Grants for Learning Disabilities Innovation Hubs

Deadline: 30-Nov-21

The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and National Institutes of Health is pleased to launch the Grants for Learning Disabilities (LD) Innovation Hubs to address understudied research topics and highly innovative and high risk research topics and approaches related to specific learning disorders impacting reading, writing, and mathematics.

This program has a specific focus and requirement that projects address research topics of particular relevance and need for under-studied and under-represented populations. In line with these goals, applications in response to this FOA must address high public health impact research topics where there is limited data or where progress is limited and novel solutions are needed to improve public health outcomes.

Additionally, an equal focus and requirement involves enhancing data collection reflective of the diversity of learners in the U.S. Given the exploratory nature of this funding mechanism, NICHD expressly and strongly encourages research applications that involve high-risk, high reward science.

Topics

This list is not intended to be comprehensive; applicants should not feel confined to the examples. Regardless of the topic, applicants must develop a creative, evidence-informed approach to inclusivity and diversity in the construction of project, construction of aims and approach to sample selection and recruitment. Responsive topics include, but are not limited to:

Identify and model epigenetic indicators of response-to-intervention in math and reading
Develop computational modeling approaches to test hypotheses of the relative emphasis of instructional elements, modeled over time, in order to guide the development of novel approaches to instruction in math, reading and writing
Develop computational modeling approaches to connect behavioral and neurobiological data, with the goal of developing enhanced accounts of mechanisms involved in the development of specific learning disorders
Develop novel approaches to enhance and speed acquisition and development of reading, math or writing for children and adolescents for learners with substantial learning challenges
Identify novel approaches to improving literacy outcomes for transient (e.g., homeless) and other high-risk populations (e.g., incarcerated youth)
Conduct longitudinal investigations of early precursors beyond approximate number acuity of math learning and learning disabilities in children 0-4 years of age.
Identify and elucidate the nature of risk factors for learning disabilities sensitive to differences across developmental period and population
Examine the manifestation and possible intervention approaches for learners with mathematics, writing, or comorbid reading disabilities using systems science approaches.
Develop new intervention and service delivery models for addressing the English and/or math literacy needs of low-literate or developmental, young adult learners that are based on current mechanistic evidence for intervention efficacy in specific subgroup populations (e.g., younger English Language Learners, younger persons with IDD).
Develop and assess new intervention and service delivery models to comprehensively address the oral language, preliteracy, and early math learning of children birth to age eight for underserved, at-risk populations.
Investigate the prevalence of and potential etiologic role of comorbid anxiety disorders in LD (e.g., math anxiety in math learning disability) and/or develop and assess targeted interventions for persons with comorbid anxiety disorder(s) and LD
Identify normative early life exposure to and spontaneous production of comparative (e.g., more than, shorter than, equally) and numeracy-related language and its relationship to early numeracy skills (e.g., Approximate Number acuity, acquisition of the principle of cardinality, object counting skills, etc.); identify the role of early exposure to numeracy-relevant language to the later development and/or refinement of numeracy and math skill.

Funding Information

Funds Available and Anticipated Number of Awards: National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) intends to commit $1,600,000 in FY 2022 to fund up to 3 awards.
Award Budget: Application budgets are limited to $390,000 in direct costs per year, but need to reflect the actual needs of the proposed project.
Award Project Period: The maximum project period is 4 years.

Eligibility Criteria

Higher Education Institutions
- Public/State Controlled Institutions of Higher Education
- Private Institutions of Higher Education
- The following types of Higher Education Institutions are always encouraged to apply for NIH support as Public or Private Institutions of Higher Education:
  - Hispanic-serving Institutions
  - Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)
  - Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs)
  - Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions
  - Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs)
Nonprofits Other Than Institutions of Higher Education
- Nonprofits with 501(c)(3) IRS Status (Other than Institutions of Higher Education)
- Nonprofits without 501(c)(3) IRS Status (Other than Institutions of Higher Education)
For-Profit Organizations
- Small Businesses
- For-Profit Organizations (Other than Small Businesses)
Local Governments
- State Governments
- County Governments
- City or Township Governments
- Special District Governments
- Indian/Native American Tribal Governments (Federally Recognized)
- Indian/Native American Tribal Governments (Other than Federally Recognized)
Federal Governments
- U.S. Territory or Possession