Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA DC 12 005
Apply for RFA DC 12 005
- The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Improving Access to Hearing Health Care (STTR) R41/R42" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.173 Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders.
- This funding opportunity was created on Oct 21, 2013 and posted on Oct 26, 2011.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Nov 1, 2013. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $500,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $100,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Small businesses.
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Opportunity Summary:
The grant opportunity "Improving Access to Hearing Health Care (STTR) R41/R42" (Funding Opportunity Number RFA-DC-12-005) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding announcement focused on helping small businesses develop and move forward practical technologies that can measurably improve hearing health care outcomes. It uses the Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) mechanism, meaning proposals are expected to involve a small business concern working in formal collaboration with a research institution, with an emphasis on translating research into real-world tools, products, or services. The central purpose is not just general innovation in hearing health, but specifically innovation that increases the use of hearing health care technology among underserved patients, with the broader goal of reducing health disparities.
In terms of what NIH is looking for, the program is oriented toward projects that address barriers that prevent people from getting evaluated, treated, or supported for hearing-related needs. The FOA highlights “development and translation,†which typically means taking a concept beyond basic research and pushing it toward something usable in clinics, community settings, or at home. Competitive projects would be expected to show a clear pathway from prototype or early-stage technology to adoption and utilization by populations that historically have less access to hearing care. That can include groups affected by geographic isolation, limited specialist availability, lower income, lack of transportation, language barriers, limited health literacy, or other structural obstacles that can keep people from obtaining or consistently using hearing health services and devices.
This opportunity sits within NIH’s mission area for deafness and communication disorders and is tied to CFDA 93.173 (Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders). The funding instrument is a grant under a discretionary program, and it is specifically for eligible small businesses. There is no cost sharing or matching requirement, which means applicants are not required to provide non-federal matching funds as a condition of receiving an award. The announcement’s estimated total funding amount is $500,000, and the listed award ceiling is $100,000, which sets an upper bound for the amount that can be requested per award under this FOA as presented in the source information.
The R41/R42 structure indicates a phased STTR approach. In practical terms, Phase I (R41) generally supports feasibility and early technical validation, while Phase II (R42) generally supports further development, refinement, and steps toward commercialization or broad deployment. While the source text provided does not spell out phase-specific requirements, the use of R41/R42 strongly implies NIH expects a logical progression from demonstrating that the idea works to proving it can be implemented effectively in settings that matter for underserved communities. The focus on “increase utilization†is important: the technology should not only exist, it should be designed and positioned so that people who have been left out of traditional hearing care are more likely to actually use it.
Key administrative details from the listing include the initial posting date of October 26, 2011, with an original closing date of October 22, 2013, and a current closing date shown as November 1, 2013. The archive date is December 1, 2013, meaning this specific opportunity was time-limited and is now historical, but it still serves as a useful model of NIH priorities around hearing health access and disparity reduction. The full announcement was hosted on the NIH grants website at the link provided in the source data.
For support or access issues, the contact information routes applicants to the NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) Webmaster (FBOWebmaster@od.nih.gov), which is typical for technical problems viewing or linking to the announcement rather than scientific or programmatic questions. Overall, the opportunity is best understood as a targeted STTR call for small business-led, research-partnered technology translation projects that can make hearing health care more reachable and more used by underserved patients, thereby improving outcomes and narrowing disparities.
FAQs: Improving Access to Hearing Health Care (STTR) R41/R42 (RFA-DC-12-005)
What is the name of this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "Improving Access to Hearing Health Care (STTR) R41/R42."
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FOA number)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is RFA-DC-12-005.
Which agency is offering this opportunity?
This is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding announcement.
What is the main purpose of this funding opportunity?
The purpose is to help small businesses develop and advance practical technologies that can measurably improve hearing health care outcomes, especially by increasing the use of hearing health care technology among underserved patients to reduce health disparities.
What funding mechanism does this opportunity use?
It uses the Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) mechanism, specifically the R41/R42 phased structure.
What does STTR imply about project collaboration?
STTR proposals are expected to involve a small business concern working in formal collaboration with a research institution, with an emphasis on translating research into real-world tools, products, or services.
What types of projects is NIH looking for under this announcement?
The announcement is oriented toward development and translation projects that address barriers preventing people from being evaluated, treated, or supported for hearing-related needs, with a clear pathway from prototype or early-stage technology to adoption and utilization by underserved populations.
Does this opportunity focus on general hearing-health innovation, or something more specific?
It is not just for general innovation. The central focus is innovation that increases utilization of hearing health care technology among underserved patients, with the broader goal of reducing health disparities.
What does "development and translation" mean in this context?
Based on the description provided, it generally means moving a concept beyond basic research and pushing it toward something usable in clinics, community settings, or at home, with practical potential to improve outcomes.
What kinds of barriers are projects expected to address?
The opportunity highlights barriers that can limit access or consistent use of hearing health services and devices, including geographic isolation, limited specialist availability, lower income, lack of transportation, language barriers, limited health literacy, and other structural obstacles.
Who are the intended beneficiaries or target populations?
The intended beneficiaries are underserved patients and groups who historically have less access to hearing care, with an emphasis on increasing actual use of hearing health care technologies.
What does it mean that the goal is to "increase utilization"?
It means the technology should not only exist; it should be designed and positioned so that underserved populations are more likely to actually use it in real-world settings.
What are the R41 and R42 phases intended to support?
While the source text does not list phase-specific requirements, it indicates the typical STTR progression: Phase I (R41) generally supports feasibility and early technical validation, and Phase II (R42) generally supports further development, refinement, and steps toward commercialization or broad deployment.
What NIH mission area does this opportunity align with?
It sits within NIH's mission area for deafness and communication disorders.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA is 93.173 (Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders).
What is the funding instrument type?
The funding instrument is a grant under a discretionary program.
Is this opportunity limited to small businesses?
Yes. The announcement is specifically for eligible small businesses and uses the STTR mechanism, which implies small business participation with formal collaboration with a research institution.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The listing states there is no cost sharing or matching requirement, meaning applicants are not required to provide non-federal matching funds as a condition of receiving an award.
How much total funding is estimated for this opportunity?
The estimated total funding amount listed is $500,000.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling) stated in the listing?
The award ceiling is listed as $100,000, which sets an upper bound for the amount that can be requested per award under this FOA as presented in the source information.
When was this opportunity first posted?
The initial posting date is October 26, 2011.
What were the closing dates for this opportunity?
The original closing date is listed as October 22, 2013, and a current closing date is shown as November 1, 2013.
Is this opportunity still open?
No. The archive date is December 1, 2013, which indicates this specific opportunity was time-limited and is now historical.
Where was the full announcement hosted?
The full announcement was hosted on the NIH grants website at the link provided in the source data.
Who should be contacted for support or access issues related to the announcement?
For support or access issues, the contact listed is the NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) Webmaster at FBOWebmaster@od.nih.gov. This is described as typical for technical problems viewing or linking to the announcement rather than scientific or programmatic questions.
What is the simplest way to describe what NIH was trying to fund here?
A targeted STTR call for small business-led, research-partnered technology translation projects that make hearing health care more reachable and more used by underserved patients, improving outcomes and narrowing disparities.
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