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.

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 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 accepts clinical trials through the Commercialization Readiness Pilot (CRP)
Centers Contact:

NIDCD SEED

Email: [email protected]

See Also

National Institute on Deafness and other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)

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