Clinical Research Center Grant (P50 Clinical Trial Optional)
🏛 National Institutes of Health (HHS-NIH11)
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Jul 29, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for institutions and researchers conducting clinical research on sensory and communication disorders. Eligible applicants include universities, research hospitals, nonprofit organizations, faith-based organizations, tribal governments, and federal agencies. Work must focus on hearing, balance, smell, taste, voice, speech, or language disorders. U.S.-based organizations may include non-U.S. components if approved.
Applicants must have expertise in clinical research design and access to individuals with sensory/communication disorders or relevant data/tissues. Research involving human subjects requires appropriate IRB approval. International applicants and foreign organizations are not eligible.
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Program description
The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) invites applications for Clinical Research Center Grants designed to advance the diagnosis, prevention, treatment, and amelioration of human sensory and communication disorders. For this announcement, Clinical Research is defined as research involving individuals with a sensory and/or communication disorder, or data/tissues from individuals with a sensory and/or communication disorder. Examples of such research include but are not limited to, studies of the prevention, pathogenesis, pathophysiology, diagnosis, treatment, management or epidemiology of a disease or disorder of hearing, balance, smell, taste, voice, speech, or language. Although the intent is that all the research will involve individuals with sensory and/or communication disorders or data/tissues from individuals with sensory and/or communication disorders, when the clinical research goal(s) warrant(s) limited departures from this intent, alternatives (e.g., non-human research, human subjects without a sensory or communication disorder, human at risk for a sensory and/or communication disorder) are possible with appropriate and strong scientific justification and in consultation with NIDCD staff. Applications may propose a low-risk clinical trial but are not required to (optional).Non-responsive applications will not be reviewed. Prospective applicants are strongly encouraged to read this funding opportunity carefully and communicate with the scientific/research contact listed at the end of this award as early as possible to discuss their application plans.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
- 501(c)(3) Public Charity
- City / Municipal Government
- Colleges (all higher ed)
- County Government
- Hospital
- Nonprofits
- Private University
- Public Authority
- Public K-12 School
- Public University
- Researcher (independent)
- Small Business (SBA-defined)
- Special District
- State Government
- Tribal Nation
- Tribal Organization
Demographic focus
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- SF-424 (R&R) Application Form
- Project Narrative and Specific Aims
- Research Strategy (including preliminary data)
- Budget and Budget Justification
- Biographical Sketches (key personnel)
- Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval letter or protocol
- Letters of support from partner institutions (if applicable)
- Resource sharing plans
Program contact
- 👤 National Institutes of Health
- 📧 grantsinfo@nih.gov
- 📞 301-402-2541
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 93.173 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$67,501,043
-
$41,811,330
-
$29,666,573
-
$25,009,162
-
$22,883,624
-
$22,740,456
-
$16,596,227
-
$13,760,149
-
$12,363,350
-
$12,276,804
Top States by Funding
- MA 11 awards $143.1M
- CA 10 awards $101.6M
- IA 5 awards $77.5M
- CT 2 awards $76.3M
- MD 8 awards $65.4M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 93.173). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $422,034,489 | |
| 2025 | $422,700,014 | |
| 2026 est. | $427,030,000 |
FAQ
Can I apply if I'm not at a research university?
Yes. Hospitals, nonprofits, and faith-based organizations can apply if they conduct clinical research on communication or sensory disorders.
Does my research need human subjects?
Not always. You may propose non-human research with strong scientific justification and NIDCD staff consultation.
Is this a clinical trial grant?
It can be. Clinical trials are optional, not required. Your research can focus on prevention, diagnosis, treatment, or epidemiology.
When is the deadline?
The fixed deadline is October 3, 2026. Plan your application well ahead.
What's the funding amount?
Award amounts vary by project scope and institute guidance. Contact NIDCD program staff for typical funding ranges.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Contact NIDCD program staff early to discuss your application plans and ensure responsiveness to the announcement.
- Clearly justify how your research addresses sensory or communication disorders, or explain why non-clinical research is scientifically necessary.
- If including non-U.S. components, ensure they're part of a U.S. organization and have prior NIDCD approval.
- Budget for rigorous study design, regulatory compliance (IRB), and participant recruitment and retention.
- Demonstrate institutional capacity and access to target population or relevant biospecimens.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Non-responsive applications (e.g., not focused on sensory/communication disorders) are not reviewed. Applicants must confirm research scope aligns with NIDCD priorities. Lack of preliminary data or unclear clinical relevance weakens competitiveness.
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