Opportunity Information: Apply for PA 17 227
Hearing Health Care for Adults: Improving Access and Affordability (R21) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding opportunity announcement (FOA) designed to support early-stage, exploratory, and developmental research focused on adult hearing health care. The core purpose is to build a stronger evidence base for practical ways to improve hearing health outcomes by making hearing care easier to obtain and more affordable for adults. In other words, the FOA is looking for studies that can identify barriers to care, test promising strategies to reduce those barriers, and generate data that can lead to better delivery models, policies, tools, or interventions that expand access and lower costs.
This opportunity uses the NIH R21 mechanism, which is typically intended for pilot work, feasibility studies, proof-of-concept projects, and other developmental research where investigators are exploring innovative ideas or generating preliminary evidence rather than running large, definitive trials. The funding instrument is a grant, and the program falls under the broad activity category of Health. The listing is associated with CFDA number 93.173, and the FOA identification is PA 17 227. The stated award ceiling is $200,000, signaling that projects should be appropriately scoped for a smaller, targeted research effort aimed at producing actionable insights, early findings, or foundational data that could justify larger follow-on studies later.
The research focus is adult hearing health care, with an emphasis on access and affordability. This can reasonably include work on how adults find and use hearing services, what prevents them from getting evaluated or treated, how hearing technologies and service models are priced and reimbursed, and what system-level or community-level changes could improve uptake and outcomes. Projects might examine real-world care pathways, evaluate innovative service delivery approaches (for example, community-based models or telehealth-enabled pathways), address disparities in hearing care utilization, or study how cost, insurance coverage, and pricing structures affect decision-making and long-term use of hearing interventions. Because the FOA explicitly calls for strengthening the evidence base, it supports research that clarifies what works, for whom, and under what circumstances, especially in ways that can be translated into better clinical or public health practice.
Eligibility is broad and includes a wide range of public and private organizations. Eligible applicants include state, county, and city or township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; and federally recognized Native American tribal governments. It also includes public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; Native American tribal organizations that are not federally recognized tribal governments; and nonprofits both with and without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not institutions of higher education). For-profit organizations (other than small businesses) and small businesses are also eligible, along with other applicant types. The FOA additionally highlights specific eligible groups and institution types, including Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), and Indian/Native American Tribal Governments other than federally recognized entities. Faith-based and community-based organizations are explicitly included, as are eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, and even non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations). This wide eligibility reflects the reality that improving hearing health access and affordability often involves health systems, community organizations, educators, insurers, technology developers, and public agencies working on interconnected problems.
From an administrative standpoint, the opportunity was created on 2017-03-20 and lists an original closing date of 2018-01-09. While that closing date indicates this specific posting is time-bound, the content still clearly describes the intent and scope of the program: to fund smaller, high-impact research projects that can help reshape adult hearing health care toward more accessible and affordable services and, ultimately, better outcomes.Apply for PA 17 227
- The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Hearing Health Care for Adults: Improving Access and Affordability (R21)" 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 2017-03-20.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2018-01-09. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $200,000.00 in funding.
- 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.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the "Hearing Health Care for Adults: Improving Access and Affordability (R21)" opportunity?
It is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding opportunity announcement (FOA) that supports early-stage, exploratory, and developmental research focused on adult hearing health care, specifically research aimed at improving access to hearing care and making it more affordable for adults.
What is the main goal of this FOA?
The core purpose is to strengthen the evidence base for practical ways to improve adult hearing health outcomes by identifying barriers to care, testing strategies to reduce those barriers, and generating data that can inform better delivery models, policies, tools, or interventions that expand access and lower costs.
What NIH activity mechanism does this opportunity use?
This opportunity uses the NIH R21 mechanism.
What does the R21 mechanism typically support?
R21 awards are typically intended for pilot work, feasibility studies, proof-of-concept projects, and other developmental research. The emphasis is on exploring innovative ideas and generating preliminary evidence rather than conducting large, definitive trials.
What is the funding instrument for this opportunity?
The funding instrument is a grant.
What is the activity category or broad program area associated with this FOA?
The program falls under the broad activity category of Health.
What is the FOA identification number for this opportunity?
The FOA identification is PA 17 227.
What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?
The listing is associated with CFDA number 93.173.
What is the maximum (ceiling) award amount mentioned?
The stated award ceiling is $200,000, indicating projects should be scoped as smaller, targeted research efforts designed to produce actionable early findings or foundational data.
What research topic area does this FOA focus on?
The research focus is adult hearing health care, with an emphasis on improving access and affordability.
What types of research questions or problems fit this FOA?
Projects may address how adults find and use hearing services, what prevents them from getting evaluated or treated, how hearing technologies and service models are priced and reimbursed, and what system-level or community-level changes could improve uptake and outcomes.
Does this FOA support research on barriers to adult hearing care?
Yes. The FOA is explicitly looking for studies that identify barriers to care and test strategies to reduce those barriers.
Does the FOA encourage testing strategies to improve access and affordability?
Yes. It supports research that tests promising strategies intended to improve access to hearing health care and reduce costs for adults.
Are innovative service delivery approaches within scope?
Yes. The opportunity can include evaluation of innovative service delivery approaches, such as community-based models or telehealth-enabled care pathways.
Is telehealth-related research mentioned as an example?
Yes. Telehealth-enabled pathways are specifically mentioned as an example of an innovative service delivery approach that could be studied.
Does this FOA support research on hearing care disparities?
Yes. It indicates projects might address disparities in hearing care utilization.
Can projects focus on cost, insurance coverage, and pricing structures?
Yes. The FOA notes that projects might study how cost, insurance coverage, and pricing structures affect decision-making and long-term use of hearing interventions.
Is the FOA focused on generating practical, actionable evidence?
Yes. Because the FOA calls for strengthening the evidence base, it supports research that clarifies what works, for whom, and under what circumstances, particularly in ways that can translate into better clinical or public health practice.
Who can apply for this funding opportunity?
Eligibility is broad and includes a wide range of public and private organizations, including government entities, higher education institutions (public and private), tribal governments and tribal organizations, nonprofits (with or without 501(c)(3) status, as long as they are not institutions of higher education), for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), small businesses, and other applicant types.
Are state, county, and local governments eligible applicants?
Yes. Eligible applicants include state governments, county governments, and city or township governments, as well as special district governments.
Are institutions of higher education eligible to apply?
Yes. Both public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education are included as eligible applicants.
Are tribal governments and tribal organizations eligible?
Yes. Federally recognized Native American tribal governments are eligible, and the FOA also includes Native American tribal organizations that are not federally recognized tribal governments and Indian/Native American Tribal Governments other than federally recognized entities.
Are nonprofits eligible?
Yes. Nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status are eligible, provided they are not institutions of higher education.
Are for-profit entities eligible?
Yes. For-profit organizations (other than small businesses) are eligible, and small businesses are also eligible.
Are faith-based and community-based organizations allowed to apply?
Yes. Faith-based and community-based organizations are explicitly included among eligible applicants.
Are U.S. territories or possessions eligible applicants?
Yes. The FOA includes U.S. territories or possessions among eligible applicant types.
Are non-U.S. (foreign) organizations eligible to apply?
Yes. The FOA states that non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations) are eligible.
Does the FOA call out any specific institution types as eligible?
Yes. It highlights eligibility for Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), and Indian/Native American Tribal Governments other than federally recognized entities.
When was this opportunity created?
The opportunity was created on 2017-03-20.
What is the original closing date listed for this opportunity?
The listing shows an original closing date of 2018-01-09.
What does the listed closing date imply?
The closing date indicates the specific posting is time-bound. However, the description still clearly communicates the program intent and scope: funding smaller, high-impact research projects that can help improve adult hearing health care access, affordability, and outcomes.
What kind of project scope does the $200,000 ceiling suggest?
It suggests a smaller, targeted project suitable for exploratory or developmental research, aimed at producing early findings, actionable insights, or foundational data that could support larger follow-on studies later.
What kinds of outcomes is the FOA ultimately trying to influence?
It aims to support research that can lead to improved adult hearing health outcomes by enabling more accessible and affordable hearing care, and by informing improvements in service delivery models, policies, tools, or interventions.
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