Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA DC 26 001
Apply for RFA DC 26 001
- The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Early-Stage Dissemination and Implementation Research in Communication Disorders (R21 Clinical Trial Optional)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.173.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-02-05.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2027-06-17.
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For-profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others.
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Opportunity Summary:
The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), plans to re-issue a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for an R21 grant mechanism focused on early-stage dissemination and implementation (D&I) research in its mission areas: hearing, balance, taste, smell, voice, speech, and language. The core idea behind this opportunity is that many evidence-based innovations (EBIs) are proven to improve health and quality of life, but they often do not make it into routine clinical practice or everyday community use, or they spread far too slowly. This program is meant to fund research that directly tackles that research-to-practice gap by studying how to better communicate about EBIs (dissemination) and how to help real-world settings adopt, integrate, and sustain EBIs over time (implementation).
This funding call emphasizes “early-stage” D&I, meaning projects should be developmental and foundational rather than large, definitive effectiveness trials. NIDCD is looking for studies that build the kind of practical evidence and methodological groundwork needed to justify and design a later, full-scale D&I R01 application. In other words, an R21 here is intended to help teams refine D&I questions, test or optimize implementation strategies, identify key barriers and facilitators in clinics or community settings, select and validate appropriate D&I outcomes and measures, and generate preliminary data showing that a larger, more rigorous D&I study is feasible and well-justified within NIDCD’s communication-disorders domains. Clinical trials are optional under this opportunity, so applicants may propose either trial or non-trial approaches as appropriate to the D&I aims.
The NOFO frames dissemination research as the scientific study of how to deliberately distribute targeted information and materials about an EBI to specific audiences such as clinicians, patients, caregivers, administrators, or policymakers, with the goal of understanding what messaging, channels, packaging, and supports actually lead to awareness, comprehension, and uptake. Implementation science is presented more broadly as the set of active, planned efforts to integrate evidence into real-world practice, with implementation research specifically focused on why settings fail to adopt or sustain EBIs and how to address those issues using well-chosen strategies (often multi-component strategies) to increase adoption, fidelity, reach, and long-term sustainment. The opportunity is positioned for investigators who want to apply established D&I frameworks, designs, and outcome measures to communication-disorders contexts, where the obstacles to real-world uptake may include workflow constraints, provider training gaps, reimbursement issues, organizational capacity, patient access barriers, and differences between controlled research environments and routine care.
A key practical point is timing: the notice states that applications are not being solicited at the moment and is being provided as advance notice so potential applicants can develop strong partnerships and responsive projects before the NOFO opens for submissions. NIDCD explicitly encourages investigators who already have D&I expertise in relevant areas, as well as collaborative teams that combine D&I methodologists with subject-matter experts in NIDCD mission areas (for example, audiology, speech-language pathology, otolaryngology, neurology, rehabilitation science, education, or community health). The expectation is that successful projects will be grounded in real implementation environments (clinical systems, schools, community programs, etc.) and will produce actionable findings that make a subsequent, larger D&I proposal compelling.
Eligibility is broad and includes many common NIH applicant types: state, county, and local governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and private institutions of higher education; federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations; public housing/Indian housing authorities; nonprofit organizations (with or without 501(c)(3) status); for-profit organizations (including small businesses and other than small businesses); and other eligible entities. The listing also makes clear that non-U.S. (foreign) organizations may apply, non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are eligible, and foreign components as defined by NIH policy are allowed. However, there is an important restriction tied to NIH’s updated international collaboration policy effective May 1, 2025: NIH will not issue awards to projects that include foreign subawards or subcontracts unless the application is submitted under a NOFO specifically designated for funded international collaborations. For this NOFO, any application that includes foreign subawards/subcontracts will be considered noncompliant and will not be reviewed for funding. At the same time, the policy does not prohibit unfunded international collaborations, foreign components (as allowed), paying foreign consultants, or purchasing specialized equipment or supplies from foreign vendors, as long as the arrangement does not involve a foreign subaward/subcontract.
From the source details provided, the opportunity is titled “Early-Stage Dissemination and Implementation Research in Communication Disorders (R21 Clinical Trial Optional),” with funding opportunity number RFA-DC-26-001. It is a discretionary grant in the health category under CFDA 93.173. The posting date listed is February 5, 2026, and an original closing date is shown as June 17, 2027 (award ceiling and expected number of awards are not specified in the provided text). Overall, the program is best understood as an NIH/NIDCD push to move proven communication-disorder innovations out of journals and into routine practice by funding early, well-designed D&I studies that clarify what it takes for EBIs to be adopted and sustained in the settings where people actually receive care and services.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is this funding opportunity?
This is a planned (re-issued) Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) from the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), for an R21 grant mechanism titled "Early-Stage Dissemination and Implementation Research in Communication Disorders (R21 Clinical Trial Optional)." The funding opportunity number provided is RFA-DC-26-001.
Which NIH institute is offering this R21?
The opportunity is offered by NIDCD (National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders), within NIH.
What is the main purpose of this R21 program?
The program aims to fund early-stage dissemination and implementation (D&I) research that addresses the research-to-practice gap. It focuses on understanding how evidence-based innovations (EBIs) can be communicated more effectively and how real-world settings can adopt, integrate, and sustain EBIs more quickly and reliably.
What NIDCD mission areas does this opportunity cover?
The mission areas specified include hearing, balance, taste, smell, voice, speech, and language.
What problem is NIDCD trying to solve with this NOFO?
NIDCD is targeting the issue that many proven, evidence-based innovations improve health and quality of life but do not routinely make it into clinical practice or community use, or they spread too slowly. This NOFO supports research designed to understand and reduce those barriers.
What does "early-stage" dissemination and implementation research mean in this NOFO?
"Early-stage" means the projects should be developmental and foundational rather than large, definitive studies. The goal is to build practical evidence and methodological groundwork to justify and design a later, full-scale D&I R01 application.
What is the intended next step after an R21 award under this program?
The R21 is intended to position teams for a later, more comprehensive D&I R01 application by refining D&I questions, selecting outcomes and measures, and generating preliminary feasibility and justification data.
What kinds of activities or aims fit this early-stage D&I R21?
Examples described in the notice include refining D&I research questions, testing or optimizing implementation strategies, identifying barriers and facilitators in real-world settings, selecting and validating appropriate D&I outcomes and measures, and generating preliminary data to support a later full-scale study.
Are clinical trials required?
No. The opportunity is described as "Clinical Trial Optional," meaning applicants may propose clinical trial or non-trial approaches, depending on what fits the D&I aims.
How does the NOFO describe dissemination research?
Dissemination research is described as the scientific study of how to deliberately distribute targeted information and materials about an evidence-based innovation to specific audiences (such as clinicians, patients, caregivers, administrators, or policymakers) and determine what messaging, channels, packaging, and supports lead to awareness, understanding, and uptake.
How does the NOFO describe implementation science and implementation research?
Implementation science is described as active, planned efforts to integrate evidence into real-world practice. Implementation research specifically focuses on why settings do not adopt or sustain EBIs and how to address those challenges through well-chosen strategies (often multi-component) to improve adoption, fidelity, reach, and long-term sustainment.
What kinds of real-world barriers does this NOFO anticipate in communication-disorders settings?
The notice highlights obstacles such as workflow constraints, provider training gaps, reimbursement issues, organizational capacity limits, patient access barriers, and differences between controlled research environments and routine care.
What types of settings are expected for these projects?
The notice indicates projects should be grounded in real implementation environments such as clinical systems, schools, and community programs, rather than being limited to tightly controlled research settings.
What kinds of expertise or teams does NIDCD encourage for applications?
NIDCD encourages investigators with D&I expertise and collaborative teams that combine D&I methodologists with subject-matter experts in NIDCD mission areas. Examples of relevant subject-matter areas mentioned include audiology, speech-language pathology, otolaryngology, neurology, rehabilitation science, education, and community health.
Is NIDCD currently accepting applications for this opportunity?
No. The notice states that applications are not being solicited at the moment. It is provided as advance notice so potential applicants can prepare partnerships and develop responsive projects before the NOFO opens for submissions.
Why is this being posted as advance notice?
The stated purpose is to give potential applicants time to develop strong partnerships and craft well-aligned projects in advance of the submission window.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes state, county, and local governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and private institutions of higher education; federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations; public housing/Indian housing authorities; nonprofit organizations (with or without 501(c)(3) status); for-profit organizations (including small businesses and other than small businesses); and other eligible entities.
Can non-U.S. (foreign) organizations apply?
Yes. The information provided states that non-U.S. (foreign) organizations may apply, non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are eligible, and foreign components (as defined by NIH policy) are allowed.
Are foreign subawards or subcontracts allowed?
No. Due to NIH's updated international collaboration policy effective May 1, 2025, NIH will not issue awards to projects that include foreign subawards or subcontracts unless the application is submitted under a NOFO specifically designated for funded international collaborations. For this NOFO, applications that include foreign subawards/subcontracts will be considered noncompliant and will not be reviewed for funding.
Does the policy prohibit all international involvement?
No. The information provided states the policy does not prohibit unfunded international collaborations, foreign components (as allowed), paying foreign consultants, or purchasing specialized equipment or supplies from foreign vendors, as long as the arrangement does not involve a foreign subaward/subcontract.
What happens if an application includes a foreign subaward or subcontract?
Based on the information provided, the application would be considered noncompliant and would not be reviewed for funding under this NOFO.
What is the CFDA number and category for this opportunity?
The opportunity is listed in the health category under CFDA 93.173.
What is the posting date and the closing date listed in the provided details?
The posting date listed is February 5, 2026. An original closing date is shown as June 17, 2027.
Is the award ceiling or expected number of awards provided?
No. The provided text states that the award ceiling and expected number of awards are not specified in the information provided.
What grant type is this described as?
It is described as a discretionary grant using the NIH R21 mechanism.
What kinds of outcomes does the NOFO emphasize for implementation research?
The notice highlights outcomes related to adoption, fidelity, reach, and long-term sustainment of evidence-based innovations in real-world settings.
What makes a project a good fit for this program based on the description?
Based on the description, a strong fit would be an early-stage D&I study grounded in real-world communication-disorders settings that uses established D&I frameworks, designs, and measures to generate actionable findings and preliminary evidence that supports a compelling later-stage, full-scale D&I proposal.
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