Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders - Research Centers (RCs)

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 Center Grants make up a portion 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. These 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.

Research Centers Grants: Any public, private, nonprofit, or for-profit institution is eligible to apply. All applications are reviewed for scientific merit, for evaluation of the qualifications of the investigators, for adequacy of the research environment and for significance of the problem. Approved applications compete for available funds. 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.

Research 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. Grant funds may be expended only for the purpose stated in the application and award document.

Research 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. Grant funds may be expended only for the purpose stated in the application and award document.

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 human subjects inclusion, and animal protection.

Research Center Grants 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.

Research Centers Grants: Approximately 6 to 9 months.

By application and review in the same manner as new applications.

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.