How to Apply for an NIDCD Grant
Introduction
The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) supports and conducts research and research training in the normal and disordered processes of hearing, balance, smell, taste, voice, speech, and language. It does this through a program of grants and contracts in basic, clinical, and translational research. The NIDCD supports a wide range of research approaches, including molecular genetics, biomedical imaging, nanotechnology, linguistics, psychoacoustics, structural biology, and the development of assistive and augmentative devices.
The NIDCD helps shape and sustain scientists at all stages of their careers—from high school students to senior scientists. Whether you’re interested in conducting a small feasibility study or a large clinical trial, the NIDCD offers a variety of funding mechanisms to support a broad range of research ideas.
This page provides brief descriptions of the research mechanisms the NIDCD offers.
For more complete descriptions, requirements, and information about additional opportunities, go to: /funding.
One of six Americans has a communication disorder. The personal, social, and economic costs that accompany these disorders are significant for millions of Americans.
James F. Battey, Jr., M.D., Ph.D.
Director, NIDCD
The NIDCD is one of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). NIDCD-funded research is conducted in public and private institutions across the country and within the laboratories and clinics at the NIH in Bethesda, MD.
The NIDCD supports research that leads to scientific discovery.
NIDCD-supported research has made important contributions to the body of knowledge needed to help those who experience communication disorders and to advance our understanding of all aspects of human communication.
In Fiscal Year 2009, the NIDCD funded more than 1,460 research projects. Of that number, nearly 350 received stimulus funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009. For more information on the NIDCD’s ARRA activities, go to: /recovery.html.
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What research mechanisms are available?
Investigator-Initiated Research Grant (R01)
The R01 supports original research proposed by principal investigators. R01s represent the largest category of NIDCD support. R01s are awarded to organizations on behalf of individual principal investigators based on strong proposals and investigator competence. Applicants need pilot data and a publication record.
Note: Applicants must submit a research strategy (not to exceed 12 pages, plus one page for specific aims) as part of the electronic application process.
The NIDCD Small Grant Program (R03)
The R03 supports newly independent investigators and advanced postdoctoral fellows within seven years of completing their terminal degree (excluding years of clinical training), transitioning to research independence. The R03 provides for up to three years of support to conduct pilot or feasibility studies that will launch a research program. Or, an R03 can provide one year of support for emerging clinician-scientists so that they may acquire pilot or feasibility data to launch a successful K08 or K23 award.
Note: Applicants must submit a research strategy (not to exceed six pages, plus one page for specific aims) as part of the electronic application process.
Academic Research Enhancement Award (AREA) (R15)
Stimulates research in educational institutions that provide baccalaureate training for a significant number of our nation’s research scientists, but which, historically, have not been major recipients of NIH support.
Exploratory Grant (R21)
Encourages exploratory and developmental research projects by providing support for the early and conceptual stages of these projects.
Research Core Center Grant (P30)
Supports one or more core resources to promote a cooperative interaction among basic and/or clinical investigators in a manner that will enrich the effectiveness of ongoing research and promote new research directions. Research cores should furnish a group of investigators who have existing NIDCD-funded R01 research projects with some service, technique, assay, or instrumentation in a manner that will enhance the research in progress.
Clinical Research Center Grant (P50)
Supports an investigator-initiated research program in which a team of investigators works in a clearly defined clinical area of mutual scientific interest. The subjects, data, or tissue being studied must represent a population with a human communication disorder.
Small Business Innovation Research Program Grant (SBIR) (R43/R44)
Provides support for research and development of commercial products.
Small Business Technology Transfer Program Grant (STTR) (R41/R42)
Supports the development of commercial projects by collaboration between small business concerns and research institutions.
Other Opportunities
The NIDCD offers additional mechanisms and provides announcements of initiatives designed to stimulate science in promising or needed areas.
To find out more about other mechanisms and opportunities, go to: /funding.
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How do I apply?
There are four important steps.
- Contact NIDCD.
Talk about your idea with the NIDCD staff member who is responsible for the scientific area of your research. These scientists, called program officers or health scientist administrators, are listed at the end of this page. They will be able to help you with questions.
You will also want to review the NIDCD Strategic Plan to learn about research priorities of the institute.
To review the NIDCD Strategic Plan, go to: /about/plans/strategic.
- Register in the NIH eRA Commons.
NIH eRA Commons is a secure meeting place on the Web where research organizations and grantees electronically receive and transmit information about the administration of biomedical and behavioral research grants. Applicants electronically access the status of their applications and grantees access the status of their awards, submit reports, and make requests.
For information about registering, go to: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/submitapplication.htm.
- Access current application guidelines.
Visit /funding to select the appropriate grant mechanism for your research goals. There, you will also find additional information about each program area and detailed contact information for NIDCD staff.
- Submit your application, noting all deadlines and requirements.
The SF424 (Research & Related) grant application form is used for electronic submission and is gradually replacing the paper application forms. Standard paper forms, such as PHS 398 and PHS 416, are still used for some types of grant applications.
Electronic grant applications must be submitted in response to a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA). NIH has developed Parent Announcements for use by applicants who wish to submit what were formerly termed investigator-initiated or “unsolicited” applications.
Investigators need to apply using the electronic application package for the chosen mechanism, listed in the table at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/parent_announcements.htm.
Remember to talk with NIH Grants Information staff and with your institution's sponsored research office.
For more information, go to: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/forms.htm.
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Then what happens? Where does my proposal go?
After you submit your application to the NIH Center for Scientific Review (CSR), http://www.csr.nih.gov, scientists at CSR assign each grant to both an initial review group called a “study section” and to an institute. The assignment is based on the scientific emphasis of the proposed research and guidelines about the expertise in each study section. Assignment to a study section is independent of assignment to the institute. Reviewers will evaluate applications to determine:
- Significance of problem addressed
- Appropriateness of approach
- Level of innovation
- Experience of the investigator
- Scientific environment
If your proposal is deemed to be in the upper half of the applications received, the application will be given a priority score. It may also receive a percentile score based upon its scientific merit and based on how it ranks within the larger group of applications reviewed in that group. A summary statement of review comments and scores are posted on the NIH eRA Commons, where principal investigators can retrieve them.
If the application is scored, it receives a second level of review by the National Deafness and Other Communication Disorders Advisory Council. The Council is a committee of scientists and knowledgeable public members who provide NIDCD with programmatic and policy advice about its programs. NIDCD Council members evaluate the fairness and appropriateness of initial review and provide additional advice. Once the NIDCD Council approves an application, final funding decisions are made based on scientific merit, program relevance, and available funds.
Of the grants submitted to NIDCD in one year, typically only about one-third are funded.
Note: Funding of grants is based upon merit and relevance, not upon any predetermined allocation to program area.
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How long does the process take?
For the typical grant application, it takes at least nine months from the time the application is received until the grant award is made.
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What training and career development mechanisms are available?
NIDCD offers several training programs, including several listed below.
Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Awards (F31/F32)
Provide up to 5 years of predoctoral support or up to 3 years of postdoctoral support.
Mentored Clinical Scientist Development Award (K08/K23)
Fosters the development of highly promising clinician-scientists into independent investigators who integrate fundamental research or patient-oriented research into their clinical practice.
Research Career Transition Award (K99/R00)
Provides dual-phase support to nurture postdoctoral level scholars to the independent investigator stage.
For more information about the full spectrum of training program opportunities and eligibility requirements, go to: /research/training or read “NIDCD and Your Research Career.”
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Additional Information: Research and Training Contacts
Division of Scientific Programs (DSP)
Manages the research and research training portfolios of grants and contracts for the NIDCD. Your scientific program officer will be a key resource for you.
Judith A. Cooper, Ph.D., Director
cooperj@nidcd.nih.gov
Amy Donahue, Ph.D., Deputy Director
donahuea@nidcd.nih.gov
Hearing and Balance
Amy Donahue, Ph.D.
donahuea@nidcd.nih.gov
psychoacoustics, cochlear mechanics, noise, cochlear implants
Bracie Watson, Ph.D.
watsonb@nidcd.nih.gov
clinical and molecular genetics, otitis media, immunology
Nancy Freeman, Ph.D.
freemann@nidcd.nih.gov
molecular and developmental biology, transduction
Roger Miller, Ph.D.
millerr@nidcd.nih.gov
auditory and other neural prostheses, tinnitus
Christopher Platt, Ph.D.
plattc@nidcd.nih.gov
central pathways, temporal bone
Daniel Sklare, Ph.D.
sklared@nidcd.nih.gov
clinical assessment and management
Janet Cyr, Ph.D.
cyrj@nidcd.nih.gov
peripheral pathways, presbycusis
Taste and Smell
Barry Davis, Ph.D.
davisb1@nidcd.nih.gov
Language Sciences
Judith Cooper, Ph.D.
cooperj@nidcd.nih.gov
Voice and Speech
Lana Shekim, Ph.D.
shekiml@nidcd.nih.gov
Epidemiology
Howard Hoffman, M.A.
hoffmanh@nidcd.nih.gov
Biostatistics
Chia-Wen Ko, PhD.
koc@nidcd.nih.gov
Clinical Trials
Gordon B. Hughes, M.D.
hughesg@nidcd.nih.gov
Training
Daniel Sklare, Ph.D.
sklared@nidcd.nih.gov
NIDCD institutional training grants and career development awards
Janet Cyr, Ph.D.
cyrj@nidcd.nih.gov
individual fellowship awards
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