Preapplication submissions to the 2026 Pilot Awards are now open!
This 2026 Pilot Awards RFA seeks proposals that will support the translational advancement of promising health innovations. The program supports proof-of-concept and go-to-market strategy activities through milestone-driven funding. Supported innovations may span the spectrum of health outcomes, including therapeutics, preventatives, diagnostics, devices, methods, or research tools that move the needle forward on unmet patient and public health needs.
RMT-REACH intends to fund up to 4 pilot projects with up to $50,000 in direct costs in this application cycle.
Successful applications will explain how the intended product addresses an unmet medical need, the product’s market potential, and include a sound product validation workplan. Projects must be completed within 6-12 months with the goal of follow-on funding through SBIR/STTR or venture mechanisms in startup companies. Applications should focus on explaining how the RMT-REACH funds would improve your chances of success in translating your innovation into clinical practice.
Download the Full RFA Here
Key Dates & Activities
|
Activities |
Dates |
|
RFA Release |
Wednesday, January 7 |
|
RFA Live Q&A Session () |
Wednesday, January 21 (12:00pm MT) |
|
Preapplication Due |
Thursday, February 12 (5:00pm MT) |
|
Invitation to submit full application |
Friday, March 6 |
|
Application Kickoff Meeting |
Friday, March 13 (time TBA) |
|
*Workshop 1: Project Plan & Budget |
Week of March 16 |
|
Workshop 2: Project Pitch |
Week of March 23 |
|
First Draft of Application for Internal Review Due (optional) |
Thursday, March 26 (5:00pm MT) |
|
**Project Pitch Practice Session |
Week of April 6 |
|
RMT-REACH Final Application Due |
Thursday, April 16 (5:00pm MT) |
|
**Project Pitch Sessions |
Week of May 4 |
|
RMT-REACH ERB-EC Finalize Scores |
Thursday, May 21 |
|
Selected applications submitted to NIH TGC |
Friday, May 22 |
|
Earliest Decision |
Mid July |
|
Funding and Support Allocated |
Fall 2026 |
* Workshop dates/times will be released in February 2025.
** Project Pitch Sessions are a mandatory component of the application, the dates outlined here are the only dates the sessions will take place. Please notify program staff in your pre-application if you are unable to make these dates.
Preapplication Support & Resources
Preapplication Support
Interested parties can schedule time to discuss fit of their project in the REACH scope and/or any additional questions about the preapplication with a member of the Rocky Mountain REACH team on our .
Live Q&A Session - January 21
! In this Live Q&A, we will review changes to the RFA for the 2026 Pilot Awards, how to use the RFA submission platform Submittable, and answer your questions about the RFA and Pilot Award application process.
Workshop & Training Recordings
Prospective applicants can view recordings of previous RMT-REACH trainings and workshops covering all aspects of the application process on our . Included are recordings of last January's REACH Ready workshop series. These workshops were intended to assist interested researchers in preparing their projects for REACH funding and provide valuable insights to any researcher interested in commercializing their project. REACH Ready topics were:
- Beyond the Lab Power Hour
- Think Product: Developing a Target Product Profile
- Project Claims & Regulatory Pathways: Developing an Attainable Go-To-Market Strategy
Other videos on our YouTube page are recordings of previous Live Q&A sessions and REACH application workshops.