Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

U.S. Department of Health & Human Services | National Institutes of Health

Driving large-scale hearing and balance research through data science investments, and an update on NIDCD’s January Advisory Council meeting

February 25, 2026

Data Science Strategic Plan. Big data science analysis business technology concept on virtual screen

Enabling access to large-scale multimodal databases is essential to advancing science across all institutes at NIH. As both datasets and analytical methods become more complex, proper data infrastructure can enable multidisciplinary research efforts at a scale greater than that of individual studies alone. In line with NIH-wide strategic plans, NIDCD is making investments in data science that address long-standing research gaps, provide important resources for the research community, and preserve and protect participant privacy and data security.

In this director’s message, I share several programs reflecting NIDCD’s commitment to high-quality data science. I also summarize topics discussed at the January meeting of the National Deafness and Other Communication Disorders Advisory Council.

Investing in Data Science at NIDCD

One of my priorities as Director is to ensure that NIDCD advances science across the institute’s mission areas as effectively as possible. Investing in data science is key to advancing this strategic priority. High-value data resources can address long-standing gaps in hearing and balance research by enabling studies that advance science at a greater scale. In addition, they can foster collaboration through new and strengthened partnerships. NIDCD’s commitments to data science directly advance Theme 5 of the NIDCD 2023-2027 Strategic Plan and align with the NIH-wide Strategic Plan for Data Science.

NIDCD has several initiatives that are driving the development and utilization of national-scale clinical datasets, integrated human tissue resources, and comprehensive natural history data. By supporting these shared, cloud-based, interoperable data platforms, NIDCD can maximize the scientific value of future research. At the same time, these platforms’ combination of open-access and controlled-access approaches ensures strong protections for participant privacy and data security. Here are three major initiatives where we are putting our data science commitment into practice:

  • nHEAR is a shareable national clinical audiology data resource. It will leverage several decades of NIH Clinical Center audiometric data and enable interoperability with electronic health records. In partnership with the STRIDES Initiative, nHEAR will be the first national database of hearing and vestibular data.
  • EarBase, part of FaceBase, is a national hub for digitized human temporal bone data. EarBase combines resources from the National Hearing and Balance Organ Donor Program and the National Human Ear Resource Network to integrate high-resolution imaging, clinical metadata, and long-standing donor networks to support basic and translational research.
  • HearGene Connect is a natural history study, genetic registry, and call-back protocol. This program addresses a gap in large-scale studies that comprehensively address genetic and phenotypic factors of hearing loss. Its capabilities for matching eligible patients to clinical trials will also support participant engagement, longitudinal research, and precision medicine.

I look forward to sharing future updates about these initiatives as they continue to evolve. Additionally, I encourage researchers to explore and use other high-value data repositories, including NIDCD-supported domain-specific repositories and NIH generalist repositories. All of these data science efforts are part of an ongoing mission to ensure long-term preservation, accessibility, and reuse of high-impact datasets across the research community. To view this segment, start at the 00:31:27 mark of the VideoCast.

National Deafness and Other Communication Disorders Advisory Council Meeting, January 22

On January 22, the institute’s Advisory Council convened virtually. Portions of our Council meetings are open to the public. I invite you to watch the archived VideoCast of the open session and to join us online for our next meeting, to be held May 14. A few highlights from January’s meeting are summarized below.

  • I shared the Unified NIH Funding Strategy, which implements a holistic approach to assessing funding applications. Funding decisions no longer rely exclusively on paylines. Peer review will still factor into decision-making, but the advisory council, staff and NIDCD leadership will also consider the entirety of the peer review score and feedback, investigator career stage, and the distribution of funds across individual applicants and geographic regions. To view this segment, start at the 00:18:22 mark of the VideoCast.
  • I also announced the next lecture in the NIDCD Director’s Seminar Series: Advancing the Science of Communication to Improve Lives. On May 13, 2026, Guillermo Sapiro, Ph.D., will give the presentation “Wearables and Machine Learning Changing Health Access and Science,” followed by a moderated discussion with a distinguished panel of scientific leaders in the field of artificial intelligence in health care. To view this segment, start at the 00:47:08 mark of the VideoCast.
  • Judith Cooper, Ph.D., Director of NIDCD’s Division of Scientific Programs, shared information on NIH’s Highlighted Topics website. Dr. Cooper also provided strategies to anticipate new funding announcements by searching for forecasted grants on Grants.gov. To view this segment, start at the 00:49:53 mark of the VideoCast.
  • Becky Wagenaar-Miller, Ph.D., Director of NIDCD’s Division of Extramural Activities, provided updates on the centralization of NIH peer review and the expedited process for review of applications for fiscal year 2026. She also shared several NIH policy updates affecting foreign subawards, unsolicited application requests, Common Forms for the biographical sketch and current and pending (other) support, eRA Commons Prior Approval Module, and research involving human fetal tissue. Lastly, Dr. Wagenaar-Miller asked the research community to respond to a Request for Information (RFI) on NIH data sharing policies by March 28, 2026. I encourage investigators to reach out to NIDCD program officers with any questions about navigating these new policies. To view this segment, start at the 00:59:40 mark of the VideoCast.
  • Kia Johnson, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, Director of the Arthur M. Blank Center for Stuttering Education and Research Satellite in Atlanta, Georgia, recently joined the Council. She shared information on the Blank Center’s CARE Model™, an evidence-based treatment approach used around the world to support people who stutter. To view this segment, start at the 01:28:29 mark of the VideoCast.
  • I recognized the dedicated efforts of departing Advisory Council members. To view this segment, start at the 01:15:35 mark of the VideoCast.
    • Emily Buss, Ph.D., M.A., Vice Chair of Research, Professor of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, and Chief of the Division of Auditory Research at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
    • Andy Groves, Ph.D., M.A., Professor and Head of Developmental Biology at Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis
    • Anil Lalwani, Professor and Vice Chair for Research; Director of the Division of Otology, Neurotology, & Skull Base Surgery; and Co-Director of the Columbia Cochlear Implant Center at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons
    • Meg Wallhagen, Ph.D., RN, FAAN, Professor of Physiological Nursing at the University of California San Francisco

As part of ongoing communications efforts, NIDCD developed "NEWSBits", a Division of Scientific Programs newsletter for the NIDCD extramural science community. The newsletter is distributed by email to provide timely updates on NIH policies and funding developments. Individuals may sign up by contacting nidcddspnews@nidcd.nih.gov.

Last Updated Date: