National Resource Network for the Study of Human Auditory and Vestibular Disorders

The National Institutes of Health (NIH), through its institute the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), has announced a forecasted opportunity under the title "National Resource Network for the Study of Human Auditory and Vestibular Disorders." This cooperative agreement aims to support the NIDCD’s mission of advancing research into hearing and balance disorders by developing a national infrastructure to provide human ear tissues for research purposes. This initiative, known as the NIDCD National Human Ear Resource Network, will continue efforts to serve as a critical resource hub for auditory and vestibular research involving human inner and middle ear tissues. The purpose of this funding opportunity is to enhance and maintain a collaborative network of laboratories that will supply the scientific community with high-quality human temporal bone tissues. These tissues are instrumental in studying the structure and pathology of the human auditory and vestibular systems, facilitating both basic and clinical research. Each participating laboratory will be responsible for procuring, processing, sectioning, preserving, and distributing ear tissues. Additionally, the network will be involved in developing and sharing improved techniques for tissue preservation, uploading digitized images of temporal bones to NIDCD-approved databases for public access, and offering specialized technical training on tissue preparation methods. The anticipated funding mechanism is a cooperative agreement, reflecting a high level of involvement from NIH staff in the scientific and programmatic direction of the network. The estimated total program funding is $3.5 million, with an award ceiling of $450,000. Five awards are expected. The program does not require cost sharing or matching contributions, reducing barriers to participation and enabling a broader range of organizations to apply. Eligibility for this opportunity is notably inclusive. It spans public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions, tribal governments and organizations, nonprofits (both 501(c)(3) and others), public housing authorities, for-profit organizations including small businesses, as well as local and state governments. The eligibility scope also extends to additional entities such as U.S. territories, faith-based or community-based organizations, and eligible federal agencies. This wide eligibility aims to maximize the range of institutional expertise and capacity contributing to the national resource network. Applications are forecasted to open on March 7, 2026, with a due date of September 29, 2026. Awards are expected to be made by July 31, 2027, with funded projects beginning August 1, 2027. As this is a recurring opportunity, issued by NIH on a multi-year cycle, it is anticipated that a similar opportunity will arise in subsequent years. No pre-application steps such as a Letter of Intent or Concept Paper are required, streamlining the submission process for applicants. Interested applicants should monitor the NIH and Grants.gov websites for the official Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) once published. The primary contact listed is the Division of Scientific Programs at NIDCD, and applicants are encouraged to reach out via email for more detailed inquiries. At this stage, no direct PDF link for the NOFO is available since this remains a forecasted opportunity. Once the official NOFO is posted, further details on submission mechanics, required documentation, and evaluation criteria are expected to be made available.