Request for Information (RFI): Seeking New and Emerging Areas of Science Relevant to the NIDCD Mission, To Inform an Update of the NIDCD Strategic Plan for 2028-2032

This Notice is a Request for Information on new and emerging areas of science relevant to the NIDCD Mission, to inform an update of the NIDCD Strategic Plan for 2028-2032. Please note that it is important to read the entire RFI to fully understand how your comments will be utilized and to help you prepare a constructive response. BACKGROUND This notice is in accordance with the 21st Century Cures Act, wherein NIH institutes are required to regularly update their strategic plans. The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) was established as a new institute within NIH when President Ronald Reagan signed Public Law 100-553 into law on October 28, 1988. The NIDCD mission is to conduct and support research and research training in the normal and disordered processes of hearing, balance, taste, smell, voice, speech, and language. Our vision is Advancing the science of communication to improve lives. To get us there, NIDCD seeks your best ideas to help as we develop our 2028-2032 Strategic Plan. Request for Comments The NIDCD seeks comments and suggestions from the public on new and emerging areas of science with the potential to impact the health and well-being of people with disorders of hearing, balance, taste, smell, voice, speech and language that are not reflected in the themes and goals of the 2023-2027 NIDCD Strategic Plan. The RFI invites input from stakeholders throughout the scientific research, academic, advocacy, and clinical practice communities, as well as the general public. How to Submit a Comment All comments must be submitted electronically to:. Responses must be received by December 11, 2026. NIDCD encourages organizations (e.g. professional organizations, advocacy groups) to submit a single response that represents the views of the entire organization or membership. Responses to this RFI are voluntary. Please do not include any personally identifiable information or any information that you do not wish to make public. Proprietary, classified, confidential, or sensitive information should not be included in your response. The information submitted in response to this RFI will be analyzed and may be used for planning purposes at the discretion of NIDCD. The NIDCD reserves the right to use any submitted information on public websites, in reports, in summaries of the state of the science, in any possible subsequent solicitations(s), grant(s), cooperative agreement(s), or in the development of future funding opportunity announcements. This RFI is for planning purposes only and should not be construed as a solicitation for applications or proposals, or as an obligation in any way on the part of the United States Federal government. The Federal government will not pay for the preparation of any information submitted or for the government's use. Additionally, the government cannot guarantee the confidentiality of the information provided. No awards will be made based on responses to this RFI. We look forward to your input and hope that you will share this RFI opportunity with your colleagues.