NIDCD Early Career Research(ECR) Award (R21 Clinical Trial Optional)
NIDCD's R21 grant supports early-career scientists in hearing, balance, or communication research, aiming to gather data for future R01 applications.
This grant is no longer accepting proposals
National Institutes of Health has archived this opportunity.
Funder: National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Due Dates: June 17, 2025 | October 17, 2025 | February 18, 2026 | June 17, 2026 | October 19, 2026 | February 17, 2027
Funding Amounts: Up to $375,000 total direct costs over a maximum of 3 years, with no more than $125,000 per year.
Summary: Supports early-career scientists conducting basic or clinical research in hearing, balance, smell, taste, voice, speech, or language to obtain preliminary data for future R01 applications.
Key Information: Clinical trial optional; applicants must be within 7 years of their terminal degree; not for thesis/dissertation research; limited to U.S.-based organizations.
Description
The NIDCD Early Career Research (ECR) Award (R21) is designed to support early-stage investigators who are beginning to establish independent research careers in areas aligned with the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) mission. These areas include hearing, balance, smell, taste, voice, speech, and language.
This grant mechanism supports a variety of project types such as:
- Secondary analysis of existing data
- Small, self-contained research projects
- Development of research methodologies
- Translational research
- Outcomes research
- Development of new research technologies
The primary goal is to enable investigators to collect sufficient preliminary data to support a subsequent R01 application. Projects may be hypothesis-driven or descriptive and milestone-driven. Preliminary data are not required but recommended if available.
The award can also be used by beginning clinical scientists planning to apply for NIDCD K08 or K23 career development awards to demonstrate feasibility. Applicants currently holding a K award may reduce their effort on the K award to 50% during the last two years to become PD/PI on this R21, maintaining a total effort of at least 75%.
This funding opportunity accepts applications proposing clinical trials but does not require them.
