales.
Entrepreneurs who submit a written Project Pitch will know within about a month if they meet the program’s objectives to support innovative technologies that show promise of commercial and/or societal impact and involve an appropriate level of technical risk. Startups and small businesses with innovative science and technology solutions, and commercial potential are encouraged to apply. All proposals submitted to the NSF SBIR/STTR program, also known as America’s Seed Fund powered by NSF, undergo a rigorous merit-based review process. To learn more about America’s Seed Fund powered by NSF, visit: https://seedfund.nsf.gov/
About the National Science Foundation’s Small Business Programs: America’s Seed Fund powered by NSF awards $200 million annually to startups and small businesses, transforming scientific discovery into products and services with commercial and societal impact. Startups working across almost all areas of science and technology can receive up to $2 million to support research and development (R&D), helping de-risk technology for commercial success. America’s Seed Fund is congressionally mandated through the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program. The NSF is an independent federal agency with a budget of about $8.5 billion that supports fundamental research and education across all fields of science and engineering.
