Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA DC 12 002
Apply for RFA DC 12 002
- 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 26, 2011 and posted on Dec 20, 2010.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Oct 26, 2011. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $1,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Eligible applicants include: Small businesses.
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Opportunity Summary:
The grant opportunity titled "Improving Access to Hearing Health Care (STTR) R41/R42" (Funding Opportunity Number RFA-DC-12-002) is a discretionary research grant program from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), focused on advancing practical technologies that can improve hearing health care outcomes. It is structured under the Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) mechanism, meaning proposals must be led by an eligible U.S. small business concern working in formal collaboration with a nonprofit research institution (such as a university or research hospital). The core purpose is not just to invent new hearing-related tools, but to move promising technologies through development and translation in ways that measurably expand real-world use of hearing health care technology, especially among people who are currently underserved.
A defining feature of this FOA is its explicit emphasis on access, utilization, and health equity. Applicants are expected to propose solutions that increase uptake of hearing health care technology by underserved patient populations and, by doing so, reduce health disparities. In practice, this points toward innovations that tackle barriers like cost, availability of services, geographic distance, lack of specialist access, limited health literacy, language barriers, cultural mistrust, or other systemic obstacles that keep certain communities from receiving timely hearing evaluation and intervention. The FOA is therefore aimed at bridging the gap between technological capability and patient adoption, with an expectation that projects will be designed with the realities of underserved users in mind.
The program uses the NIH STTR phased award structure, R41/R42. Phase I (R41) typically supports early-stage feasibility work, such as prototype development, proof-of-concept testing, initial usability validation, or preliminary studies needed to demonstrate that an approach can work and can reasonably move forward. Phase II (R42) generally supports more advanced research and development, including refinement of prototypes into deployable systems, broader testing in relevant settings, and steps that move the product closer to commercialization or implementation. While the FOA summary provided does not list detailed topic areas, the intent strongly suggests interest in technologies that can be implemented at scale and that are designed to function in settings where traditional hearing care pathways are harder to access.
From an administrative standpoint, this opportunity is categorized as a health-related grant under CFDA 93.173 (Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders). It does not require cost sharing or matching funds, which can lower the financial barrier to participation for small businesses. The eligible applicant pool is limited to small businesses, consistent with STTR rules. The estimated total funding level listed is $1,000,000 for the FOA, indicating a modest, targeted program intended to catalyze development of specific solutions rather than fund large clinical networks or long-term service programs.
Key dates in the record show the opportunity was posted on December 20, 2010, with an original closing date of July 18, 2012, though the listing also includes a "current closing date" of October 26, 2011 and an archive date of November 26, 2011, indicating the announcement is no longer active and has been archived. For anyone trying to understand the full scope of requirements, application instructions, review criteria, and responsiveness details, the official NIH guide page is referenced at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-DC-12-002.html. The contact point provided for access or linking issues is the NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) Webmaster at FBOWebmaster@OD.NIH.GOV.
Overall, the opportunity is best understood as an NIH-backed push to help small businesses and research institutions jointly create and translate hearing health technologies that people will actually use, with special priority on solutions that reach communities commonly left behind in traditional hearing care delivery.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the "Improving Access to Hearing Health Care (STTR) R41/R42" opportunity?
It is a discretionary NIH research grant opportunity focused on advancing practical technologies that can improve hearing health care outcomes. The program is designed to move promising hearing health technologies through development and translation so they expand real-world use, especially among people who are currently underserved.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FOA number)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is RFA-DC-12-002.
Which federal agency is offering this grant?
The opportunity is offered by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
What funding mechanism does this program use?
This program uses the Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) mechanism and follows the NIH phased award structure R41/R42.
Who is eligible to apply?
Applications must be led by an eligible U.S. small business concern, consistent with STTR rules.
Is a research institution required as a partner?
Yes. Because this is an STTR opportunity, proposals must be submitted by a small business working in formal collaboration with a nonprofit research institution, such as a university or research hospital.
What is the main purpose of this FOA beyond inventing new tools?
The emphasis is on development and translation that measurably increases real-world use of hearing health care technology. The goal is not only to create technology, but to ensure it is adopted and used in ways that improve outcomes and access.
How does this opportunity address access, utilization, and health equity?
A defining feature is the explicit focus on increasing uptake of hearing health care technology among underserved patient populations to reduce health disparities. Applicants are expected to propose solutions that directly address barriers that keep certain communities from receiving timely hearing evaluation and intervention.
What types of barriers is NIH expecting projects to tackle?
The FOA points to barriers such as cost, availability of services, geographic distance, lack of specialist access, limited health literacy, language barriers, cultural mistrust, and other systemic obstacles that reduce access and adoption of hearing care technologies.
What is Phase I (R41) intended to support?
Phase I (R41) typically supports early-stage feasibility work, including prototype development, proof-of-concept testing, initial usability validation, and preliminary studies needed to show the approach can work and is ready to move forward.
What is Phase II (R42) intended to support?
Phase II (R42) generally supports more advanced research and development, such as refining prototypes into deployable systems, broader testing in relevant settings, and steps that move the product closer to commercialization or implementation.
Does the FOA specify detailed topic areas?
In the summary provided here, detailed topic areas are not listed. However, the intent suggests interest in technologies designed for real-world deployment at scale, including in settings where traditional hearing care pathways are harder to access.
What is the CFDA number and program category?
The opportunity is categorized under CFDA 93.173, "Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders."
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The opportunity does not require cost sharing or matching funds.
What is the estimated total funding level for the FOA?
The estimated total funding level listed is $1,000,000.
Is this funding opportunity still active?
No. Based on the dates provided, the announcement is no longer active and has been archived. The record includes an archive date of November 26, 2011.
What dates are associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity was posted on December 20, 2010. The listing includes an original closing date of July 18, 2012, a "current closing date" of October 26, 2011, and an archive date of November 26, 2011.
Where can applicants find the official NIH announcement and full instructions?
The official NIH guide page referenced is: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-DC-12-002.html
Who should be contacted for access or linking issues related to the announcement?
The contact listed for access or linking issues is the NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) Webmaster at FBOWebmaster@OD.NIH.GOV.
What kinds of organizations is this program not aimed at funding directly?
Based on the description and the STTR eligibility limitation, the eligible applicant pool is limited to small businesses working with a nonprofit research institution. The program is described as a modest, targeted effort intended to catalyze development of specific solutions rather than fund large clinical networks or long-term service programs.
What makes a project a strong fit conceptually, according to the summary?
Projects are expected to be designed with the realities of underserved users in mind and to bridge the gap between technological capability and patient adoption. The central idea is to create and translate hearing health technologies that people will actually use, especially in communities commonly left behind in traditional hearing care delivery.
Browse more opportunities from the same agency: National Institutes of Health
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Previous opportunity: Environmental Health Sciences Core Center Grants (P30)
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