CLINICAL RESEARCH GRANT: INDEPENDENT

The ASHFoundation’s Clinical Research Grants are intended to encourage research that will impact the delivery of services to people with communication disorders, who are striving to communicate and connect. Research should directly advance knowledge of treatment efficacy and assessment practices in audiology and speech-language pathology, or investigate the implementation of evidence into practice.

For Clinical Research Grants, priority is given to proposals that:

• Investigate bold, forward-thinking solutions that could improve the everyday functioning of people with, or at risk for, communication and related impairments.
• Promote new directions for the discipline and likely would progress to future large-scale studies with the potential to compete for additional external funding. The grants are not intended to provide the investigator with additional or extended support for an existing study already supported through extramural funds.

Note for 2021: In preparation for the grant submission and review processes, the ASHFoundation requests that potential investigators complete an Intent to Submit Form by March 1 to provide information regarding their proposed studies. When investigators log in to the online submission system, they will be prompted to complete the Intent to Submit Form. This step must be completed before proceeding to the proposal submission process

Independent Research Studies (one- or two-year studies)

• Clinical Research Grants for independent research studies are similar to the NIH R21 award; investigators early in their careers who are developing an independent research record are good candidates for this grant mechanism. (Having developed an innovative treatment approach, an experimental study, or a quasi-experimental study may be required to demonstrate the feasibility for a larger grant proposal.)
• Proposals must include a description of a research study that can be completed within two years. Because this grant mechanism is meant to fund research that will serve as preliminary data to support a proposal for a larger-scale, externally funded research study, the investigator will be expected to identify potential funding agencies, funding mechanisms, and timelines for submitting future grant proposals.
• While there is no requirement for a mentored experience, collaboration or consultation with a seasoned, funded investigator is encouraged.
• The maximum budget for independent research studies is $50,000 for one year or $75,000 disbursed equally over two years, contingent on satisfactory progress shown through a report.

Investigators must meet the following criteria to be eligible for the Clinical Research Grant.

• The investigator must have received a PhD or equivalent research doctorate within the discipline of communication sciences and disorders or a related field.

• The investigator must demonstrate the potential for, and commitment to, conducting independent research with a clear plan for applying for extramural research support.

• The research must have significance and direct application to the development and evaluation of audiology or speech-language pathology intervention or assessment practices.

• Experienced investigators should explain why the proposed work represents a  new effort  that is not fundable from existing research support or an extension of funding that is currently supporting or has supported related work.

• Proposals submitted to the 2021 Clinical Research Grant competition cannot be submitted to other 2021 ASHFoundation grant competitions. However, the investigator remains eligible to submit to other ASHFoundation grant competitions in the same year, if proposing to investigate a different topic.