Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 08 018
Apply for PAR 08 018
- The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "NIDCD Research Grants for Translating Basic Research into Clinical Tools for Human Health (R21)" 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 Dec 5, 2008 and posted on Oct 26, 2007.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Multiple Receipt Dates See Link to Full Announcement for details.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $200,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: For profit organizations other than small businesses Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) Small businesses Private institutions of higher education Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education State governments.
- Foreign institutions are eligible to apply.
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Opportunity Summary:
The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), offered this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) to support early stage translational projects that move solid basic research findings toward practical clinical tools that improve human health. The grant is aimed at bridging the gap between discoveries made in laboratories and the kinds of methods, devices, measures, or approaches that can be used in clinical settings to better diagnose, treat, or prevent disorders within NIDCDs mission areas: hearing, balance, smell, taste, voice, speech, and language. A central theme of the opportunity is getting basic scientists, clinicians, and clinical scientists working together to launch exploratory translational efforts that might be too new, risky, or unproven for larger and longer awards.
This FOA uses the NIH Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant mechanism (R21), which is typically intended for innovative projects that are still in a developmental phase and need initial support to generate key feasibility data or demonstrate proof of concept. The emphasis here is not on running large, definitive clinical studies, but on translating a basic science result into something closer to a usable clinical tool. The FOA explicitly encourages team science and partnership models, including multi institutional and multi disciplinary collaborations, as well as academic industrial collaborations. In other words, applicants are pushed to think beyond a single lab or department and instead assemble the mix of expertise needed to turn a biological, physiological, behavioral, or engineering insight into a clinically relevant application.
At the same time, the announcement draws clear boundaries around what it does not want to fund. It is not intended for clinical outcome studies, extensions of ongoing clinical research projects, optimization or fine tuning of existing clinical protocols, or pre translational work that has not yet reached the point where a basic finding is ready to be shaped into a clinical tool. In practical terms, this means reviewers are looking for applications that already have a convincing basic research foundation and are now proposing the next translational steps that directly connect that foundation to clinical use, rather than projects that are still purely discovery science or projects that are simply improving routine clinical practice.
Administratively, the opportunity is identified as PAR 08 018 and is categorized as a discretionary grant program under the health funding activity area, tied to CFDA number 93.173 (Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders). It ran with multiple receipt dates across five submission cycles, and applications were to be evaluated by an institute special review group rather than a standard standing study section, which signals that NIDCD wanted review tailored to the specific translational focus of the program. The FOA also notes that it ran in parallel with a scientifically identical companion announcement, PAR 08 017, which supported the same scope of work under the larger NIH R01 mechanism. That parallel structure gave applicants a choice between a smaller, exploratory R21 pathway and a more extensive R01 pathway, depending on project maturity and the amount of work required.
In terms of funding, the FOA lists an award ceiling of $200,000 and states there were no funds specifically set aside for this initiative; awards depended on overall NIH/NIDCD funding availability and the scientific merit of the submissions. Because projects could vary widely in scope, the FOA indicates that both the size and duration of awards could vary, and that the total number of awards and total dollars committed would ultimately depend on the quality, duration, and budget needs of the applications received.
Eligibility was broad and included public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofits (including 501(c)(3) and certain non 501(c)(3) organizations), state governments, small businesses, and for profit organizations other than small businesses, with foreign institutions explicitly allowed to apply. The FOA did not require cost sharing or matching funds, which reduced barriers for applicants, especially for exploratory projects that may not yet have external partners willing to commit significant matching resources.
Overall, this grant opportunity was designed as a targeted on ramp for translational communication disorders research: take a credible basic science advance and develop it into a clinically meaningful tool or approach, using collaborative teams and, when helpful, cross sector partnerships, while avoiding projects that are either too early (purely pre translational) or too late (full outcome trials or routine protocol optimization) in the translational pipeline.
FAQs: NIDCD/NIH Translational Research (R21) - PAR-08-018
1) What is this funding opportunity trying to support?
This FOA supports early stage translational projects that move solid basic research findings toward practical clinical tools that improve human health. The goal is to bridge the gap between laboratory discoveries and clinically usable methods, devices, measures, or approaches that can help diagnose, treat, or prevent disorders within NIDCD mission areas.
2) Which NIH institute is offering this FOA?
The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), which is part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), offered this FOA.
3) What grant mechanism does this FOA use?
This FOA uses the NIH Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant mechanism (R21), which is typically intended for innovative projects that are still in a developmental phase and need initial support to generate feasibility data or demonstrate proof of concept.
4) What kinds of projects are a strong fit for this R21 FOA?
Projects are a strong fit when they start from a convincing basic research foundation and propose the next translational steps that directly connect that foundation to clinical use. The FOA emphasizes shaping a basic science result into something closer to a usable clinical tool, rather than conducting large definitive clinical studies.
5) What counts as a "clinical tool" in the context of this FOA?
Based on the FOA description, examples of clinically relevant outputs include methods, devices, measures, or approaches that can be used in clinical settings to better diagnose, treat, or prevent disorders in NIDCD mission areas.
6) What mission areas does NIDCD include for this opportunity?
NIDCD mission areas listed in the FOA include hearing, balance, smell, taste, voice, speech, and language.
7) Is this FOA intended for large clinical trials or definitive outcome studies?
No. The FOA is not intended for clinical outcome studies or large definitive clinical studies. The emphasis is on exploratory translational efforts and early proof-of-concept work that moves a strong basic finding toward clinical application.
8) What types of projects are explicitly not encouraged or not intended for funding?
The FOA draws clear boundaries and indicates it is not intended for:
- Clinical outcome studies
- Extensions of ongoing clinical research projects
- Optimization or fine-tuning of existing clinical protocols
- Pre-translational work that has not yet reached the point where a basic finding is ready to be shaped into a clinical tool
9) Does the FOA encourage collaboration or team science?
Yes. A central theme is bringing basic scientists, clinicians, and clinical scientists together to launch exploratory translational efforts. The FOA explicitly encourages team science and partnership models.
10) Are multi-institutional or multidisciplinary teams allowed?
Yes. The FOA encourages multi-institutional and multi-disciplinary collaborations as part of assembling the expertise needed to translate an insight into a clinically relevant application.
11) Are academic-industrial collaborations encouraged?
Yes. The FOA encourages partnership models including academic-industrial collaborations, reflecting an emphasis on cross-sector expertise when it helps move a discovery toward clinical use.
12) How are applications reviewed?
Applications were to be evaluated by an institute special review group rather than a standard standing study section. This suggests the review was tailored to the FOA's translational focus.
13) What is the FOA number and how is it categorized?
The opportunity is identified as PAR-08-018 and is categorized as a discretionary grant program under the health funding activity area.
14) What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?
The FOA is tied to CFDA number 93.173 (Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders).
15) What is the maximum award amount listed for this FOA?
The FOA lists an award ceiling of $200,000.
16) Were funds specifically set aside for this initiative?
No. The FOA states there were no funds specifically set aside for this initiative. Awards depended on overall NIH/NIDCD funding availability and the scientific merit of the submissions.
17) Will every application that meets the goals be funded?
No. The FOA indicates that awards depend on both funding availability and scientific merit, and that the number of awards and total dollars committed depend on the quality, duration, and budget needs of the applications received.
18) Can award size and project duration vary?
Yes. The FOA indicates that both the size and duration of awards could vary because projects could vary widely in scope.
19) Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofits (including 501(c)(3) and certain non-501(c)(3) organizations), state governments, small businesses, and for-profit organizations other than small businesses.
20) Are foreign institutions allowed to apply?
Yes. The FOA explicitly allows foreign institutions to apply.
21) Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The FOA did not require cost sharing or matching funds.
22) How many submission opportunities were available?
The FOA ran with multiple receipt dates across five submission cycles.
23) Is there a companion funding opportunity for larger projects?
Yes. The FOA notes a scientifically identical companion announcement, PAR-08-017, that supported the same scope of work under the larger NIH R01 mechanism.
24) How should an applicant choose between the R21 (this FOA) and the companion R01?
Based on the FOA description, the R21 pathway fits smaller, exploratory, developmental projects aimed at feasibility or proof of concept, while the companion R01 pathway (PAR-08-017) supports a more extensive scope of work. The choice depends on project maturity and how much work is required to reach the translational goals.
25) What is the main "sweet spot" in the translational pipeline for this FOA?
This FOA targets an on-ramp stage: projects that are beyond purely discovery/basic research (not too early) but not at the stage of full clinical outcome trials or routine protocol optimization (not too late). The focus is translating a credible basic science advance toward a clinically meaningful tool or approach.
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Previous opportunity: NIDCD Research Grants for Translating Basic Research into Clinical Tools for Human Health (R01)
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Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (PAR 08 018) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Assay Development for High Throughput Molecular Screening (R21) Apply for PAR 08 024 Funding Number: PAR 08 024 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Support of Competitive Research (SCORE) Research Advancement Award (SC1) Apply for PAR 08 026 Funding Number: PAR 08 026 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Support of Competitive Research (SCORE) Pilot Project Award (SC2) Apply for PAR 08 027 Funding Number: PAR 08 027 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Funding Amount: $100,000 |
| Support of Competitive Research (SCORE) Research Continuance Award (SC3) Apply for PAR 08 028 Funding Number: PAR 08 028 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Solicitation of Assays for High Throughput Screening (HTS) in the Molecular Libraries Probe Production Centers Network (MLPCN) (R03) Apply for PAR 08 035 Funding Number: PAR 08 035 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Reducing Mental Illness Stigma and Discrimination (Collaborative R01) Apply for PAR 08 040 Funding Number: PAR 08 040 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| NIMH Research Education Grants (R25) Apply for PAR 08 079 Funding Number: PAR 08 079 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Alcohol Research Education Project Grants (R25) Apply for PAR 08 082 Funding Number: PAR 08 082 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Health Behavior Change in People with Mental Disorders (R01) Apply for PA 08 089 Funding Number: PA 08 089 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Metagenomic Analyses of the Oral Microbiome (R01) Apply for PA 08 090 Funding Number: PA 08 090 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Novel Approaches to Study Polymicrobial Diseases (R01) Apply for PA 08 091 Funding Number: PA 08 091 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Novel Approaches To Study Polymicrobial Diseases (R21) Apply for PA 08 092 Funding Number: PA 08 092 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| CAM Practitioner Research Education Project Grant Partnership Competitive Renewal (R25) Apply for PAR 08 095 Funding Number: PAR 08 095 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Family Planning Service Delivery Improvement Research (R01) Apply for PAR 08 999 Funding Number: PAR 08 999 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Genome Wide Association Analysis of Existing Data Sets for Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (R01) Apply for PAR 08 123 Funding Number: PAR 08 123 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Mouse Models Containing Human Alleles Novel Tools to Study Brain Function (R21/R33) Apply for PAR 08 158 Funding Number: PAR 08 158 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Funding Amount: $150,000 |
| Adverse Metabolic Side Effects of Second Generation Psychotropic Medications Leading to Obesity and Increased Diabetes Risk (R01) Apply for PAR 08 160 Funding Number: PAR 08 160 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Mechanisms of Alcohol Induced Tissue Injury (R01) Apply for PA 08 164 Funding Number: PA 08 164 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Secondary Analysis of Existing Alcohol Epidemiology Data (R01) Apply for PA 08 167 Funding Number: PA 08 167 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Secondary Analysis of Existing Alcohol Epidemiology Data (R21) Apply for PA 08 168 Funding Number: PA 08 168 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
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