- Mission [1]
- Section 492 of the PHS Act states that "The Secretary...shall by regulation require appropriate technical and scientific peer
review of -- (A) applications...; and (B) biomedical and behavioral research and development contracts..." This Council is
composed of both scientific and public members who provide the second level of peer review; advise on policy development,
program implementation and evaluation; and identify research needs and opportunities of the Institute. The National Deafness
and Other Communication Disorders Advisory Council (NDCDAC) evaluated 1403 applications requesting $283,134,608 in first year
direct costs for the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD). In addition, the Council reviewed
the activities of the Division of Intramural Research, the Council Operating Procedures, and advised the Institute regarding
policy issues in its areas of responsibility. The NDCDAC is charged with advising the Secretary; HHS; the Director, NIH; and
the Director, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, on matters relating to the conduct and support
of research and research training, health information dissemination, and other programs related to normal and disordered communication
processes. In addition, the Council makes recommendations on applications for grants and cooperative agreements for research
and research training, and other programs related to normal and disordered communication processes, including diseases and
disorders of hearing, balance, smell, taste, voice, speech, and language, and may recommend projects of high programmatic
relevance. This mission is met effectively during the three meetings that are held each year. Council members advise on policy
development, program implementation and evaluation, and identify research needs and opportunities of the Institute. Council
routinely evaluates the Strategic Plan of the NIDCD, proposed initiatives, and topics of special interest, including the development
of future researchers through the use of research training and career development mechanisms, and the merit of using multi-project
versus single-project research grant awards. The Council provides essential advice on which research and training applications
should be awarded with Federal funds, and is careful to consider the strategic and programmatic needs of the public.
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