Seed Money for Hearing & Balance Researchers — Emerging Research Grants (ERG)

About this program

Hearing Health Foundation’s Emerging Research Grants (ERG) provide seed funding for the full spectrum of hearing and balance research—including underfunded otology areas such as tinnitus, Ménière’s disease, hyperacusis, and age‑related and pediatric hearing loss—to support preliminary studies and early-career development. ERG offers three award types: EMKESIA Early Stage Investigator Awards (up to $50,000/year for early-stage investigators), Focused Discovery Awards (topic-specific, up to $50,000/year), and Expanded Discovery Awards (topic-specific, up to $100,000/year); awards are one year and may be renewed for a second year (total $100K or $200K). Applicants must be based at U.S. research institutions (higher education, government, or non‑profit) and hold an Au.D., M.D., Ph.D. or equivalent; EMKESIA requires early-stage status while other streams are open to investigators at any career stage, and applications follow an annual RFP cycle (RFP mid‑October; LOIs December; invited proposals April).