The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is announcing a funding opportunity through the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), aimed at supporting R01 grant applications from Early Stage and New Investigators focused on communication disorders, including those related to hearing, speech, and language. This initiative emphasizes promoting a diverse research workforce by encouraging applications from individuals underrepresented in health-related sciences. The funding is aimed at innovative research without the requirement of preliminary data, provided that the projects demonstrate feasibility. Applicants can request up to $500,000 in direct costs per year, with a total commitment of $2.1 million planned for fiscal years 2026 and 2027 to fund approximately 7-8 meritorious projects. Key application dates range from January 6, 2025, for submissions to June 2026 for award cycles. The document outlines eligibility criteria, application submission processes, and critical review components, aiming to enhance workforce development in the biomedical research field by fostering new investigator partnerships.