Best Hearing and Vision Grants in Guam

Educational institutions and research organizations in Guam and other U.S. jurisdictions can apply for National Institutes of Health grants supporting research education for clinician-scientists in communication and hearing disorders. NIH provides up to US $2,250,000 to develop research experiences or mentoring networks that encourage careers in biomedical, behavioral, and clinical sciences related to NIDCD’s mission.

Established investigators conducting basic experimental studies with humans on hearing, balance, smell, taste, voice, speech, or language can apply for National Institutes of Health career enhancement support, including in Guam. This K18 award helps experienced researchers gain new skills or redirect their programs in these communication and hearing science areas.

Au.D.-trained audiologists pursuing rigorous biomedical, behavioral, or clinical dissertation research can apply for the NIDCD Research Dissertation Fellowship, a national NIH program open to applicants in Guam and other U.S. jurisdictions. This fellowship supports comprehensive research training leading to a Ph.D.-level research doctorate in hearing disorders and related sciences.

Research institutions studying HIV-related hearing, balance, taste, smell, voice, speech, or language in Guam and other U.S. jurisdictions can seek support for NIDCD-mission projects. US Dept. of Health & Human Services: National Institutes of Health offers up to US $275,000, including for low-risk clinical trials, to advance high-priority HIV/AIDS research in these communication domains.

Clinical researchers and institutions conducting communication disorder trials in Guam and other U.S. jurisdictions can seek funding for well-designed, higher-risk clinical studies. This National Institutes of Health cooperative agreement supports trials on hearing and related communication disorders that require FDA oversight, aim to establish efficacy, or pose greater physical or psychological risk.

Established investigators at eligible research institutions in Guam and other U.S. jurisdictions can apply for the NIDCD Research Career Enhancement Award (K18) to gain new research skills. This NIH program supports career development projects addressing hearing, balance, smell, taste, voice, speech, and language sciences, which may benefit hearing-focused programs in Guam.

Postdoctoral Au.D./Ph.D. audiologists conducting hearing research in Guam and other U.S. territories can access mentored career development funding through the National Institutes of Health. Grants from NIH help support comprehensive postdoctoral research and career development in biomedical, behavioral, or clinical sciences related to hearing disorders, with awards up to US $105,000.

Guam researchers and institutions working on hearing, balance, smell, taste, voice, speech, or language can access funding through the NIH NIDCD Early Career Research Award. This R21 mechanism offers up to US $375,000 for early-stage investigators to conduct basic or clinical projects and generate preliminary data for future R01 applications.

Clinical audiologists in Guam pursuing Ph.D. training in biomedical, behavioral, or clinical sciences can seek research-focused support through the National Institutes of Health’s NIDCD Research Fellowship for Audiologists. Focused on hearing disorders and audiology, this upcoming opportunity will fund comprehensive, rigorous research training; potential applicants are encouraged to begin planning collaborations and projects now.

Guam hearing and audiology researchers at eligible institutions can access funding through the National Institutes of Health to support mentored postdoctoral research and career development. This K01 award backs Au.D./Ph.D. audiologists pursuing rigorous biomedical, behavioral, or clinical research relevant to NIDCD’s mission, with awards up to US $105,000.

Postdoctoral Au.D./Ph.D. audiologists conducting basic experimental studies with humans in hearing disorders can apply for mentored career development awards up to US $105,000, including applicants based in Guam. This NIH NIDCD K01 program supports rigorous biomedical, behavioral, or clinical research training to help promising investigators progress toward independent, hearing-focused research careers.

Guam hearing and communication researchers can access funding through the National Institutes of Health for early-stage basic or clinical projects on hearing, balance, smell, taste, voice, speech, or language. The NIDCD Early Career Research Award (R21) offers up to US $375,000 to help new investigators generate preliminary data for future R01 applications.

Established research investigators conducting hearing, balance, smell, taste, voice, speech, or language science projects that include a clinical trial in Guam can apply for this career enhancement award. Grants from National Institutes of Health help U.S. and territorial researchers gain new skills to expand or redirect their communication-disorders research programs over multiple application cycles.

The NEI Institutional Mentored Physician Scientist Award (K12 Clinical Trial Optional) aims to foster innovative research career development for clinically trained vision scientists. This funding opportunity encourages institutions to develop programs that prepare scholars for independent research careers, particularly in minimal risk clinical trials. Emphasis is placed on recruiting underrepresented groups in research, ensuring a diverse pool of clinician investigators engaged in vision research.

Small business concerns conducting early-stage clinical trials on vision screening, diagnosis, prevention, or treatment in Guam and other U.S. territories can apply for the NEI Small Business Innovation Research U44 program, offering up to US $2,000,000. Funding from the National Institutes of Health supports higher-risk Phase I or II studies requiring strong safety oversight.

The FY26 Vision Research Program's Investigator-Initiated Research Award (IIRA) offers funding for innovative research addressing eye injury and visual dysfunction due to military exposure. This award supports preclinical to early translational studies aligned with specific focus areas. Unique features include two funding levels and a Partnering Principal Investigator Option. Applications undergo rigorous peer review based on research rationale, strategy, and impact, with potential for sharing with the National Eye Institute for additional funding consideration.

The FY26 Vision Research Program Clinical Trial Award supports the swift execution of clinical trials aimed at improving treatments for service-connected eye injuries and visual dysfunction. This award emphasizes the need for regulatory compliance, including IND/IDE submissions, and requires documentation confirming the application's active status by March 1, 2027. Review criteria focus on clinical impact, research feasibility, recruitment strategies, and ethical considerations, ensuring relevance to military health.

Vision research institutions and clinical teams in Guam can access funding through the US DOD U.S. Army Medical Command to advance translational eye and vision studies. Grants support moving promising discoveries toward drugs, devices, or clinical practice guidelines ready for definitive clinical testing, including preclinical work, clinical research, or pilot clinical trials aligned with VRP focus areas.

The NEI Postbaccalaureate Opportunities in Vision Science (POVS) Research Education Program aims to enhance the training of a diverse workforce in biomedical research. This NIH-funded initiative focuses on providing intensive, hands-on research experiences for recent college graduates from various backgrounds, preparing them for doctoral programs in biomedical fields. The program encourages participation from individuals without prior research opportunities in vision sciences, fostering a nationally recruited cohort for substantial impact in the field.

The Academic Research Enhancement Award (AREA) supports small-scale research grants for institutions with limited NIH funding, emphasizing biomedical research experiences for undergraduates. Eligible institutions must award baccalaureate science degrees and have received no more than $6 million in NIH support over the past seven years. This initiative aims to enhance the research environment at these institutions, fostering student involvement in research activities.

About the Emporia Community Foundation

Our Mission

To connect caring people with causes that build stronger communities within the Emporia area which includes Chase, Coffey, Greenwood, Lyon, Morris, Osage and Wabaunsee counties.

Sadie Jones Fund

The original focus of the Sadie Jones Fund was to provide for vision and hearing needs for individual children in Lyon and Chase counties. While the purpose has expanded, individual children are still eligible to receive assistance.

The Student Research Grant in Audiology, offered by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Foundation, supports doctoral students conducting research in clinical and rehabilitative audiology. Up to three grants of $2,000 each are available for eligible students enrolled in accredited programs in the U.S. This initiative honors the legacies of Ira Ventry and Brad Friedrich, who made significant contributions to the field of audiology. Interested candidates must submit proposals for research projects to be initiated in this vital area.

The American Academy of Audiology offers the Investigator Research Grant to promote essential research in audiology and balance health care. With a funding limit of $20,000 for one-year projects, the grant aims to support innovative research that enhances the evaluation and management of hearing and balance disorders. Eligible applicants must hold a doctoral degree in audiology or hearing science and be affiliated with a non-profit institution in the U.S. or Canada, fostering collaboration between academia and clinical practice.

The Emerging Global Leader Award (K43) offers essential research support and protected time for early career scientists in low- and middle-income countries. This program, aligned with NIH's clinical trials policy, aims to cultivate independent research careers by providing mentorship and funding over three to five years. Eligible candidates must hold a junior faculty position at an accredited LMIC institution, fostering the growth of research capacity in their regions.

The Fogarty Emerging Global Leader Award supports early career research scientists from low- or middle-income countries (LMIC) by providing research funding and mentored career development for three to five years. This program encourages LMIC scientists in health-related fields to develop projects aligned with their country's health priorities, fostering independent research careers within their institutions. Applications are welcomed from junior faculty members, enhancing global health research and capacity in LMICs.

The Jill Botkin Hearing Health - Care Accessibility Scholarship, funded by the American Academy of Audiology, offers a $5,000 award to a full-time graduate student in audiology dedicated to improving access to hearing care. With nearly 50% of U.S. counties lacking nearby services, this scholarship aims to support students who demonstrate commitment through their academic achievements and personal statements. It emphasizes the importance of equitable healthcare access in underserved communities and encourages future audiologists to bridge this critical gap.