Seed Money for Hearing & Balance Researchers
Through the Emerging Research Grants (ERG) program, Hearing Health Foundation (HHF) provides seed money to researchers working on the entire spectrum of hearing research and balance research, including many underfunded areas of otology. The ERG program has since 1958 played a foundational role in the careers of many academic researchers and clinicians in otolaryngology and related hearing and balance fields. As the program’s remit is so broad, HHF solicits applications for ERG awards under a number of opportunity types.
The Elizabeth M. Keithley, Ph.D. Early Stage Investigator Award grant opportunity (formerly “General Hearing Health”) supports projects across the broadest spectrum of hearing research and balance research, from improving audiological assessments and cochlear implants to gene editing, ototoxicity, sensory cues in maintaining postural balance, and links between hearing and other health issues, such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes. There are also dedicated topic-specific grant opportunities open to investigators at any career stage. Available grant opportunities vary by year, with recent awards made in the areas of Age-Related Hearing Loss, Central Auditory Processing Disorders, Hearing Loss in Children, Hyperacusis, Tinnitus, Ménière’s Disease, and Usher Syndrome.
ERG awards are for up to $50,000 per year, one year in length in the first instance, and renewable for a second year. The program is governed by the Council of Scientific Trustees, which is comprised of senior researchers and physicians from across the nation who assess each application for scientific merit and relevance. The ERG program is particularly targeted to early career researchers, but has funding streams open to researchers at all career stages.
The ERG program is a competitive process that awards grants to only the most promising investigators. Recipients are exceptionally well-positioned to win future grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and other federal research funders, leading to dramatic innovations in the field. In fact, ERG alumni have gone on to be awarded an average $59 of additional federal funding for every dollar of investment through ERG (2002–present).
HHF welcomes applications from scientists who are based at research institutions (higher education, government, and/or non-profit) located in the U.S. and who hold an Au.D., M.D., Ph.D. or equivalent. Please see the full Policy on Emerging Research Grants for all eligibility information.
Applying for a Grant
2016 Emerging Research Grantee Elizabeth McCullagh, Ph.D. (front), and colleague Achim Klug, Ph.D., University of Colorado
Researchers interested in applying for an Emerging Research Grant are encouraged to review our grant policy and sign up to get grant alerts.
Generally speaking, applications open in mid- to late October and close in late February. Applicants are notified in August and their funded grant year then starts that October 1.
For more information, see the Application Page. Email grants@hhf.org with questions.
“HHF plays a seminal role in launching the independent careers of many scientists in hearing research. The grants awarded by HHF provide the ‘seed’ support needed to obtain preliminary data that enables a grantee to apply for and get a larger grant award to expand their research resources and efforts.”
Meet Our Emerging Research Grants Scientists
Here are our 2026 first-year and second-year ERG scientists. Learn more about their research below.
Council of Scientific Trustees
The governing body of our Emerging Research Grants program, the Council of Scientific Trustees (CST), comprises senior national researchers and physicians who review each application for scientific merit and program relevance.
Anil K. Lalwani, M.D.
Chief, Division of Otology, Neurology, and Skull Base Surgery
Vice Chair for Research, Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery
Associate Dean for Student Research, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons
Columbia University
Carey Balaban, Ph.D.
Professor, Department of Otolaryngology
University of Pittsburgh
Jill B. Firszt, Ph.D.
Professor, Department of Otolaryngology, Head–Neck Surgery
Director, Cochlear Implant and Hearing Loss Research Laboratory
Adjunct Faculty, Program in Audiology and Communication Sciences
Washington University School of Medicine
Marlan Hansen, M.D.
Professor of Otolaryngology
Carver College of Medicine
University of Iowa
Ronna Hertzano, M.D., Ph.D.
Senior Investigator
Chief, Neurotology Branch
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders
National Institutes of Health
Matthew W. Kelley, Ph.D.
Chief, Section on Developmental Neuroscience
Chief, Laboratory of Cochlear Development
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders
National Institutes of Health
Sharon Kujawa, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Otology and Laryngology
Harvard Medical School
Director of Audiology Research and Senior Scientist
Eaton-Peabody Laboratories
Mass Eye and Ear
Ruth Litovsky, Ph.D.
Professor, Communicative Sciences and Disorders and Surgery/Otolaryngology
University of Wisconsin–Madison
Cynthia Morton, Ph.D.
Medical Geneticist
Brigham and Women's Hospital
Professor of Pathology
Harvard Medical School
Yehoash Raphael, Ph.D.
Professor of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery
University of Michigan
Allen F. Ryan, Ph.D.
Professor of Surgery, Otolayrngology, and Neurosciences
University of California, San Diego
Jason Tait Sanchez, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Communication Sciences & Disorders
Northwestern University School of Communication
Jennifer Stone, Ph.D.
Research Associate Professor of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery
Virginia Merrill Bloedel Hearing Research Center
University of Washington
Daniel J. Tollin, Ph.D
Professor
Department of Physiology & Biophysics
Department of Otolaryngology
University of Colorado School of Medicine
Research Updates
