NIDCD Funding Policies and Considerations

Strategy

NIDCD is committed to funding the largest number of meritorious projects possible, while allowing the flexibility needed to support selected program priorities and respond to emerging scientific opportunities.

NIDCD establishes general guidelines for funding based on scientific merit, responsiveness to the institute's priorities and availability of funds. Consistent with the NIH Unified Funding Strategy, NIDCD considers the following when making funding decisions:

• Scientific Focus
  • Alignment with NIDCD’s mission
  • Alignment with NIDCD’s Strategic Plan or published calls for applications (e.g., NOFO, Highlighted Topic)
  • Potential impact of work
  • Portfolio balance
  • Alignment with agency and ICO priorities or government-wide or program objectives
  • Potential translational/clinical advancements
  • Interdisciplinary collaborations
  • Development of New Approach Methodologies (NAMs)
  • Applications focused on swallowing disorders in which communication is not the emphasis are not within the NIDCD mission and will not be prioritized for funding
  • Applications focused on songbird vocalization that are not directly linked to human communication disorders will not be prioritized for funding
• Scientific merit
  • Summary statement and outcome of peer review
  • Second level of review by NDCD Advisory Council
• Investigator  
  • Career stage
  • Productivity and impact on field
• Total amount and type of NIH funding already available to each investigator
  • Carry over balance of other awards
  • Co-funding opportunities
  • Current funding level
• Availability of funds
  • Research project grant applications over $500,000 in direct costs per year may be lowered in priority or subject to budget reduction
• Distribution and geographic balance of funding
  • Geographic location
  • Under resourced institution/IDeA state 

Guidelines

NIDCD will issue grant awards during the Continuing Resolution as follows:

• Non-competing awards
  • Consistent with NIH policy stated in guide notice NOT-OD-26-011, NIDCD expects to issue non-competing RPG awards at a level below that indicated on the most recent Notice of Award, 90% of the previously committed level.
  • Upward adjustments to awarded levels will be considered after FY 2026 appropriations are enacted.
  • Other non-RPG award types will generally be issued at 100% of the previously committed level. For non-competing fellowship and training awards, FY 2025 cost levels remain in effect per NOT-OD-25-105.
• Competing awards
  NIDCD limits the number of new applications awarded during a Continuing Resolution. Generally, investigator-initiated R01s will be supported as follows:
  • R01 using categorical budget (> $250,000 direct costs, exclusive of subaward F&A): 85% of the recommended level.
  • R01 using modular budget (≤ $250,000 direct costs, exclusive of subaward F&A): 100% of the recommended level.
  • All other competing grant applications will be reviewed by program directors to determine an appropriate support level.