January 5, 2023
- PAR-21-107- NIDCD Early Career Research (ECR) Award (R21 Clinical Trial Optional)
- PA-20-195- NIH Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant Program (Parent R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
- PA-20-196- NIH Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant Program (Parent R21 Basic Experimental Studies with Humans Required)
- PAR-21-063- NIDCD Low Risk Clinical Trials in Communication Disorders (R01 Clinical Trial Required)
- RFA-DC-23-001 - NIDCD Research Opportunities for New Investigators to Promote Workforce Diversity (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)
- PA-20-185- NIH Research Project Grant (Parent R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
- PAR-21-154 - Academic Research Enhancement Award for Undergraduate-Focused Institutions (R15 Clinical Trial Required)
- PAR-21-155 - Academic Research Enhancement Award for Undergraduate-Focused Institutions (R15 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
- PAR-21-357 - Research Enhancement Award Program (REAP) for Health Professional Schools and Graduate Schools (R15 Clinical Trial Required)
- PAR-22-060 - Research Enhancement Award Program (REAP) for Health Professional Schools and Graduate Schools (R15 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)
The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) is issuing this Notice to highlight priorities from its new strategic plan, in basic and mechanistic research on neural circuits underlying sensory processing in hearing, balance, taste and smell. NIDCD encourages multidisciplinary and innovative projects, from diverse teams, to advance a mechanistic understanding of the behavior of neural circuits at cellular and sub-second temporal resolution by integrating cutting-edge technologies and approaches for recording and modulation of cells and circuits (e.g., electrophysiology, optical imaging, optogenetics, chemogenetics, sonogenetics, magnetogenetics, pharmacologic modulation). Applications are expected to integrate appropriate domains of expertise, including but not limited to biological, chemical and physical sciences, engineering, computational modeling, statistical analysis, and bioethics, as appropriate. Mechanistic human studies and comparative, cross-species projects are highly encouraged.
The list below includes representative, but not exhaustive, examples of topics that could be considered responsive to this NOSI.
- Develop a dynamic map of brain circuits involved in specific sensory pathways.
- Examine the neural circuits and computations that underlie multisensory interactions.
- Determine the extent of conservation of sensory circuits across multiple species, including human.
- Identify the changes to circuits when compromised by sensory deficits.
- Identify the changes to sensory circuits based on experience and internal state.
- Characterize anatomical and functional mapping of sensory circuits from the periphery to the brain.
- Examine the relationship between structure and function of sensory circuits.
- Characterize sensory circuits using invasive and non-invasive recording and modulation in the human central nervous system.
Applications Not Responsive to this NOSI.
- Applications with research outside of the NIDCD mission.
- Applications with a research focus other than behavior of neural circuits at cellular and sub-second temporal resolution.
- Applications with clinical trials designed to answer specific questions about safety, tolerability, efficacy, effectiveness and/or mechanism of pharmacologic, behavioral, biologic, surgical, or device (invasive or non-invasive) interventions (e.g., phase I, phase II, phase III, or pivotal clinical trials).
- Applications proposing neural or pharmacologic modulation with higher safety risks that can result in physical or psychological harm including
- research utilizing drugs or biologics not exempt from the IND requirements
- research utilizing devices not designated as non-significant risk by the IRB or FDA.
Application and Submission Information
This notice applies to due dates on or after February 5, 2023 and subsequent receipt dates through January 8, 2026.
Potential applicants to this NOSI are strongly encouraged to contact Scientific/Research staff prior to submission.
Submit applications for this initiative using one of the following funding opportunity announcements (FOAs) or any reissues of these announcement through the expiration date of this notice.
- PAR-21-107- NIDCD Early Career Research (ECR) Award (R21 Clinical Trial Optional)
Please note: For this FOA, the PD/PI must be no more than 7-years from the date the terminal degree was received. Read the FOA carefully for specific details and exceptions.
- PA-20-195- NIH Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant Program (Parent R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
- PA-20-196- NIH Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant Program (Parent R21 Basic Experimental Studies with Humans Required)
- PAR-21-063- NIDCD Low Risk Clinical Trials in Communication Disorders (R01 Clinical Trial Required)
Please note: Applications can include only clinical trials that are considered low risk basic experimental studies involving humans (BESH).
- RFA-DC-23-001 - NIDCD Research Opportunities for New Investigators to Promote Workforce Diversity (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)
Please note: Applications can include only clinical trials that are considered low risk basic experimental studies involving humans (BESH).
- PA-20-185- NIH Research Project Grant (Parent R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
- PAR-21-154 - Academic Research Enhancement Award for Undergraduate-Focused Institutions (R15 Clinical Trial Required)
Please note: Applications can include only clinical trials that are considered low risk basic experimental studies involving humans (BESH).
- PAR-21-155 - Academic Research Enhancement Award for Undergraduate-Focused Institutions (R15 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
- PAR-21-357 - Research Enhancement Award Program (REAP) for Health Professional Schools and Graduate Schools (R15 Clinical Trial Required)
Please note: Applications can include only clinical trials that are considered low risk basic experimental studies involving humans (BESH).
- PAR-22-060 - Research Enhancement Award Program (REAP) for Health Professional Schools and Graduate Schools (R15 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
All instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide and the funding opportunity announcement used for submission must be followed, with the following additions:
- For funding consideration, applicants must include “NOT-DC-23-001” (without quotation marks) in the Agency Routing Identifier field (box 4B) of the SF424 R&R form. Applications without this information in box 4B will not be considered for this initiative.
Applications nonresponsive to terms of this NOSI will not be considered for the NOSI initiative.
We encourage inquiries concerning this NOSI and welcome the opportunity to answer questions from potential applicants.
For general inquiries or studies related to taste and smell, please contact:
Merav Sabri, Ph.D.
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)
Telephone: 301-827-0908
Email: merav.sabri@nih.gov
For studies related to hearing and balance, please contact:
Amy Poremba, Ph.D.
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)
Telephone: 301-997-3152
Email: amy.poremba@nih.gov
Peer Review Contact(s)
Examine your eRA Commons account for review assignment and contact information (information appears two weeks after the submission due date).
Financial/Grants Management Contact(s)
Christopher Myers
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)
Telephone: 301-435-0713
Email: myersc@nidcd.nih.gov
and Human Services (HHS)
