Funding opportunity
Hearing Health Foundation (HHF) is accepting letters of intent for its 2027–2028 Elizabeth M. Keithley, Ph.D. Early Stage Investigator Awards within the Emerging Research Grants (ERG) program. This is a competitive research grant for promising U.S.-based scientists investigating hearing and/or balance disorders. The funded research year begins October 1, 2027.
Individual applicant award and deadlines
The maximum initial project-year grant is $50,000. Awardees may seek a second year subject to demonstrated research progress and HHF approval, making the maximum potential two-year project award $100,000. Second-year funding is not automatic. The program-wide funding pool is not published. Letters of intent are due December 7, 2026; the official public instructions do not state a precise LOI cutoff time or time zone. Invited full applications are due April 5, 2027.
Eligible applicants and restrictions
Principal investigators must hold an Au.D., M.D., Ph.D., or equivalent degree and a formal appointment at a qualifying nonprofit educational, governmental, or research institution in the United States. Early Stage Investigator eligibility generally means no more than ten years since the most recent terminal degree or medical residency; experienced senior postdoctoral fellows, eligible medical fellows and otolaryngology residents may apply. Ph.D. students and other medical residents are not eligible. Applicants may not have held major independent federal research awards specified by HHF or have more than $100,000 per year in concurrent direct-cost research support for the proposed project. International institutions are ineligible.
Allowable uses and funding conditions
Approved direct research costs may include technical personnel, supplies, essential services and qualifying experimental equipment. Research-related conference travel and open-access publication expenses may each be considered up to $2,500. Institutional indirect costs may not exceed 10% of direct costs and must fit inside the annual $50,000 award ceiling. HHF generally excludes PI/co-investigator salary, ordinary personal living expenses, tuition except specified institutional compensation requirements, overhead beyond the ceiling, and formal substantive subawards/subcontracts. The official policy does not establish a general mandatory applicant match. Institutional oversight, conflict-of-interest compliance, research reporting and award conditions apply.
How to apply
Review the official 2027–2028 application guidance and HHF Emerging Research Grants policy (updated October 2026). Apply through ProposalCentral, choosing the shared program “ERG – Early Stage Investigator Awards and Type 1 Focused Discovery Awards.” Select the correct award type; applicants may seek multiple types where eligible. Submit an LOI by December 7, 2026. Only applicants invited following January 2027 review may submit full proposals by April 5, 2027. Verify detailed forms, budget justifications and institutional letters in the application portal.
Official source verification: November 6, 2026. Funder: Hearing Health Foundation.