NIDCD Research Opportunities for New Investigators to Promote Workforce Diversity (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) | RFA DC 23 001

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA DC 23 001

The NIDCD Research Opportunities for New Investigators to Promote Workforce Diversity (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) funding opportunity (RFA-DC-23-001) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant program that invites applications for R01-level, independent research projects that align with the scientific mission of the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD). In practical terms, the FOA is aimed at supporting research that advances knowledge related to hearing, balance, smell, taste, voice, speech, and language, along with the basic, translational, and clinical science that underpins these areas. Because it uses the R01 mechanism, the expectation is that applicants propose a clearly defined, investigator-driven research plan with strong potential for meaningful impact in an NIDCD mission area, and the program allows (but does not require) clinical trial activity, depending on what the science demands.

A central purpose of this announcement is to strengthen and diversify the biomedical and behavioral research workforce by supporting Early Stage Investigators and New Investigators from diverse backgrounds, especially individuals from groups underrepresented in the health-related sciences. The FOA specifically highlights that Principal Investigators from categories A-C of the NIH Diversity Statement (NOT-OD-20-031) are particularly encouraged to apply in coordination with their institutions. This emphasis signals that the program is not only about funding good science, but also about creating a more inclusive pipeline of independently funded researchers in NIDCD-relevant fields, helping new investigators establish themselves and build a trajectory toward long-term research independence.

One notable feature is that preliminary data are not required. That lowers a common barrier for new investigators, especially those who may have had fewer opportunities to build large datasets prior to seeking an R01. Instead, applicants are expected to make a compelling case through strong rationale, sound study design, and clear feasibility, even if the project is at an earlier stage of development. For applicants, this means the proposal should lean heavily on the strength of the hypothesis or conceptual framework, methodological rigor, realistic milestones, and careful attention to potential pitfalls and alternative approaches.

Eligibility is broad across many types of U.S.-based organizations and government entities, reflecting NIH's typical range of applicant institutions. Eligible applicants include state, county, and local governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; nonprofit organizations (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3), other than higher education institutions); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; small businesses; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; and Native American tribal governments (federally recognized) as well as tribal organizations that are not federally recognized. The FOA also explicitly calls out additional eligible applicant categories that often align with workforce diversity goals and community-serving missions, such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, and Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISI), along with faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, and U.S. territories or possessions.

At the same time, the FOA draws clear limits around foreign involvement. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities and foreign institutions are not eligible to apply as the applicant organization, and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are also not eligible to apply. However, foreign components, as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are allowed. In effect, the administrative home for the award must be a domestic eligible organization, but the science may still incorporate certain international elements when justified and compliant with NIH policy.

From a funding and administrative standpoint, this is a discretionary grant opportunity in the health category (CFDA 93.173) using the R01 grant mechanism, with clinical trial participation labeled as optional. The listed award ceiling is $500,000 (as provided in the opportunity summary). The original closing date shown for this FOA was August 4, 2023, and the opportunity record indicates it was created on April 5, 2022. Applicants considering similar NIDCD diversity-focused opportunities should pay attention to the specific budget structure and any NIH institute-specific budget guidance in the full FOA text, since R01 budgets can be requested in different formats depending on threshold levels and FOA instructions.

Overall, the program is best understood as an R01 entry point designed to help diverse Early Stage and New Investigators launch independent NIDCD-relevant research programs, with a lowered entry barrier on preliminary data and a wide range of eligible U.S. applicant organizations, while still maintaining standard NIH expectations for significance, innovation, and rigorous, well-justified research design.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "NIDCD Research Opportunities for New Investigators to Promote Workforce Diversity (R01 Clinical Trial 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 2022-04-05.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2023-08-04. (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.

Apply for RFA DC 23 001

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