NIDCD Clinical Research Center Grant (P50 Clinical Trial Optional) | PAR 25 445

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 25 445

The NIDCD Clinical Research Center Grant (P50 Clinical Trial Optional), PAR 25-445, is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding opportunity from the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) that supports multidisciplinary clinical research centers focused on human sensory and communication disorders. The overall purpose is to accelerate progress in how these conditions are diagnosed, prevented, treated, and ultimately lessened in their impact on patients. NIDCD frames "clinical research" for this program in a very specific way: the work should involve people who have a sensory and/or communication disorder, or it should use data or tissues derived from individuals with such disorders. The expectation is that the center and its projects are anchored in real-world patient needs and clinically meaningful outcomes across NIDCD-relevant conditions.

The scientific scope is broad but clearly bounded by NIDCDs mission areas. Responsive topics include, for example, research on prevention, disease mechanisms (including pathogenesis and pathophysiology), improved diagnostics, treatment strategies, clinical management, and epidemiology related to disorders of hearing, balance, smell, taste, voice, speech, or language. In other words, the program is intended to support serious, patient-oriented research that can move the field forward, whether that means clarifying how a disorder develops, finding better ways to detect it earlier, or testing interventions and care approaches that improve quality of life.

While the program is fundamentally oriented around studies in affected individuals (or their data/tissues), NIDCD recognizes that some clinical research questions may require limited departures from that default. The announcement notes that, when justified by the clinical research goals, applicants may propose alternatives such as non-human research components, studies involving human subjects who do not currently have a disorder, or studies of individuals at risk for developing a sensory or communication disorder. These departures are not meant to be routine; they must be supported by strong scientific rationale and are expected to be discussed with NIDCD staff ahead of time. That emphasis on early consultation is repeated in the announcement, and it is tied to a clear warning: non-responsive applications will not be reviewed, so applicants need to align closely with the stated definition of clinical research and the Institutes expectations.

Clinical trials are allowed but not required under this funding announcement. Specifically, applications may include a low-risk clinical trial, but doing so is optional rather than mandatory. This flexibility makes the opportunity relevant both to teams that are ready to test an intervention in a carefully controlled, low-risk clinical setting and to teams that are focused on other types of clinical research that do not meet the NIH definition of a clinical trial.

In terms of who can apply, eligibility is wide across U.S.-based organizations and government entities. Eligible applicants include state, county, city or township governments; 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; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; and a range of nonprofit organizations (with or without 501(c)(3) status, excluding institutions of higher education in those specific nonprofit categories). For-profit organizations (other than small businesses) and small businesses are also listed as eligible, along with certain other categories. The announcement also highlights additional eligible applicants such as eligible federal government agencies, faith-based or community-based organizations, Indian/Native American tribal governments that are not federally recognized, regional organizations, and U.S. territories or possessions. At the same time, it draws a firm line on foreign participation: non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities are not eligible to apply, and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible. However, "foreign components" as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement are allowed, meaning a U.S. applicant may include certain types of foreign involvement when it meets NIH policy and is properly justified and structured.

Administratively, this is a discretionary grant mechanism in the health category (CFDA 93.173) under the NIH. The opportunitys original closing date is listed as June 2, 2028, and the funding opportunity was created on September 15, 2025. An explicit award ceiling and expected number of awards are not provided in the supplied summary, so applicants would need to consult the full notice and related NIH guidance for budget expectations, center structure requirements typical of P50 mechanisms, and any institute-specific limits or review considerations. The announcement strongly encourages prospective applicants to read the full funding opportunity carefully and to contact the listed scientific or research contact early to discuss plans, which is especially important here because the definition of "clinical research" and the responsiveness rules are central to whether an application will even proceed to review.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "NIDCD Clinical Research Center Grant (P50 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 2025-09-15.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2028-06-02.
• 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 PAR 25 445

[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal: