AHRF Discovery Grants

The AHRF Discovery Grants support innovative research on hearing and balance disorders, offering up to $50,000 for one year. Targeting early-career investigators, these grants aim to generate preliminary data for larger funding applications. Special consideration is given to projects exploring Meniere's disease and sudden hearing loss. Grants cover direct research costs, excluding principal investigator salaries and indirect expenses. The initiative strives to fund promising studies that can advance our understanding of auditory and vestibular health.

Background
Note: Discovery Grants formerly were called “Regular Grants".
Each year AHRF typically funds four to ten Discovery Grants for studies that investigate various aspects of hearing and balance disorders related to the inner ear. Applicants may request up to $50,000 for one year of research. Grants are paid in one lump sum in January in the year after the application deadline. Priority is given to investigators early in their careers who need seed funds to generate results and data that can be used to support applications for larger grants (i.e., NIH grants) in the future.
The Discovery Grant now encompasses the Foundation’s special interests of Causes of Sudden Hearing Loss and Meniere’s Disease. As a result, funding opportunities for these special interest topics are the same as AHRF funding for other hearing and balance topics.
Depending on funds available, grant amounts occasionally may be adjusted at the discretion of AHRF. Our goal is to fund as many promising, novel projects as feasible.
Research Topics
Proposals should relate to the hearing or balance functions of the ear. Basic or clinical studies may be proposed that investigate aspects of the auditory and vestibular systems including but not limited to genetics, neurotology, anatomy, auditory processing, molecular and cellular biology, therapeutic studies, and investigations of current or experimental devices (i.e., cochlear implants).
AHRF donors have given special support for research that explores Meniere’s disease (mechanisms, causes, or treatments) and the causes or mechanisms of sudden hearing loss. Proposals that address these areas of interest will receive special consideration during the review process.

Eligibility

Applicants must hold an MD, PhD, AuD, or equivalent degree(s) and be associated with a university or hospital in the United States.Grant funds may only be used for direct costs, including salaries of technical and supporting staff, equipment related to the research, and supplies.Note that the cost for salaries plus fringe benefits cannot be more than 80% of the direct costs.

Ineligibility

Funding may not be used for the salary of the principal investigator, travel, conference attendance, educational costs, or indirect costs.No-cost extensions of research past the funded year is granted based on approval of the Research Committee.