Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 16 170
Apply for PAR 16 170
- The HHS-NIH11 in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Noise-Induced Cochlear Synaptopathy: Basic Studies Informing Potential Therapies (R01)" 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 Apr 07, 2016 and posted on Apr 07, 2016.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 03, 2017. (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 $500,000.00 in funding.
- 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 (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Opportunity Summary:
Noise-Induced Cochlear Synaptopathy: Basic Studies Informing Potential Therapies (R01) is a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health (listed under HHS-NIH11), released as Funding Opportunity Number PAR 16-170. It supports health-related research through the NIH R01 mechanism, which is typically used for investigator-initiated, hypothesis-driven projects that can address a focused scientific problem with strong preliminary rationale. The announcement was created and posted on April 7, 2016, with an application closing date of July 3, 2017. The stated award ceiling is $500,000, indicating an upper bound on requested support as defined in the opportunity materials.
The scientific purpose of the FOA is to advance basic research on noise-induced cochlear synaptopathy, with an emphasis on understanding the cellular and subcellular mechanisms involved. Cochlear synaptopathy refers to damage or loss of synapses between inner hair cells and auditory nerve fibers in the cochlea, a form of injury that can be triggered by noise exposure. By prioritizing studies at the cellular and subcellular level, the FOA is signaling interest in mechanistic work that can clarify what exactly fails after acoustic overexposure, how those changes evolve over time, and which biological processes might be targeted to prevent, limit, or reverse synaptic damage. The announcement frames this as foundational science that is also explicitly meant to inform potential therapies, meaning projects should ideally generate knowledge that could point toward actionable intervention strategies, even if the work itself remains preclinical or mechanistic.
In practical terms, this opportunity invites applications that dig into the underlying biology of synapse injury and repair in the cochlea after noise exposure. That can include identifying vulnerable cell types and subcellular structures, mapping injury pathways, characterizing molecular signaling cascades involved in synaptic degeneration or recovery, and clarifying how noise parameters relate to synaptic outcomes. The therapy-informing aspect suggests NIH is looking for studies that can reveal druggable pathways, protective mechanisms, biomarkers of synaptic injury, or biological constraints that must be addressed for treatment to work. While the FOA description is brief, the phrase "basic studies informing potential therapies" usually implies that strong applications connect mechanistic experiments to translational relevance, such as explaining how the findings could guide development of pharmacologic, genetic, or biologic interventions aimed at synapse preservation or regeneration.
Eligibility is broad and includes many types of domestic organizations. Eligible applicants listed include state, county, and city or township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; other Native American tribal organizations; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education in those nonprofit categories); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; small businesses; and additional entities as clarified in the FOA’s eligibility text. This breadth indicates NIH intends the program to be accessible to universities, medical centers, research institutes, and qualified industry or nonprofit research organizations, as long as they can propose scientifically rigorous R01-level work aligned with the topic.
The program is categorized under CFDA numbers 93.173 (and another entry listed as 93.173 as well), placing it within NIH’s assistance listings for health research funding. Overall, the opportunity can be understood as a targeted call for rigorous, mechanism-focused cochlear research that explains how noise damages auditory synapses and that produces insights that could realistically steer future therapeutic development, including strategies to prevent synaptic loss, enhance resilience to noise exposure, or promote synaptic repair and functional recovery.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the full title of this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "Noise-Induced Cochlear Synaptopathy: Basic Studies Informing Potential Therapies (R01)."
Which federal agency is offering this funding?
This is a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), National Institutes of Health (NIH), listed under HHS-NIH11.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is PAR 16-170.
What grant mechanism is being used?
The funding uses the NIH R01 mechanism, which is typically intended for investigator-initiated, hypothesis-driven projects that address a focused scientific problem and are supported by a strong preliminary rationale.
When was the announcement created and posted?
The announcement was created and posted on April 7, 2016.
What is the application closing date?
The application closing date listed for this opportunity is July 3, 2017.
What is the stated award ceiling?
The stated award ceiling is $500,000, indicating the upper bound on requested support as defined in the opportunity materials.
What scientific area does this FOA focus on?
The FOA focuses on basic research on noise-induced cochlear synaptopathy, with an emphasis on understanding cellular and subcellular mechanisms involved in synapse injury and repair after noise exposure.
What is cochlear synaptopathy in the context of this funding opportunity?
In this FOA, cochlear synaptopathy refers to damage or loss of synapses between inner hair cells and auditory nerve fibers in the cochlea, and it highlights noise exposure as a triggering cause of this form of synaptic injury.
What kinds of studies are encouraged under this opportunity?
The opportunity invites applications that investigate the underlying biology of synapse injury and repair in the cochlea after noise exposure. Examples described include work that identifies vulnerable cell types and subcellular structures, maps injury pathways, characterizes molecular signaling cascades tied to degeneration or recovery, and clarifies how noise parameters relate to synaptic outcomes.
Does this FOA support therapy development or basic research?
The FOA emphasizes basic studies, but it explicitly frames the work as foundational science meant to inform potential therapies. Projects are expected to generate knowledge that could point toward actionable intervention strategies, even if the proposed work remains mechanistic or preclinical.
What does "basic studies informing potential therapies" mean for applicants?
Based on the description provided, it suggests NIH interest in mechanistic experiments that also connect to translational relevance, such as identifying druggable pathways, protective mechanisms, biomarkers of synaptic injury, or key biological constraints that would matter for developing treatments to prevent, limit, or reverse synaptic damage.
What biological level of analysis is prioritized by this FOA?
The FOA prioritizes studies at the cellular and subcellular level to clarify what fails after acoustic overexposure, how changes evolve over time, and which biological processes could be targeted to prevent, limit, or reverse synaptic damage.
What outcomes is NIH trying to enable through this research?
The overall intent is to support rigorous, mechanism-focused cochlear research that explains how noise damages auditory synapses and produces insights that could steer future therapeutic development, including approaches to prevent synaptic loss, enhance resilience to noise exposure, or promote synaptic repair and functional recovery.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes many types of domestic organizations. Eligible applicants listed include state, county, and city or township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; other Native American tribal organizations; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education in those nonprofit categories); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; small businesses; and additional entities as clarified in the FOA's eligibility text.
Does the eligibility list suggest what kinds of institutions NIH expects to apply?
Yes. The breadth of eligible applicant types indicates the program is intended to be accessible to universities, medical centers, research institutes, and qualified industry or nonprofit research organizations, as long as they can propose scientifically rigorous R01-level work aligned with the topic.
What CFDA number(s) are associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is categorized under CFDA 93.173 (and another entry listed as 93.173 as well), placing it within NIH assistance listings for health research funding.
What is the main theme of the FOA in practical terms?
In practical terms, the FOA is a targeted call for research that digs into the biology of synapse injury and repair in the cochlea following noise exposure, while keeping a clear line of sight to how mechanistic findings could inform future therapeutic strategies.
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