Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 18 487
The NIDCD Early Career Research (ECR) Award (R21 - Clinical Trials Optional), Funding Opportunity Number PAR-18-487, is a discretionary NIH grant designed to help early-stage investigators who are starting to build an independent research program. It supports both basic and clinical research and is specifically meant to generate the kind of preliminary data that positions a Program Director/Principal Investigator (or multiple PDs/PIs) to move on to a larger, more definitive R01 application. A key restriction is that the award cannot be used to support thesis or dissertation research, so proposals need to be clearly framed as independent, career-establishing projects rather than student degree requirements.
The research scope must fit within the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) mission areas, meaning projects should focus on biomedical and behavioral science questions related to hearing, balance, smell, taste, voice, speech, or language. Within that mission space, the R21 mechanism is intended for exploratory, early-stage, or pilot-style work. The announcement highlights that supported projects can take several forms, including secondary analyses of existing datasets, small and self-contained research studies, development or refinement of research methodologies, translational research efforts, outcomes research, and the development of new research technologies. Regardless of the specific project type, the central expectation is that the work will reduce uncertainty and fill key evidence gaps so the investigator can credibly propose a subsequent full-scale R01.
Clinical trials are optional under this opportunity, which means applicants may propose studies that include clinical trial elements if appropriate, but they are not required to do so. This flexibility allows early career investigators to pursue either foundational laboratory or behavioral work, or patient- and population-oriented studies, as long as the aims remain aligned with NIDCD priorities and are realistic for an R21-style project intended to produce actionable preliminary findings.
Eligibility is broad and includes many types of U.S.-based organizations and government entities. Eligible applicants listed include state, county, city/township, and 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 and other Native American tribal organizations; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status (outside of higher education institutions); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses) as well as small businesses; and other applicant types. The opportunity also explicitly calls out additional eligible applicant categories such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, eligible federal agencies, certain Indian/Native American tribal governments other than federally recognized entities, and U.S. territories or possessions.
Foreign eligibility is limited in a way that is typical for many NIH opportunities. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations or foreign institutions) are not eligible to apply as the primary applicant organization, and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are also not eligible to apply. However, foreign components are allowed when they meet the NIH Grants Policy Statement definition, meaning a U.S. applicant organization can include a foreign component in the project when it is scientifically justified and properly structured within NIH policy.
From the opportunity metadata provided, the agency is the National Institutes of Health, the activity category is Health, and the CFDA number is 93.173. The source listing notes an award ceiling of $100,000 and an original closing date of 2020-10-27, indicating the specific version of the announcement referenced is not current, though the program concept and requirements described reflect the stated intent of the mechanism: to support early career investigators doing NIDCD-relevant pilot or exploratory work that builds a strong foundation for an R01-level application.Apply for PAR 18 487
- The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "NIDCD Early Career Research(ECR) Award (R21 - Clinical Trials Optional)" 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 2017-12-11.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2020-10-27. (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 $100,000.00 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.
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FAQs: NIDCD Early Career Research (ECR) Award (R21 - Clinical Trials Optional), PAR-18-487
What is the NIDCD Early Career Research (ECR) Award (R21 - Clinical Trials Optional)?
This is a discretionary NIH grant opportunity from the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) intended to help early-stage investigators who are beginning to establish an independent research program. It uses the NIH R21 mechanism and can support basic and clinical research within NIDCD mission areas.
What is the main purpose of this R21 opportunity?
The central purpose is to generate preliminary data and reduce key uncertainties so a Program Director/Principal Investigator (PD/PI) (or multiple PDs/PIs) is well-positioned to submit a larger, more definitive R01 application afterward.
What kinds of research areas are eligible under NIDCD mission scope?
Projects must address biomedical or behavioral science questions related to hearing, balance, smell, taste, voice, speech, or language.
Is this funding meant for exploratory or pilot work, or for large definitive studies?
It is meant for exploratory, early-stage, or pilot-style work that is realistic for an R21 and aimed at producing actionable preliminary findings that strengthen a future R01 proposal.
What types of projects does the announcement specifically mention as examples?
Examples include secondary analyses of existing datasets, small and self-contained research studies, development or refinement of research methodologies, translational research efforts, outcomes research, and development of new research technologies.
Are clinical trials required for this opportunity?
No. Clinical trials are optional. Applicants may include clinical trial elements if appropriate, but they are not required to propose a clinical trial.
If clinical trials are optional, what kinds of approaches are acceptable?
The opportunity allows a range of approaches, including foundational laboratory or behavioral work as well as patient- and population-oriented studies, as long as the project is aligned with NIDCD priorities and fits an R21-style, preliminary-data-building scope.
Can this award be used to support thesis or dissertation research?
No. A key restriction is that the award cannot be used to support thesis or dissertation research. Proposals need to be clearly framed as independent, career-establishing projects rather than student degree requirements.
Who is the intended applicant/PI audience for this program?
The opportunity is designed for early-stage investigators who are starting to build an independent research program and who need preliminary data to compete for a subsequent R01.
Can there be more than one PD/PI on an application?
Yes. The description notes that the preliminary data should position a PD/PI or multiple PDs/PIs to move on to an R01 application.
Which federal agency sponsors this opportunity?
The sponsoring agency is the National Institutes of Health (NIH), through NIDCD.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON) for this announcement?
PAR-18-487.
What is the activity mechanism used for this program?
R21 (Clinical Trials Optional).
What is the CFDA number listed for this opportunity?
93.173.
What is the listed award ceiling in the provided metadata?
The source listing notes an award ceiling of $100,000.
What is the listed closing date in the provided metadata, and what does that imply?
The original closing date provided is 2020-10-27. This indicates that the specific version of the announcement referenced is not current, even though the program concept and requirements described reflect the stated intent of the mechanism.
What types of U.S.-based organizations are eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes U.S.-based organizations and government entities such as state, county, city/township, and special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; and U.S. territories or possessions.
Are nonprofit organizations eligible?
Yes. Eligible applicants include nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status and nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status (both outside of higher education institutions).
Are for-profit organizations and small businesses eligible?
Yes. Eligible applicants include for-profit organizations (other than small businesses) as well as small businesses.
Are tribal governments and tribal organizations eligible?
Yes. The list includes federally recognized Native American tribal governments and other Native American tribal organizations, and it also calls out certain Indian/Native American tribal governments other than federally recognized entities.
Are housing authorities eligible applicants?
Yes. Public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities are included among eligible applicants.
Are particular institution types (e.g., HBCUs and Hispanic-serving Institutions) explicitly included?
Yes. The opportunity explicitly calls out categories such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, AANAPISIs, Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), and Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs).
Are faith-based or community-based organizations eligible?
Yes. Faith-based or community-based organizations are explicitly listed among additional eligible applicant categories.
Are regional organizations and federal agencies eligible to apply?
Yes. Regional organizations and eligible federal agencies are explicitly called out as eligible applicant categories.
Can a non-U.S. (foreign) organization apply as the primary applicant?
No. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations or foreign institutions) are not eligible to apply as the primary applicant organization.
Can a non-domestic component of a U.S. organization apply?
No. Non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are also not eligible to apply as the applicant entity.
Are foreign components allowed in the project at all?
Yes. A U.S. applicant organization may include a foreign component when it meets the NIH Grants Policy Statement definition and is scientifically justified and properly structured within NIH policy.
What is the overarching expectation for project outcomes?
The project should fill key evidence gaps and reduce uncertainty in a way that credibly supports a subsequent, full-scale R01 application.
Does the opportunity allow both basic and clinical research?
Yes. It supports both basic and clinical research, provided the work fits within NIDCD mission areas and matches an R21 exploratory/pilot intent.
What category is this opportunity listed under in the provided metadata?
The activity category is Health.
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