HHF: Emerging Research Grant (ERG)

The Hearing Health Foundation's Emerging Research Grants (ERG) program supports innovative research in hearing and balance, providing up to $50,000 per year for promising projects. Eligible applicants must be affiliated with U.S. institutions and hold relevant advanced degrees. The program emphasizes underfunded areas and encourages applications that expand knowledge and research capabilities in hearing health.

Emerging Research Grants Program
Through the Emerging Research Grants (ERG) program, Hearing Health Foundation (HHF) provides seed money to researchers working on the entire spectrum of hearing research and balance research, including many underfunded areas of otology. As the program’s remit is so broad, HHF solicits applications for ERG awards under a number of opportunity types.
ERG awards are for up to $50,000 per year, one year in length in the first instance, and renewable for a second year. The program is governed by the Council of Scientific Trustees, which is comprised of senior researchers and physicians from across the nation who assess each application for scientific merit and relevance. The ERG program is particularly targeted to early career researchers, but has funding streams open to researchers at all career stages.
The ERG program is a competitive process that awards grants to only the most promising investigators. Recipients are exceptionally well-positioned to win future grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and other federal research funders, leading to dramatic innovations in the field. In fact, ERG alumni have gone on to be awarded an average $56 of additional federal funding for every dollar of investment through ERG (2002–present).
HHF welcomes applications from scientists who are based at research institutions (higher education, government, and/or non-profit) located in the U.S. and who hold an Au.D., M.D., Ph.D. or equivalent. Please see the full Policy on Emerging Research Grants for all eligibility information.
Funding
A grant cannot exceed $50,000 for one Project Year or $100,000 for one Project Period.
Research Topics
Applications must only be submitted in one of the stated research topic areas below. Applications outside of these areas will not be considered.
Age Related Hearing Loss
Diagnosis, treatment and prevention of age-related hearing lossRole and management of comorbidities especially relevant to older populationsAuditory processing, particularly in loud or reverberant environmentsGenetic factors in the development and/or treatment of age-related hearing lossDevices or medications specifically for older populations
General Hearing Health
Physiology of hearing and balanceEpidemiology of auditory and vestibular disordersHuman otopathologyDiagnosis, treatment and prevention of hearing loss and balance disturbanceHuman genetics and mouse models of peripheral and central auditory/balance dysfunctionInnovation in cellular and molecular therapiesAuditory and vestibular implants, and hearing aids
Central Auditory Processing Disorder
Normal and abnormal auditory processingCreating testable models of auditory processing disordersEtiology, diagnosis, and treatment of CAPDGenetics of CAPDDevelopment of screening tools and diagnostic tests for CAPD including behavioral, physiologic and neuroimagingLanguage, music, learning and communication issues related to CAPD
Hearing Loss In Children
Etiology of childhood hearing loss (e.g., genetic, infectious, traumatic)Assessment and diagnosis of childhood hearing lossAuditory neuropathyBehavioral, cognitive, developmental, and psychosocial consequences of childhood hearing lossImpact of early interventionEducation of the hearing impaired childCochlear implants and Auditory Brainstem Implants in children
Hyperacusis
Mechanisms of hyperacusisDevelopment of animal modelsGenetics of hyperacusisEtiology, diagnosis and treatment ofhyperacusisBrain imaging, biomarkers, electrophysiology of hyperacusisDistinctions between hyperacusis and tinnitusInteraction between auditory nerve and trigeminal nerve information
Meniere’s Disease
Mechanisms of endolymphatic hydrops including mechanisms of cochlear fluid regulationGenetics of Meniere’s diseaseAnimal modelsof Meniere’s diseaseImaging of hydropsEtiology, diagnosis and treatment of Meniere’s diseaseVestibular function and dysfunction
Tinnitus
Peripheral and central mechanismsRole of ion channels, ototoxicity, geneticsSubjective and objective assessmentEtiology, diagnosis, treatment, and preventionImaging of tinnitus
Usher Syndrome
Etiology, diagnosis and treatment of Usher SyndromeGenetics of Usher syndromeRole of identified genes in hearing and visionCreation of mouse models of Usher syndromeDevelopment of molecular and cellular therapies

Eligibility

Geographical: Grants are limited to institutions within the United States of America.Non-tax-exempt organizations:Domestic non-profit, tax-exempt institutions must be recognized by the Treasury Department as a tax-exempt organization under Internal Revenue Code section 501(c)(3) or as eligible for tax deductible contributions under Internal Revenue Code section 170(c)(1) or section 170(c)(2). Grants are made solely to tax-exempt organizations to support research directed at those institutions by investigators who are on their staff or are otherwise formally attached to them.  Eligibility for all:Applicants should demonstrate experience and strong research training as well as sufficient institutional support (facilities and time as well as mentorship, if applicable) to carry out the proposed work.Applicants must hold an M.D., Ph.D., Au.D. or equivalent degree.The applicant must hold an appointment at a non-profit educational, governmental or research institution within the U.S. Appointments may include faculty, postdoctoral fellow, or clinical/research fellow. Otolaryngology residents are eligible to apply. Other medical residents and graduate students are not eligible to apply.The proposed research must address one of the hearing and balance topics advertised in the ERG Request for Applications. In the application, the applicant must provide justification for the relevance of the proposed research to the designated ERG topic area.PIs in early stages of independent research careers are especially encouraged to applyEligibility for General Hearing Health Applicants (Limited to early career researchers):PIs should be in the early stages of independent research careers (within 10 years of completing a terminal degree).
If the applicant is a postdoctoral fellow, it is expected that the applicant will be at the senior level (e.g., 3 or more years of postdoctoral training).Further, the applicant must demonstrate a pathway to professional independence in the application. Specifically, the applicant should indicate how the Grant will help with the applicant’s transition toward independence from the mentor, including how the proposed research is distinct from the mentor's research program.Applicants cannot be a current or prior PI on a major independent research award (e.g., R00, R03, R21, R01, K Award, VA Merit, DoD, or equivalent) at the time of initial application. Prior appointment on fellowship or training grants, or prior service as a PI on a mentored career development award, is allowable.Applicants may not concurrently receive support of more than One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000) per annum in direct costs from any other combined source(s) during the Project Period. Grant funds may only be used for the direct costs of carrying out approved projects, such as:salaries of technical and supporting personnel;limited alteration and renovation of existing facilities;purchase of equipment (cost of equipment should be equal to/greater than $5,000; any capital equipment necessary to the proposed experiment(s) costing less than $5,000 needs to be justified);supplies including drugs and services; andother specifically authorized expenses as may be essential to carrying out the project.

Ineligibility

Grant funds may not be used for the following:salary of Principal Investigator, co-investigator or individuals with a doctoral degree;equipment under $5,000 (i.e., office equipment such as laptops, printers, etc.)living expenses;reprints;overhead costs exceeding 10% of project costs; orpublic information, education programs or training costs (including tuition).Applicants cannot be a current or prior PI on a major independent research award (e.g., R00, R03, R21, R01, K Award, VA Merit, DoD, or equivalent) at the time of initial application. Prior appointment on fellowship or training grants, or prior service as a PI on a mentored career development award, is allowable.Individuals employed or otherwise conducting research at institutions outside of the United States are not eligible to apply.Applications for research continuation or bridge funding should not be submitted.