Summary of Federal Project Grant Award

The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) awarded the University of Rochester a Project Grant totaling $403,125 (Award Date: July 1, 2026; Completion Date: June 30, 2028) under the Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders program (CFDA 93.173). This grant supports the development and validation of vestibular sensory evoked potentials (VSEPs) as a direct assessment method for peripheral vestibular function in human subjects. The research translates successful animal models into clinical use by developing a non-invasive electrophysiological technique that measures otolithic sensor activity using linear acceleration transients and far-field scalp recordings, addressing current diagnostic limitations in vestibular assessment.

The project delivers two primary research outcomes: identification of optimal stimulus parameters (specifically examining jerk versus acceleration levels) for eliciting human VSEPs, and determination of the most effective recording and stimulation configurations for clinical application. By establishing direct assessment capabilities for vestibular otolithic organs, this research aims to advance diagnostic approaches for patients presenting with dizziness—one of the most common reasons for physician visits—and ultimately improve clinical care through more precise peripheral vestibular pathology diagnosis. The work represents a critical translational step toward developing a direct vestibular assessment tool for routine clinical use.