Research on Central Auditory Processing Disorders - Pilot Grant and Fellowship Funding

Overview

<p>Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is often associated with co-occurring conditions that can compromise physical and mental health and impact behavior, development, and educational outcomes. Better understanding of these co-occurring conditions is critical to improving outcomes. However, identification and treatment of co-occurring conditions is often complicated by the core impairments that characterize ASD. Furthermore, the underlying biology of ASD can affect the manifestations of these conditions and their response to treatment. CAPD, also known as auditory processing disorder (APD), includes a range of conditions within the ear and brain that affect the way individuals process information that they hear. Research estimates that CAPD affects between 2 percent and 7 percent of children (Chermak & Musiek 1997, Bamiou 2001), with much higher rates among adults (Cooper & Gates, 1991). CAPD can occur independently or co-occur with more-global dysfunction such as attention deficit disorder and other learning disorders and development disorders, including autism. (ASHA 1996, Chermak 1999, lliadou 2009). These diverse differences affect a wide range of auditory processing skills such as differences in localizing, discriminating, and processing speech and non-speech stimuli ranging from various physical properties (pitch, loudness) to perception and understanding of more complex auditory information (ASHA 2008, O’Conner 2012). Much research is needed to better understand neural correlates of auditory processing and their impact on behavioral outcomes; how auditory processing changes with age; correlations between autism severity and CAPD; understanding how CAPD presents in and impacts people with autism as compared to disorders; clinical approaches for evaluating CAPD; and the potential for CAPD-targeted treatments to improve the functioning of affected individuals. Ideally, studies to address these questions will be performed in a timely, statistically robust manner and generate results that are generalizable to the broad neurodevelopmental disorder community.</p> <p><strong>Key Objectives</strong><br>This request for applications (RFA) seeks proposals for research that will elucidate the relationship of auditory processes to neurobehavioral manifestations, the potential for treatments directed at auditory processes pathology to improve neurobehavior and the best clinical approaches to the evaluation and treatment of CAPD. Proposals should advance the clinical management of CAPD and associated neurobehavioral challenges, either by clinical assessment research, clinical intervention research or by identifying pathophysiologic mechanisms that are amenable to clinical translation in the very near term. Applications that include the availability of better treatments both for underlying pathology as well as co-existing conditions that decrease quality of life for those with autism will be of particular interest. The pilot or fellowship proposals most likely to be funded under this RFA will exhibit the following qualities:</p> <ul> <li>Be based on compelling scientific rationale, derived either from preclinical or preliminary clinical research;</li> <li>Address the heterogeneity of etiology and presentation, either by restricting enrollment to specific, well-justified subgroups or through a scientific plan that identifies markers of stratification;</li> <li>For interventional research, include examination of the mechanisms or mediators through which neurobehavioral effects are achieved;</li> <li>Include a power analysis demonstrating a likelihood of producing statistically and clinically meaningful results. This should include sufficient reserve power for exploratory analyses (if included);</li> <li>Have a proven capacity to enroll an adequately sized cohort of subjects in a timely manner.</li> </ul> <p><strong>Letter of Intent due:</strong> December 14, 2021, 8:00 PM Eastern<br><strong>LOI notifications sent</strong>: Late December 2021/Early January 2022<br><strong>Application due</strong>: February 16, 2022, 8:00 PM Eastern<br><em>Recommendations for Fellowships due February 9, 2022</em></p> <p><strong>Earliest Grant start date:</strong> Late Summer/Fall 2022</p>