This Notice is a Request for Information (RFI) inviting input and suggestions from stakeholders throughout the basic and clinical research, advocacy, and clinical practice communities on NIDCD’s support of non-invasive imaging in humans for the diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment of communication disorders.

In pursuit of its mission and as outlined in the 2023-2027 Strategic Plan (https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/about/strategic-plans), NIDCD supports basic, translational, and clinical research on hearing, balance, taste, smell, voice, speech and language. Imaging technologies are widely used to diagnose disease or injury and inform treatment and its effectiveness. Indeed, current imaging technologies are rapidly advancing, however, imaging tools are lacking or do not have the necessary capability to visualize at the cellular or structural resolution that is required for a detailed diagnosis of the underlying cause of dysfunction of the human auditory, vestibular, olfactory and gustatory systems. In addition, there is a need for improved imaging technologies examining the functional aspects in disorders of voice, speech and language as well as hearing, balance, taste and smell. New, improved imaging capabilities are likely to improve diagnosis and aid treatment.

All responses to this RFI must be submitted via email to nidcdimaging@mail.nih.gov by March 01, 2023. Please include the Notice number in the subject line of your response. Response to this RFI is voluntary.

NOT-DC-23-004