How American Hearing Research Foundation makes Grant Decisions

Our Aim: A Careful Review for Each Proposal

Each year the AHRF Board determines the amount of funds available for grants.  AHRF’s Research Committee reviews grant proposals and makes recommendations to the Board. The Board makes final funding decisions.

Reviewers are experts in the clinical and basic science fields of hearing research.

• Reviewer expertise is matched to the study. If needed, ad hoc reviewers are appointed to fill a gap in expertise.
• Reviewers do not review a specific proposal if they:
  • work in the same department as the applicant,
  • have collaborated with or mentored the applicant in the last three years,
  • have a family or financial connection to the PI or project, or
  • have personal differences that otherwise interfere with unbiased review.

The Research Committee Chair does not review proposals from the Chair’s own institution.

• Two reviewers evaluate each proposal. Each proposal is addressed during the committee discussion. Reviewers with conflicts of interest may not comment on those specific proposals.

 

Scoring Discovery and Resident Grants

• Proposals are scored from 1-5, with top score of 1. These priorities are considered, although the relative importance of each is determined by the individual reviewer.
  • Novelty
  • Significance
  • Relevance to the mission of AHRF
  • Investigator
  • Approach
  • Statistical analysis/outcome measure

• Special consideration is given to two AHRF donor priorities: Meniere’s disease research and research exploring causes of sudden hearing loss.
• Projects must be able to be carried out in one year. Multiyear or unreasonably large projects will not be recommended for funding.

 

AHRF’s Birtman Grant

The PI(s) of the one or two top-scoring proposals may be invited to apply for additional funds so that the entire grant totals $75,000. The PI(s) must submit an additional specific aim and budget over that originally proposed. The new aim(s) are reviewed by the two original reviewers and an extra reviewer. If accepted, one $75,000 grant will be proposed to the AHRF Board for the Birtman award.

The Birtman award is not necessarily given every year.

 

AHRF’s Richard G. Muench Chairman’s Grant

The PI(s) of one additional top-scoring proposal may be invited to apply for additional funds so that the entire grant totals $65,000. The PI(s) must submit an additional specific aim and budget over that originally proposed. The new aim(s) are reviewed by the two original reviewers and an extra reviewer. If accepted, one $65,000 grant will be proposed to the AHRF Board for the Richard G. Muench Chairman’s award.

This award is not necessarily given every year.