Laboratory Information:
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders
31 Center Drive (MSC 2320)
Building 31, Room 3C02
Bethesda, MD 20892
Website: http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/
Technology Transfer Website: http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/funding/
Agency/Department: Dept. of Health and Human Services
Region: Mid-Atlantic
FLC Laboratory Representative:
Linda de Iberri
Phone: 301-402-2829
Fax: (301) 402-3470
Email: deiberril@nidcd.nih.gov
Background/History of the Laboratory:
The National Institute on Deafness and
Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) is one of the Institutes that
comprise the National Institutes of Health (NIH). NIH is the Federal government's focal point for the
support of
biomedical research. NIH's mission is to uncover new knowledge that will lead to better health for everyone.
Simply described, the goal of NIH research is to acquire new knowledge to help prevent, detect, diagnose,
and
treat disease and disability. NIH is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Established
in
1988, NIDCD is mandated to conduct and support biomedical and behavioral research and research training
in
the normal and disordered processes of hearing, balance, smell, taste, voice, speech, and language.
The
Institute also conducts and supports research and research training related to disease prevention and
health
promotion; addresses special biomedical and behavioral problems associated with people who have
communication impairments or disorders; and supports efforts to create devices which substitute for
lost and
impaired sensory and communication function. It is estimated that more than 46 million people in the
United
States suffer some form of disordered communication. NIDCD has focused national attention on disorders
of
human communication and has contributed to advances in biomedical and behavioral research that will
improve the lives of millions of individuals with communication disorders. NIDCD has made important
contributions to the body of knowledge needed to help those who experience communication disorders and
to
advance research in all aspects of human communication.
Mission of the Laboratory:
NIDCD accomplishes its mandate through
the Division of Intramural Research, which conducts research in
laboratories at the NIH, and the Extramural Research Program, a program of research grants, career
development awards, individual and institutional research training awards, center grants, and contracts
to
public and private research institutions and organizations. As a whole, the Institute supports and conducts
approximately 600 research projects. The Institute also conducts and supports research and research
training
in disease prevention and health promotion and the special biomedical and behavioral problems associated
with people having communication impairments and disorders. NIDCD's extramural grant portfolio
demonstrates a balance of basic and clinical research. The intramural research program spans a variety
of
topics, including, but not limited to, the development of a vaccine against otitis media, the identification
and
characterization of genes responsible for hereditary hearing impairment, genes associated with neoplasms
affecting human communication, and treatment of voice disorders.
Technology Transfer Mechanisms:
- Fellowships
- Grants
- Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR)
