National Institute on Deafness and other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)

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Mission Statement

The NIDCD Mission is to conduct and support biomedical and behavioral research and research training in the normal and disordered processes of hearing, balance, taste, smell, voice, speech, and language.

Interest Areas

General Topics

NIDCD is the nation’s leading funder of basic and translational biomedical and behavioral research and research training in hearing, balance, taste, smell, voice, speech, and language. NIDCD supports research on disease prevention and health promotion, biomedical and behavioral issues related to deafness and other communication disorders, and advances devices that substitute for or improve function. Areas of interest include, but are not limited to:

Hearing:

  • Research on the auditory system
  • Research across the lifespan
  • Identification, mapping and cloning of genes underlying hearing loss
  • Translational research on cochlear implants, brainstem implants, and brain–computer interfaces
  • Encoding of complex auditory signals from nerve to brain
  • Diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to hearing loss, including infection-related causes

Balance:

  • Research on the vestibular system and its contribution to balance
  • Characterization of genes critical for vestibular development and function
  • Development and refinement of balance and vestibular testing
  • Advancement of vestibular neural prostheses

Taste and Smell:

  • Research on the taste and smell systems, and chemesthesis
  • Studies of receptor cell regeneration and stem cell biology
  • Research on age-related decline in olfactory sensitivity
  • Molecular and cellular mechanisms of chemosensation
  • Central chemosensory processing, neural circuitry, and multisensory integration
  • Development of tools and technologies to analyze chemosensory neurons, circuits, and behaviors
  • Diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for chemosensory deficits across the lifespan

Voice, Speech, and Language:

  • Fundamental characteristics, underlying mechanisms, and prevention, diagnostic, and treatment approaches for voice, speech, and language impairments
  • Language impairments associated with developmental (e.g., developmental language disorder) and neurogenic conditions (e.g., aphasia)
  • Voice disorders that impact communication
  • Speech disorders across the lifespan

Assistance Listing

Assistance listings are detailed public descriptions of federal programs used across government agencies that provide grants, loans, scholarships, insurance, and other types of assistance awards. They are maintained in the System for Award Management (SAM) and can be used to search for opportunities in Grants.gov.

View NIDCD Assistance Listing Numbers

  • 93.173 - Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders

Highlighted Topics

Title Lead ICO Participating ICOs Posted Date Expiration Date

Funding Opportunities and Notices

Search for NIDCD’s funding opportunities and notices

Additional Information by Funding Category

Administrative Supplements
In addition to our Administrative Supplements overview, consider the following NIDCD-specific information.
Administrative Supplement Due Dates:

Administrative Supplement applications may be submitted throughout the fiscal year, but applications received after July 15 may be held for consideration until the next fiscal year.

Administrative Supplement Contact:

Reach out to the grants management and program officials named on the parent grant Notice of Award to discuss possible funding options available.

See Also

National Institute on Deafness and other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)

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