PROGRAM OBJECTIVES:
To encourage basic and clinical biomedical research and research training for a greater understanding of the basic and clinical studies on normal abnormal function of the enteric nervous system, on gastrointestinal hormones and peptides including their structure, biological actions, receptors, release and correlation with physiological events. Other studies include the action of drugs on gastrointestinal motility, intestinal obstruction, the biochemistry of contractile processes and diseases such as irritable bowel syndrome, colonic diverticular disease, swallowing disorder, and gastro esophageal reflux as well as studies on the process of food digestion in the gastrointestinal tract; the assembly of digestive enzymes; the growth and differentiation of gastrointestinal cells in normal and disease states; and studies on gastrointestinal diseases such as maldigestion and malabsorption syndromes, celiac sprue, diarrhea, inflammatory bowel disease, and gastric and duodenal ulcers. To encourage biomedical research and research training for a greater understanding of the normal function and the diseases of the liver and biliary tract including factors leading to liver cell injury, fibrosis, and death; basic and applied studies on liver transplantation; metabolism of bile acids and bilirubin; and factors controlling cholesterol levels in bile as well as disease research on inborn errors in bile metabolism hepatitis, and various liver diseases such as Wilson's disease, primary biliary cirrhosis, and others. To encourage biomedical research on the structure, function, and diseases of the exocrine pancreas. To encourage biomedical research and research training in obesity, anorexia, bulimia and other eating disorders, the metabolism of nutrients and other dietary components at the organ, cellular and subcellular levels in normal and diseased States. To extramurally support basic laboratory research and clinical investigations and provide postdoctoral biomedical research training for individuals interested in careers in health sciences and fields related to these programs. Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program. To expand and improve the SBIR Program; to increase private sector commercialization of innovations derived from Federal research and development; to increase small business participation in Federal research and development; and to foster and encourage participation of socially and economically disadvantaged small business concerns and women-owned small business concerns in technological innovation. Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program: To stimulate and foster scientific and technological innovation through cooperative research and development carried out between small business concerns and research institutions; to foster technology transfer between small business concerns and research institutions to increase private sector commercialization of innovations derived from Federal research and development; and to foster and encourage participation of socially and economically disadvantaged small business concerns and women-owned small business concerns in technological innovation.

 ELIGIBLE FUNCTIONAL CATEGORIES:
1. FOOD AND NUTRITION;
- Research;
2. HEALTH;
- Prevention and Control;
- Specialized Health Research and Training;

 WHO CAN BENEFIT FROM THIS PROGRAM:
- Public nonprofit institution/organization;
- Individual/Family;
- Private non-profit institution/organization;
- Student/Trainee;
- Graduate Student;
- Scientist/Researcher;
- U.S. Citizen;
- Health Professional;

 WHO CAN APPLY:
- State (includes District of Columbia, public institutions of higher education and hospitals);
- Local (includes State-designated Indian Tribes, excludes institutions of higher education and hospitals);
- Public non-profit institution/organization (includes institutions of higher education and hospitals);
- Individual/Family;
- Private non-profit institution/organization (includes institutions of higher education and hospitals);