May 2, 2022
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National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)
The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) is updating its Strategic Plan (Plan). The purpose of this Notice is to solicit comments from the public on the draft 2022-2027 NIDCD Strategic Plan’s themes and goals.
Background
The NIDCD supports and conducts research and research training in the normal and disordered processes of hearing, balance, taste, smell, voice, speech, and language. The Plan serves as a guide to the NIDCD in prioritizing its research investment and address gaps in our research portfolio. The draft Plan presents a series of themes and goals that represent the most promising research needs within NIDCD’s mission areas. The draft themes and goals are:
Draft 2022-2027 NIDCD Strategic Plan Themes and Goals
Theme 1: Capitalize on advances in basic research to enhance our understanding of normal function and disordered processes
- Goal 1: Identify and characterize different cell populations in both peripheral and central regions
- Goal 2: Identify and characterize neural circuits involved in sensory processing
- Goal 3: Facilitate the utilization of human postmortem tissue to advance research
- Goal 4: Define interactions between immune-mediated networks and the influence of inflammation on normal and disordered function
Theme 2: Develop and improve model systems to inform research
- Goal 1: Develop robust in vivo and pre-clinical models to study normal and disordered function
- Goal 2: Develop in vitro models to accelerate basic studies and high throughput screening
- Goal 3: Develop in silico (computer) models to enable insights into normal and disordered function
Theme 3: Promote a precision medicine approach to prevention, diagnosis, and treatment
- Goal 1: Accelerate the acquisition, accessibility, and ethical use of genetic and phenotypic data
- Goal 2: Develop genetic and cellular therapies
- Goal 3: Integrate a precision medicine framework into clinical care
Theme 4: Translate and implement scientific advances into standard clinical care
- Goal 1: Accelerate the development of treatments
- Goal 2: Develop, disseminate, and implement evidence-based practices to improve health-related outcomes
- Goal 3: Promote health equity and improve access to clinical care
Theme 5: Facilitate use of best practices in biomedical data science
- Goal 1: Inform the development and use of standardized outcome measures for basic and clinical research
- Goal 2: Encourage the use of data repositories to share findable, accessible, interoperable, and reusable (FAIR) data
- Goal 3: Develop artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms that provide novel insights and applications for prevention, diagnosis, and treatment
Theme 6: Harness advanced technology to improve prevention, diagnosis, and treatment
- Goal 1: Employ rational design principles to engineer novel solutions
- Goal 2: Enhance augmentative and alternative communication capabilities
- Goal 3: Develop specialized in vivo imaging capabilities to improve better diagnosis and treatment
The NIDCD anticipates that the finalized Plan will be published on the NIDCD website in Fall 2022.
Request for Comments
This notice invites input from stakeholders throughout the scientific research, advocacy, and clinical practice communities, those employed by NIH or at institutions receiving NIH support as well as the general public, regarding the above draft themes and goals for the 2022-2027 NIDCD Strategic Plan.
The NIDCD seeks comments on any or all of, but not limited to, NIDCD’s priorities encompassed by the themes and goals, including potential benefits, drawbacks or challenges, and other priority areas for consideration. A complete description of the themes and goals can be found on the NIDCD Public Comment site https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/about/strategic-plan/2022-2027/public-comment.
How to Submit a Response
All comments must be submitted electronically. You can view a complete description of the draft Plan’s themes and goals and submit comments via the web-based form at: https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/about/strategic-plan/2022-2027/public-comment. The web-based form accepts text but cannot accept attachments. You will receive an electronic confirmation acknowledging receipt of your response but will not receive individualized feedback from NIDCD on any comments. Comments will be accepted through May 31, 2022.
Responses to this notice are voluntary. Proprietary, classified, confidential, or sensitive information should not be included in your response. View the NIDCD Privacy Policy here. The Government reserves the right to use any non- proprietary technical information in any resultant solicitation(s).
This notice is for information and planning purposes only and should not be construed as a solicitation or as an obligation on the part of the Federal Government, or the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The NIH does not intend to award a grant or contract to pay for the preparation of any information submitted or for the NIH’s use of such information. No basis for claims against the NIH shall arise as a result of a response to this request for information or the NIH’s use of such information as part of the NIDCD Strategic Plan.
Laura Cole, Ph.D.
Science Policy and Planning Branch
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders
NIDCDStrategicPlan@mail.nih.gov
and Human Services (HHS)
