Synopsis

The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), with the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB) aims to support the development and/or adaptation of transformative in vivo high-resolution/high specificity imaging of the human olfactory system. Currently, there are limited non-invasive/minimally invasive technologies available for imaging the living human peripheral and central olfactory system with high spatial and temporal resolution. Imaging the olfactory system in the laboratory and in the clinic is essential to understanding underlying biological mechanisms as well as the etiology of an olfactory disorder. Such imaging has proven challenging due to the olfactory system"s unique anatomical and functional characteristics such as restricted accessibility, multiple cell types, and low signal resolution. Addressing these challenges requires multimodal approaches including leveraging existing advanced tools and technologies and developing new tools tailored for the olfactory system. Recent advances in minimally invasive and non-invasive imaging technologies, such as cell specific biomarkers, fluorescence imaging, specialized endoscopes, optical and acoustic imaging, molecular imaging, and hemodynamic and diffusion imaging have the potential to transform our ability to image and investigate the peripheral and central olfactory system in the living human with superior temporal and spatial resolution and eventually improve diagnostic accuracy of olfactory disorders. Applications must leverage advanced non-invasive/minimally invasive imaging technologies to visualize peripheral (e.g., olfactory- and non-olfactory epithelium) and central olfactory (e.g., olfactory bulb) targets at a level previously unattainable. In addition, projects should engage multidisciplinary teams combining expertise in olfaction, biomedical imaging, biochemistry, bioengineering, and biophysics, as appropriate.
Response Date	Aug 21, 2028 12:00:00 AM EDT
Posting Date	May 20, 2026 12:00:00 AM EDT
Archive Date	Oct 20, 2028 12:00:00 AM EDT
Award Ceiling	500,000
Award Floor	N/a
Cost Sharing	No

Eligibility

Eligible Applicants

Private institutions of higher education, Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification), County governments, City or township governments, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Small businesses, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), For profit organizations other than small businesses, State governments, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education

Additional Info on Eligibility:

Refer to Section III. Eligibility Information in the NOFO for additional information on eligibility.Foreign Organizations/International Collaborations:Non-domestic (non-U.S.) Entities (Foreign Organizations) are not eligible to apply.Non-domestic (non-U.S.) components of U.S. Organizations are not eligible to apply.Foreign components, as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are not allowed.

Additional Information

Agency Name	National Institutes of Health
Link to Additional Information:	N/a
Grantor Contact Information:	If you have difficulty accessing the full announcement electronically, please contact: GrantSolutions Help Desk Phone: 301-402-2541

CFDA Program(s)

• 93.173: Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders
• 93.286: Discovery and Applied Research for Technological Innovations to Improve Human Health