National Institute on Deafness and other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)

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Mission Statement

The NIDCD Mission is to conduct and support biomedical and behavioral research and research training in the normal and disordered processes of hearing, balance, taste, smell, voice, speech, and language.

Interest Areas

General Topics

NIDCD is the nation’s leading funder of basic and translational biomedical and behavioral research and research training in hearing, balance, taste, smell, voice, speech, and language. NIDCD supports research on disease prevention and health promotion, biomedical and behavioral issues related to deafness and other communication disorders, and advances devices that substitute for or improve function. Areas of interest include, but are not limited to:

Hearing:

  • Research on the auditory system
  • Research across the lifespan
  • Identification, mapping and cloning of genes underlying hearing loss
  • Translational research on cochlear implants, brainstem implants, and brain–computer interfaces
  • Encoding of complex auditory signals from nerve to brain
  • Diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to hearing loss, including infection-related causes

Balance:

  • Research on the vestibular system and its contribution to balance
  • Characterization of genes critical for vestibular development and function
  • Development and refinement of balance and vestibular testing
  • Advancement of vestibular neural prostheses

Taste and Smell:

  • Research on the taste and smell systems, and chemesthesis
  • Studies of receptor cell regeneration and stem cell biology
  • Research on age-related decline in olfactory sensitivity
  • Molecular and cellular mechanisms of chemosensation
  • Central chemosensory processing, neural circuitry, and multisensory integration
  • Development of tools and technologies to analyze chemosensory neurons, circuits, and behaviors
  • Diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for chemosensory deficits across the lifespan

Voice, Speech, and Language:

  • Fundamental characteristics, underlying mechanisms, and prevention, diagnostic, and treatment approaches for voice, speech, and language impairments
  • Language impairments associated with developmental (e.g., developmental language disorder) and neurogenic conditions (e.g., aphasia)
  • Voice disorders that impact communication
  • Speech disorders across the lifespan

Assistance Listing

Assistance listings are detailed public descriptions of federal programs used across government agencies that provide grants, loans, scholarships, insurance, and other types of assistance awards. They are maintained in the System for Award Management (SAM) and can be used to search for opportunities in Grants.gov.

View NIDCD Assistance Listing Numbers

  • 93.173 - Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders

Highlighted Topics

Title Lead ICO Participating ICOs Posted Date Expiration Date

Funding Opportunities and Notices

Search for NIDCD’s funding opportunities and notices

ICO Funding Policies and Considerations

Visit NIH Fiscal Policies for NIH-wide information on appropriations and other budgetary information (salary limits, stipends, tuition/fees) and Funding Decisions to learn about NIH's consistent and unified approach for making funding decisions.

NIDCD Funding Policies and Considerations builds on that general information.

Additional Information by Funding Category

Administrative Supplements
In addition to our Administrative Supplements overview, consider the following NIDCD-specific information.
Administrative Supplement Due Dates:

Administrative Supplement applications may be submitted throughout the fiscal year, but applications received after July 15 may be held for consideration until the next fiscal year.

Administrative Supplement Contact:

Reach out to the grants management and program officials named on the parent grant Notice of Award to discuss possible funding options available.

Conferences and Meetings
In addition to our Conferences and Meetings overview, consider the following NIDCD-specific information.
Conferences and Meetings Interest Areas:

NIDCD recognizes a responsibility to assist in supporting scientific meetings that are directed toward research objectives clearly within the field of communication sciences and disorders. Funds for research conference support are provided through R13 grant awards following competitive review. In planning, applicants are strongly encouraged to consider the feasibility of submission dates, possible funding dates, and the proposed conference dates with the realization that applications may need to be revised and resubmitted.

Conferences and Meetings Budget Considerations:

Applicants may propose up to $60,000 direct costs per year. Costs associated with providing expected reasonable accommodations must fall within the budget cap and should be included in the application at the time of submission.

Conferences and Meetings Project Period Considerations:

For annual conferences, project periods of up to 5 years may be requested.

Conferences and Meetings Contacts:

Scientific Program Contact:  
Email: [email protected]

Grants Management Contact:
Email: [email protected]

 

Individual Fellowship
In addition to our Individual Fellowships Overview, consider the following NIDCD-specific information.
Individual Fellowships Interest Areas:

NIDCD supports predoctoral, postdoctoral and dual-degree trainees in the areas of hearing and balance, chemical senses, voice, speech, and language across five fellowship awards: 

  • F30: Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Awards (NRSA) for Students at Institutions Without NIH-Funded Institutional Predoctoral Dual-Degree Training Programs 
  • F30: Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Awards (NRSA) for Students at Institutions With NIH-Funded Institutional Predoctoral Dual-Degree Training Programs 
  • F31: Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Awards (NRSA) for Individual Predoctoral Fellows 
  • F32: NIDCD Research Dissertation Fellowships for Au.D. Audiologists Individual Postdoctoral Research Fellowships
  • F32: Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Awards (NRSA) for Individual Postdoctoral Fellows 
Individual Fellowships Budget Considerations:

Current NRSA stipends, tuition/fees, and budgetary levels apply.

Individual Fellowships Contacts:

Scientific Program Contact:  
Email:  [email protected]

Grants Management Contact:
Email: [email protected]

Research Education
In addition to our Research Education overview, consider the following NIDCD-specific information.
Research Education Interest Areas:

NIDCD supports educational activities with a primary focus on research experiences, course development, and mentoring activities in areas of hearing and balance, chemical senses, voice, speech, and language. NIDCD areas of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Educational activities that enhance knowledge and research skills of trainees and scientists conducting research in NIDCD mission areas.
  • Short term, mentored, hands on research experiences for health professional students that provide exposure to NIDCD relevant research and encourage pursuit of biomedical research careers. NIDCD does not support clinical service delivery, or any activities lacking a substantive research experience component.
  • Mentoring networks that prepare researchers to transition to independent and early career faculty positions in research areas aligned with the NIDCD mission. Networks may be national in scope and may leverage existing mentoring resources or partnerships with complementary institutions or scientific organizations to enhance program impact. 
  • Integrated research experience, course development, and mentoring programs aligned with NIDCD research priorities, with the goal of developing a highly skilled biomedical research workforce. 
  • Skill development courses that deliver innovative, evidence‑based research education. NIDCD will support courses that are offered in‑person, online, or in a hybrid format. NIDCD will not support courses that adapt existing or prior NIDCD R25‑funded courses for a different target population, courses intended for students below the undergraduate level or for individuals not involved in health care delivery or dissemination of health information. 
Research Education Participants:
NIDCD prioritizes funding for participants in the following areas:
  • Undergraduate
  • Predoctoral
  • Postdoctoral/Residency
  • Early Career
Research Education Project Period Considerations:
NIDCD may limit project periods for specific education activities, as follows:

Maximum project period is 5 years. Renewals are allowed.

Research Education Budget Considerations:
NIDCD may limit budgets for specific education activities, as follows:

R25 budget limitations and allowable expenses vary based on the type of program. Please refer to the funding opportunity for specific budget instructions. 

Research Education Personnel, Participant, and Other Program-Related Costs:
NIDCD may limit awarded budgets for personnel, participant, and other costs, as follows:

Consultant costs, equipment, supplies, travel for key persons, and other program-related expenses may be included in the proposed budget. These expenses must be justified as specifically required by the proposed program and must not duplicate items generally available at the applicant institution. Please refer to the funding opportunity for specific budget instructions.

Research Education Funding Instruments:
  • NIDCD does not award Research Education Cooperative Agreements (UE5)
  • NIDCD awards Research Education Grant Projects (R25)
Research Education Contacts:

Scientific Program Contact:  
Email:  [email protected]

Grants Management Contact:
Email: [email protected]

Small Business
In addition to our Small Business overview, consider the following NIDCD-specific information.
Small Business Interest Areas:

NIDCD supports research including, but not limited to, the following:  

  • Novel technologies for studying, diagnosing, and treating hearing loss, tinnitus, or balance disorders.  
  • Novel diagnostic tools for testing human chemosensory function throughout the lifespan. 
  • Novel technologies for studying, diagnosing, and treating voice, speech, and language disorders such as laryngeal dystonia (spasmodic dysphonia), phonotrauma, stuttering, dysarthria, developmental language disorders, and aphasia.   
  • Innovative in vivo imaging capabilities that significantly advance visualization, diagnosis, and treatment of communication disorders in the clinic.  
  • Novel systems of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) for individuals with motor speech impairment, including a brain-computer interface (BCI) prosthesis for communication. 
  • Novel assessments and interventions for late talking children or minimally verbal/ non-speaking individuals. 
  • Novel applications of machine learning / artificial intelligence algorithms in hearing aids, cochlear implants, AAC devices, or for the analysis of voice, speech, and language. 
Phase IIB & Commercialization Readiness Pilot (CRP):
NIDCD does not accept Phase IIB SBIR projects
NIDCD accepts Commercialization Readiness Pilot (CRP) projects
Clinical Trials:
NIDCD accepts clinical trials through the SBIR programs
NIDCD accepts clinical trials through the STTR programs
NIDCD does not accept clinical trials through the Phase IIB SBIR program
NIDCD accepts clinical trials through the Commercialization Readiness Pilot (CRP)
Small Business Contact:

NIDCD SEED

Email: [email protected]

See Also

National Institute on Deafness and other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)

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