NIH Small Business 101: Managing Your SBIR/STTR Award Effectively

<p>Toyin Ajisafe, Ph.D., is a program officer at the National Center for Medical Rehabilitation Research (NCMRR) within the <i>Eunice Kennedy Shriver</i> National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD). Dr. Ajisafe manages a portfolio focused on movement biomechanics for people with disabilities (PWDs), health disparities for PWDs, and pediatric rehabilitation. He is also the Point of Contact for NICHD’s Small Business Program, including the SBIR/STTR funding opportunities. Prior to joining NCMRR, Dr. Ajisafe was a tenured associate professor of kinesiology at Texas A&amp;M University-Corpus Christi, where he studied locomotor barriers in children.</p>

<p>Callie Prassinos is a Branch Chief and Contracting Officer with the Office of Acquisition and Logistic Management, NIH, with more than 15 years of federal acquisition experience. She has extensive expertise in federal procurement, strategic acquisition planning, and leading high-performing acquisition teams in support of complex, mission-critical programs. For many years, she has played an integral role in the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program, serving as a Contracting Officer point of contact, organizing acquisition efforts, and developing solicitation packages to support successful program execution. Throughout her career, she has been recognized for strengthening operational efficiency, ensuring regulatory compliance, and fostering collaborative partnerships to deliver successful acquisition outcomes.</p>

<p>Adam Sorkin has over a decade of experience championing small business research and development. He previously supported Small Business Programs and intramural technology transfer activities at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Prior to joining NIH, Adam led R&amp;D, strategy, and fundraising efforts of start-ups developing novel regenerative medicine and anti-infective applications.</p>