Notice Number: NOT-DC-18-007

Key Dates
Release Date: July 11, 2018

Issued by
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)
National Eye Institute (NEI)

Purpose

Usher syndrome is the most common condition that affects both hearing and vision; sometimes it also affects balance. The major symptoms of Usher syndrome are deafness or hearing loss and an eye disease known as retinitis pigmentosa. The purpose of this notice is to express the jointinterest of the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders(NIDCD) and the National Eye Institute(NEI) in receiving applications for clinical, translational and basic research designed to ultimately prevent, restore or treat hearing loss, deafness, balance and vision loss caused by Usher syndrome. 

Areas of Usher syndrome research encouraged through this Notice include, but are not limited to:

• Translation of basic laboratory research findings into best clinical practices that preserve or restore the vision, hearing and balance in individuals with Usher syndrome

• Studies related to disease pathogenesis and genetic factors that underlie structure, function, and the biology of Usher syndrome and their functional consequences for the purpose of developing clinical interventions

• Development of model systems more reflective of the disease in humans

• Studies that move beyond in vitro and animal models into humans

• Strategies to accelerate the identification of molecular targets for therapeutic drug development

• Collaborative studies between hearing and vision scientists that will identify common factors in the etiology of Usher syndrome that may lead to multi-purpose therapy development 

• Development of devices to improve quality of life

• Studies that explore the role of non-Mendelian genetics, including epigenetic modifications, microRNA gene regulation, mitochondrial genetics and genetic modifier effects in Usher Syndrome  

Possible funding opportunities that can be used to pursue these research activities include:

• PAR-18-340 NIDCD Cooperative Agreement for Clinical Trials in Communication Disorders (U01 – Clinical Trials Required)

• PA-18-334 NIDCD Cooperative Agreement for Clinical Trials in Communication Disorders (R01 – Clinical Trials Optional)

• PA-18-484 NIH Research Project Grant (Parent R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

• PA-18-351 NEI Human Subjects Mechanistic and Minimal Risk Studies (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)

• PA-18-344 NIH Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant Program (Parent R21 Clinical Trial Required)

• PA-18-489 NIH Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant Program (Parent R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

• PA-18-500 NEI Human Subjects Mechanistic and Minimal Risk Studies (R21 Clinical Trial Optional)

• PAR-18-487 NIDCD Early Career Research(ECR) Award (R21 - Clinical Trials Optional)

• PAR-18-707 NEI Translational Research Program (TRP) on Therapy for Visual Disorders (R24 Clinical Trial Optional)

• PAR-18-533 NIDCD Research Grants for Translating Basic Research into Clinical Tools (R01- Clinical Trials Optional)

• PAR-18-556 NIDCD Clinical Research Center Grant (P50 - Clinical Trials Optional)

• PAR-18-521 NEI Collaborative Clinical Vision Research Project: Coordinating Center Grant (UG1 Clinical Trial Required)

• PAR-18-522 UG1 Clinical Research Cooperative Agreements - Single Project

• PAR-18-523 UG1 Clinical Research Cooperative Agreements - Single Project

Other Parent FOAs for Research (R), Career Development (K), and Fellowship (F) awards in which NIDCD and NEI participate can also be used (see "Parent Announcements (for Unsolicited or Investigator Initiated Applications)":   https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/parent_announcements.htm).

Inquiries

Please direct all inquiries to:

Bracie Watson, Jr., Ph.D.
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders
Telephone: 301-402-3458
Email: watsonb@nidcd.nih.gov

Grace Shen, Ph.D.
National Eye Institute
Telephone: 301-451-2020
Email: sheng@nei.nih.gov