Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders

To investigate solutions to problems directly relevant to individuals with deafness or disorders of human communication in the areas of hearing, balance, smell, taste, voice, speech, and language. The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communic

Research grants make up the largest category of funding and support by NIDCD. These grants may be awarded to universities, medical and other health professional schools, colleges, hospitals, research institutes, for-profit organizations, and government institutions that sponsor and conduct biomedical research and development. Research grants may provide funds for salaries, equipment, supplies, travel, and other allowable direct costs of the research as well as for indirect costs to the sponsoring institution or organization.

Project Grants and Centers Grants: Any public, private, nonprofit, or for-profit institution is eligible to apply. For-profit institutions are not eligible for institutional National Research Service Awards. All proposals are reviewed for scientific merit, for evaluation of the qualifications of the investigators, for adequacy of the research and/or research training environment and for significance of the problem. Approved proposals compete for available funds. Awardees of almost all Research Career Development Programs must be citizens or have been admitted to the United States for permanent residence. Candidates must be nominated for the program by a nonfederal public or private nonprofit institution located in the United States, its possessions or Territories. To be eligible, postdoctoral NRSA trainees and fellows must have a professional or scientific doctoral degree (PhD, MD, DO, DC, DDS, DVM, OD, DPM, ScD, EngD, Dr PHPhD, MD, DO, DC, DDS, DVM, OD, DPM, ScD, EngD, Dr PH, DNSc, ND {Doctor of Naturopathy}, PharmD, DSW, PsyD, AUD or equivalent doctoral degree from an accredited domestic or foreign institution). SBIR grants can be awarded only to domestic small businesses (entities that are independently owned and operated for profit, and have no more than 500 employees). Primary employment (more than one-half time) of the principal investigator must be with the small business at the time of award and during the conduct of the proposed project. In both Phase I and Phase II, the research must be performed in the United States or its possessions. To be eligible for funding, an SBIR grant application must be approved for scientific merit and program relevance by a scientific review group and a national advisory council. STTR grants can be awarded only to domestic small business concerns which "partner" with a research institution in cooperative research and development. At least 40 percent of the project is to be performed by the small business concern and at least 30 percent by the research institution. In both Phase I and Phase II, the research must be performed in the U.S. and its possessions. To be eligible for funding, a grant application must be approved for scientific merit and program relevance by a scientific review group and a national advisory council.

Health professionals; student/trainee; scientists/researchers; consumer.

Project Grants and Centers Grants may be used to provide salaries, equipment, supplies, travel, and other expenses for research. The grantee institution is obliged to expend grant funds prudently for the purposes as stated in the application and award document. Some National Research Service Awards (NRSAs) are issued on behalf of an individual for research training in specified biomedical and behavioral research areas. Other training grants are made to institutions to enable them to make NRSAs to individuals selected by them. Each postdoctoral individual who receives an NRSA may be obligated, upon termination of the award, to comply with certain service and payback provisions. Mentored and unmentored career development awards are made to enhance the independent research capability of highly promising individuals during the formative stages of their careers. Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program: Phase I grants, typically 6 months in duration, are to establish the technical merit and feasibility of a proposed research effort that may lead to a commercial product or process. SBIR Phase II grants are for the continuation of the research efforts initiated in Phase I and that are likely to result in commercial products or processes. STTR Phase I grants, normally of 1-year duration, are to determine the scientific, technical, and feasibility of the proposed cooperative effort. Phase II funding is based on scientific and technical merit and commercial potential of the application. Grant funds may be expended only for the purpose stated in the application and award document.

Project Grants and Centers Grants may be used to provide salaries, equipment, supplies, travel, and other expenses for research. The grantee institution is obliged to expend grant funds prudently for the purposes as stated in the application and award document. Some National Research Service Awards (NRSAs) are issued on behalf of an individual for research training in specified biomedical and behavioral research areas. Other training grants are made to institutions to enable them to make NRSAs to individuals selected by them. Each postdoctoral individual who receives an NRSA may be obligated, upon termination of the award, to comply with certain service and payback provisions. Mentored and unmentored career development awards are made to enhance the independent research capability of highly promising individuals during the formative stages of their careers. Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program: Phase I grants, typically 6 months in duration, are to establish the technical merit and feasibility of a proposed research effort that may lead to a commercial product or process. SBIR Phase II grants are for the continuation of the research efforts initiated in Phase I and that are likely to result in commercial products or processes. STTR Phase I grants, normally of 1-year duration, are to determine the scientific, technical, and feasibility of the proposed cooperative effort. Phase II funding is based on scientific and technical merit and commercial potential of the application. Grant funds may be expended only for the purpose stated in the application and award document.

Research Grant awards are made for a 12-month period with recommendation of up to 4 years of additional support. Center Grant awards support may be for a period not to exceed 5 years. Career development awards provide support for up to 5 years. NRSA fellowship and traineeship awards are usually for a 12-month period, with recommendation of additional support of no more than 5 years for predoctoral training and no more than 3 years for postdoctoral training. SBIR Phase I awards are generally for 6 months; STTR Phase I awards are generally for 1 year.

The policies and procedures generally applicable to NIH grants are set forth in the NIH Grants Policy Statement (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/nihgps/index.htm).

The major elements in evaluating applications include assessments of: (1) The scientific merit and general significance of the proposed study and its objectives; (2) the technical adequacy of the experimental design and approach; (3) the competency of the proposed investigator or group to successfully pursue the project; (4) the adequacy of the environment and available resources for the proposed project; (5) the necessity of budget components requested in relation to the proposed project; (6) the relevance and importance to announced program objectives; (7) innovation; (8) risk to human subjects, including inclusion of minorities, inclusion across the lifespan, and animal protection. The following additional criteria will be used in considering the scientific and technical merit of SBIR/STTR grant applications: (1) The technological innovation of the proposed research; (2) the potential of the proposed research for commercial application.

Research grant, career development, and research training program applications are reviewed initially by technical panels composed of scientific authorities, and by the National Deafness and Other Communication Disorders Advisory Council composed of 18 leaders in medicine, science, education, and public affairs. Approved applications will compete on a merit basis for available funds. Formal award notices are transmitted to the grantee or awardee. All accepted SBIR/STTR applications are evaluated for scientific and technical merit by an appropriate scientific peer review panel and by a national advisory council. All applications receiving a priority score compete for available SBIR/STTR set-aside funds on the basis of scientific and technical merit and commercial potential of the proposed research, program relevance, and program balance among the areas of research.

Research Grants and Centers Grants: Approximately 6 to 9 months. Career Program: From 6 to 9 months. SBIR/STTR applications: About 6 to 9 months. Institutional Training Grants: From 10 to 12 months. Individual Fellowships: From 4 to 6 months.

By application and review in the same manner as new applications. Research career awards are not renewable.

A principal investigator (PI) may question the substantive or procedural aspects of the review of his/her application by communicating with the staff of the Institute. A description of the NIH Peer Review Appeal procedure is available at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-11-064.html. Final decisions on unresolved appeals are made with the advice of the National Deafness and Other Communication Disorders Advisory Council.