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NIDCD Early Career Research(ECR) Award (R21 Clinical Trial Optional)

Open

National Institutes of Health

Deadline: Oct 15, 2027federal

Updated: Oct 30, 2025

Summary

The NIDCD Early Career Research (ECR) Award (R21) aims to support basic and clinical research for early-career scientists focusing on areas related to hearing, balance, smell, taste, voice, speech, or language, with the goal of obtaining preliminary data for future R01 applications. Eligible applicants include various government entities, nonprofits, for-profit organizations, and educational institutions, with specific provisions for Native American and other minority-serving institutions. Application details are not provided in the description, but interested parties can contact NIH Grants Information for further inquiries.

Full Description

The NIDCD Early Career Research (ECR) Award (R21) is intended to support both basic and clinical research from scientists who are beginning to establish an independent research career. It cannot be used for thesis or dissertation research. The research must be focused on one or more of the areas within the biomedical and behavioral scientific mission of the NIDCD: hearing, balance, smell, taste, voice, speech, or language. The NIDCD ECR Award R21 grant mechanism supports different types of projects including secondary analysis of existing data; small, self-contained research projects; development...

Eligibility

Eligible applicants

Government

  • Federally recognized Native American tribal governments
  • Public and Indian housing authorities
  • State governments
  • Special district governments
  • County governments
  • City or township governments

Nonprofit

  • Nonprofits non-higher education without 501(c)(3)
  • Nonprofits non-higher education with 501(c)(3)
  • Other Native American tribal organizations

Business

  • For-profit organizations other than small businesses
  • Small businesses

Education

  • Private institutions of higher education
  • Public and state institutions of higher education
  • Independent school districts

Miscellaneous

  • Other

Additional information

Other Eligible Applicants include the following: Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions; Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISISs); Eligible Agencies of the Federal Government; Faith-based or Community-based Organizations; Hispanic-serving Institutions; Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs); Indian/Native American Tribal Governments (Other than Federally Recognized); Non-domestic (non-U.S.) Entities (Foreign Organizations); Regional Organizations; Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs) ; U.S. Territory or Possession; Non-domestic (non-U.S.) Entities (Foreign Organizations) are not eligible to apply. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) components of U.S. Organizations are not eligible to apply. Foreign components, as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are allowed.

Grantor contact information

Description

NIH Grants Information grantsinfo@nih.gov

Email

See Section VII. Agency Contacts within the full opportunity announcement for all other inquires.

grantsinfo@nih.gov

Apply on official siteUpdated Oct 30, 2025

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