Intramural Research

What this funds

The scientists and trainees in the NIDCD IRP work at the forefront of research on communication disorders. NIDCD intramural scientists utilize NIH's unique resources and collaborative environment, combining basic research at one of the world's largest neuroscience facilities with clinical and translational programs at the nation's largest clinical research hospital. By sharing its intramural resources, NIDCD enhances collaboration and supports the broader extramural community, amplifying the impact of its research on communication disorders. As a result of this unique environment, the IRP has made significant advances in the field of hearing Determining sex differences in risk for noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL): NIHL is common in humans, and there are currently no drugs to prevent or treat it. NIDCD investigators are identifying drugs that can potentially prevent NIHL and testing them in mice exposed to harmful noise levels. They administered the FDA-approved drug metformin to both male and female mice before exposing them to damaging sound. The results showed that metformin effectively protected hearing in male mice but not in females, highlighting the importance of evaluating drug treatments in both sexes.3 Recent reports suggest that females are less susceptible to NIHL, possibly due to higher levels of estrogen. To test whether estrogen is responsible for females' reduced susceptibility to NIHL, investigators removed the organs that are responsible for the production of estrogen in male and female mice and treated them with either estrogen replacement or a placebo injection.4 With no internal hormones and no estrogen replacement, both males and females are equally susceptible to NIHL. Females treated with estrogen replacement were protected from NIHL, while males, even with estrogen treatment, were not protected from NIHL. These studies demonstrate that biological sex is an important factor to consider in preventing and treating NIHL. Launching the National Smell and Taste Center: NIDCD, in collaboration with the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, recently launched this center, based at the NIH Clinical Center, dedicated to advancing understanding of the chemical senses (smell and taste) and related disorders through comprehensive research, patient care, and education. Planned partnerships include projects with the NIA's Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging, the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke's functional neurosurgery section and the NIH Intramural Center for Alzheimer's and Related Dementias. An advisory council of leading researchers, clinicians, patients, and advocates will assist in defining NSTC's mission, prioritizing its activities, and ensuring its efforts reflect community needs. Budget Policy: The FY 2027 President's Budget request for the Intramural Research Program Research Management and Support (RMS) Program NIDCD has a longstanding history of funding basic research and the translation of discoveries into therapies through clinical trials and other patient-oriented research. NIDCD enhanced its commitment to advancing clinical trials through the establishment of the new Clinical Trials Section within the Office of the Deputy Director. This section provides comprehensive consultation and guidance on clinical trial policies, management, risk assessment, and technical expertise to ensure adherence to NIH policy and high standards of scientific rigor. NIDCD also redefined the scope of low-risk and high-risk clinical trials depending on safety, complexity, financial investment, and public health impact. For higher-risk clinical trials, an NIDCD program officer will provide scientific and programmatic guidance and ensure alignment with NIH efforts to enhance stewardship over clinical trials. NIDCD's expanded support for both the intramural and extramural clinical trial programs will help optimize research at every stage, ensuring the safety of participants while promoting innovation and the dissemination of interventions into Budget Policy: The FY 2027 President's Budget request for RMS is $26.3 million, sustaining National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders 1 The FY 2026 President's Budget proposed consolidating the 27 NIH Institutes and Centers into an 8- Institute structure, while maintaining the Office of the Director and the Building and Facilities account. 2 The FY 2025 House bill proposed consolidating the 27 NIH Institutes and Centers into a 12-Institute structure, while maintaining the Office of the Director and the Building and Facilities account. National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders Full-time equivalent of overtime and holiday hours 0.0

Extracted from NIH - National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, p. 10. Verbatim; nothing here is paraphrased.

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