New Investigator Research Grant

New Investigator Research Grant is sponsored by ASHFoundation. Supports innovative studies fostering new research ideas in communication sciences and disorders, potentially applicable to AI-enhanced therapeutic approaches. Up to four grants for established investigators.

Official opportunity description and requirements excerpt:

New Investigators Research Grant You are using an outdated browser! Please upgrade your browser to improve your experience. Clinical Achievement Awards Type your search query here New Investigators Research Grant Winner Announcement: Applicants are notified of competition results by September. All research grant recipients will be announced and recognized in November. Past Recipients: View past New Investigators Research Grant recipients and learn more about their work. Required Report: Grant recipients are required to submit a final report of activities and outcomes to the ASHFoundation no later than December 31, 2026. The ASHFoundation will provide report requirements. The ASHFoundation strongly encourages recipients to submit their results to appropriate ASHA journals and to the ASHA Convention Program Committee, with appropriate acknowledgement of ASHFoundation funding. The American Speech-Language-Hearing Foundation (ASHFoundation) invites new researchers to submit proposals in competition for up to 10 research grants of $10,000 each. The New Investigators Research Grant is designed to help further new investigators' research activities by funding one-year, preliminary studies that could launch larger-scale research studies. Research, while not limited in topic, should be focused on matching a one-year scope and should have clinical relevance to audiology and/or speech-language pathology. Note for 2026: In preparation for the grant submission and review processes, the ASHFoundation requests that potential investigators complete an Intent to Submit Form by March 4. This step must be completed before proceeding to the proposal submission process. Funding Opportunity for Child Language Studies One additional New Investigators Research Grant will be supported by the endowed Lois Bloom Language Development Research Fund , established by Dr. Lois and Robert Bloom, for the purpose of supporting research topics in the area of child language. Investigators must meet the following criteria to be eligible for the New Investigators Research Grant. The investigator must have completed a PhD or equivalent research doctorate in communication sciences and disorders within the past five years (since 2020). The ASHFoundation will consider requests to grant an extension to the 5-year eligibility timeframe due to life events such as family leave, medical leave, disability, natural disasters, or active-duty military service. To request an extension of the eligibility timeframe, email foundationprograms@asha.org prior to the submission deadline with an explanation of the reason for the eligibility extension. Note: Due to the availability of other student research grant and scholarship funds through the ASHFoundation, students currently enrolled in a degree program are not eligible for this research grant. The investigator must not yet have received external research funding since completion of the PhD; prior internal university funding

Application snapshot: target deadline April 22, 2026; published funding information $25,000; eligibility guidance Researchers with PhD or equivalent research doctorate in CSD

Use the official notice and source links for final requirements, attachment checklists, allowable costs, and submission instructions before applying.

New Investigators Research Grant You are using an outdated browser! Please upgrade your browser to improve your experience. Clinical Achievement Awards Type your search query here New Investigators Research Grant Winner Announcement: Applicants are notified of competition results by September.

All research grant recipients will be announced and recognized in November. Past Recipients: View past New Investigators Research Grant recipients and learn more about their work. Required Report: Grant recipients are required to submit a final report of activities and outcomes to the ASHFoundation no later than December 31, 2026.

The ASHFoundation will provide report requirements. The ASHFoundation strongly encourages recipients to submit their results to appropriate ASHA journals and to the ASHA Convention Program Committee, with appropriate acknowledgement of ASHFoundation funding. The American Speech-Language-Hearing Foundation (ASHFoundation) invites new researchers to submit proposals in competition for up to 10 research grants of $10,000 each.

The New Investigators Research Grant is designed to help further new investigators' research activities by funding one-year, preliminary studies that could launch larger-scale research studies. Research, while not limited in topic, should be focused on matching a one-year scope and should have clinical relevance to audiology and/or speech-language pathology.

Note for 2026: In preparation for the grant submission and review processes, the ASHFoundation requests that potential investigators complete an Intent to Submit Form by March 4. This step must be completed before proceeding to the proposal submission process.

Funding Opportunity for Child Language Studies One additional New Investigators Research Grant will be supported by the endowed Lois Bloom Language Development Research Fund , established by Dr. Lois and Robert Bloom, for the purpose of supporting research topics in the area of child language. Investigators must meet the following criteria to be eligible for the New Investigators Research Grant.

The investigator must have completed a PhD or equivalent research doctorate in communication sciences and disorders within the past five years (since 2020). The ASHFoundation will consider requests to grant an extension to the 5-year eligibility timeframe due to life events such as family leave, medical leave, disability, natural disasters, or active-duty military service.

To request an extension of the eligibility timeframe, email foundationprograms@asha. org prior to the submission deadline with an explanation of the reason for the eligibility extension. Note: Due to the availability of other student research grant and scholarship funds through the ASHFoundation, students currently enrolled in a degree program are not eligible for this research grant.

The investigator must not yet have received external research funding since completion of the PhD; prior internal university funding is accepted. Note that training grants (for example, NIH F32) do not disqualify the investigator. The proposal must be for research to be initiated, not currently in progress.

The study should be completed in one year and the scope should align with the funding amount. The proposal submitted to the 2026 New Investigators Research Grant competition cannot be submitted to other 2026 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.

A review panel will evaluate proposals based on the following three factors. Factor 1: Importance of the Research (Scored 1-9) Significance: The potential for the study to advance the discipline of communication sciences and disorders and to impact clinical needs relevant to audiology or speech-language pathology. Its significance as an early step in a research area of concentration must be clear and viable.

Consideration of the rationale for undertaking the study, the rigor of the scientific background for the work (e. g. , prior literature and/or preliminary data) and whether the scientific background justifies the proposed study.

Innovation: The refinement, improvement, or new application of theoretical concepts, methods, or interventions leading to high impact on the discipline. The extent to which innovation influences the importance of undertaking the proposed research.

Note that while technical or conceptual innovation can influence the importance of the proposed research, a project that is not applying novel concepts or approaches may be of critical importance for the field. Factor 2: Rigor and Feasibility (Scored 1-9) Approach: The likelihood that compelling, reproducible findings will result (rigor) and whether the proposed studies can be done well and within the timeframes proposed (feasibility).

The merits of the design for accomplishing the specific aims of the study and, if applicable, the potential challenges of moving the study toward completion. The appropriateness and feasibility of a detailed account of the method, including measurement and data-analysis plans, will be considered relative to the award size.

Factor 3: Expertise and Resources (Scored 1-9) Investigator: The perceived ability to carry out the study in one year, reflected by appropriate training, experience, and past accomplishments. The investigator outlines clear and detailed management and budget plans. Environment: The extent to which the investigator has access to needed scientific facilities, resources, personnel, and participants.

Reviewers will assign scores on a 1-9 scale for each of the three factors. They will also consider these factors to assign an Overall Impact Score, reflecting their assessment of the study's potential to exert a sustained, powerful influence on the research field(s) involved. A proposal does not need to be strong in all categories to be judged likely to have a major scientific impact.

The Overall Impact score reflects reviewers' assessment of whether the proposed study will be completed competently, be disseminated appropriately, advance the investigator's research program for future funding, and has the potential to impact the discipline. The three factors contribute differentially to the Overall Impact score to correspond to the goals and funding level of the grant competition.

For the New Investigators Research Grant, Factor 1 (Importance of the Research) and Factor 2 (Rigor and Feasibility) will be more heavily weighted because a tightly designed, feasible study is most appropriate.

The promise of the investigator will be highly prioritized but will be evaluated in comparison to other new researchers in the discipline based on the investigator's ability to clearly describe the activities and timeline necessary to complete the study in one year. Proposal text should be single-spaced and placed in ONE PDF document containing all required sections in the order indicated. Additional attachments will not be accepted.

Please use stated titles (below) as section headers. Font should be 12 point and uncondensed, and margins should be least 1 inch. Investigator Letter (limit 2 pages) Provide a letter of application addressed to the "Grant Review Committee."

Explain briefly why you are pursuing the proposed study, the specific aims of the proposed research, and how the study fits into your career development plan. Include, as appropriate, information related to your research interests and activities to date. Specifically indicate how your institution will support your research efforts.

(Please note that this letter is not intended to be a replication of the detailed investigator biographical sketch.) If this proposal is a revision of a prior submission to the ASHFoundation, the Investigator Letter must address how the proposal has been revised to respond to the prior set of reviews. Concisely describe the study's specific aims, methodology, and long-term objectives, referring to the scientific disciplines involved.

Relate the study to future research and its potential impact on audiology and/or speech-language pathology. Research Plan (limit 10 pages) Specific Aims: Present the problem or issue to be addressed and the objectives of the proposed investigation. Include research questions and/or hypotheses.

Significance of Research: Outline the significance of the existing need and the importance of the proposed study in understanding, remediating, or compensating for the problem. Address the potential impact of the study’s activities on the discipline of communication sciences and disorders.

Design Methods, Procedures, and Evaluation: Provide both a description and a justification for the study design, including participants, measurement techniques, instrumentation, data analysis, and evaluation procedures. Address ecological validity, if the type of research warrants this. Address potential challenges that could impact completion of the study.

This section should provide enough detail for reviewers to make informed judgments about the soundness of the proposed research procedures. Facilities and Resources: Describe the facilities, resources, personnel, and participants available to you for carrying out the proposed study.

References and/or Appendices (as appropriate, limit 2 pages) Management Plan and Budget (limit 2 pages) Provide an outline of study activities and timelines. The study start date will be December 1, 2026. Incorporate the ASHFoundation final report deadline (see above Required Report section) into the management timeline.

Justify budget items for direct expenses. Funding will not cover institutional overhead and indirect costs. In addition, funding may not be directed to travel expenses for conventions or meetings.

Funding will be disbursed in U. S. currency to investigators in the United States or Canada.

Investigator Biographical Sketch Provide an NIH-style biographical sketch using one of the following formats: Biographical Sketch Common Form Submit a PDF version of the Biographical Sketch Common Form . Note that the ASHFoundation does not accept biosketch submissions through SciENcv directly. If using the Common Form, investigators must submit their biosketch as a PDF.

There is no page limit. Submit a biosketch following the classic (pre-2026) NIH biosketch format [DOC]. Adapt the form as appropriate for the investigator profile.

There is a five-page limit for this format. IRB Approval or Human Subjects If the study will use human participants, include the consent form(s) and a copy of the Institutional Review Board's (IRB) approval. If the IRB approval is not available at time of proposal submission, you should explain the status of the IRB approval process and ensure that approval documents are sent to the ASHFoundation (at foundationprograms@asha.

org ) as soon as IRB approval is granted, but not later than August 31, 2026. It is essential to start the IRB approval process early. A lack of IRB determination by August 31, 2026, will automatically disqualify the proposal from funding consideration.

The investigator assumes full responsibility for meeting these requirements. Human Subjects (if IRB Approval is not available at the time of submission) If the IRB approval is not available, the investigator should provide the following information (limit 3 pages) in this proposal: Describe the characteristics of the participant population, including the anticipated number, age range, gender, ethnic background, and health status.

Identify sources of research materials in the form of specimens, records, and/or data. Describe plans for the recruitment of participants and the consent procedures to be followed. Describe the potential risks to participants (e.

g. , physical, psychological, social, legal, or other). Describe the procedures for protecting against or minimizing potential risks to participants, including risks to confidentiality.

Discuss why risks to participants are reasonable in relation to the anticipated benefits and to the importance of possible resulting knowledge. If applicable, provide the name, affiliation and abbreviated biosketch of key personnel in the proposed study.

The abbreviated biosketch should include the following sections: Education/Training, Personal Statement (highlighting skills which relate to the needs of the study) and Positions and Honors.

Letter of Institutional Commitment Submit a letter addressed to the "Grant Review Committee" from your current supervisor in your employment setting indicating that the proposed study is endorsed and will not present a conflict of interest with your current responsibilities and commitments. Letters of Support (optional) If applicable, provide letters of support from cooperating agencies and key personnel (i. e.

, other collaborators and consultants) involved in the study. ASHFoundation supports innovators and sparks innovation in communication sciences. We give early support to promising students, researchers, and clinicians exploring bold ideas to transform the field and improve people's lives.

For application inquiries: foundationprograms@asha. org The ASHFoundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization under the regulations of the Internal Revenue Service. All contributions to the Foundation are tax-deductible to the extent provided by law.