NIDCD Research Grants (R Series)

Advancement and Innovation in Measurement of Language Development and Predictors

Funds community-engaged language development measurement research for children under investigator-led initiatives in the United States.

PAR-25-112, Advancement and Innovation in Measurement of Language Development and Predictors, is an R01 research grant program co-sponsored by NICHD (lead institute) and NIDCD, which joined as a co-sponsor on November 25, 2024. The program funds community-engaged research that develops novel, strengths-focused, culturally responsive, and generalizable tools for measuring children's language development, the quality of children's language environments, and predictors of language impairment. The scientific rationale addresses a recognized limitation in the field: existing language development measures were derived primarily from homogenous, convenience-sampled populations and emphasize quantity of language input, leaving children from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds at risk of both over- and under-diagnosis of speech and language delays. Applications must address this gap with new measurement approaches that can operate across diverse populations. NOFO PAR-25-113 is a companion R21 version for exploratory or developmental work in the same area.

A Community Engagement (CE) Plan is a hard requirement for every application. Applications submitted without a CE Plan are administratively withdrawn as incomplete — this is not an advisory recommendation but an absolute eligibility gate. The CE Plan is formally reviewed and scored as part of the scientific and technical peer review. The NOFO was updated March 31, 2025 to align with agency priorities; applicants who prepared applications using the prior version must reread the full current text and revise accordingly. The expiration date is September 8, 2027, with standard NIH due dates three times per year (February, June, and October cycles).

Eligible applicants include U.S. domestic institutions — universities, nonprofits, research organizations, and for-profit entities. Individual investigators apply through their institutions via Grants.gov using NIH ASSIST or institutional system-to-system submission. Clinical trials are not allowed under this NOFO. The program is administered under Assistance Listing numbers 93.865 (NICHD) and 93.173 (NIDCD). Applicants targeting NIDCD-specific scientific priorities — hearing, voice, speech, or language communication disorders — should confirm that their proposed aims align with the NIDCD portion of the co-sponsorship, as lead scientific review is conducted through NICHD channels.