Deadline: December 4th, 2026 05:00 PM EST
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Download Solicitation
About BARC
The Balance and Auditory Research Center (BARC) at the University of Mississippi Medical Center is an NIH/NIGMS Center of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE, P20GM156708) in the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. BARC builds a critical mass of independent investigators in vestibular and auditory neuroscience, supported by an Administrative Core (Core A), the Molecular Neuroscience and Imaging Core (Core B) and the Neurophysiology Core (Core C).
Research Focus Areas
- Gene therapy
- Hair cell regeneration
- Traumatic brain injury
- Neurodegenerative diseases, including hearing loss and cognitive decline
Purpose
The BARC Pilot Project Program supports innovative, hypothesis-driven projects in balance and hearing research that are likely to lead to independent extramural funding. Pilot projects should use BARC Core B and/or Core C services.
Award Information
| Amount | Up to $50,000 direct costs (no indirect costs) |
|---|---|
| Period | 12 months, April 1, 2027 to March 31, 2028; a second year may be requested with a progress report |
| Number of awards | 2 to 3 |
Eligibility
- Full-time UMMC faculty at the rank of Instructor, Assistant Professor or Associate Professor.
- Priority to early-stage and new investigators (no prior NIH R01-equivalent award as PI).
- Investigators who are already BARC Research Project Leaders are not eligible.
- Clinical, basic and translational projects are welcome; established investigators moving into hearing or balance research may apply.
Timeline
| RFA released | October 1, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Applications due | December 4, 2026, 5:00 p.m. CT |
| NIH-style review | December 2026 to January 2027 |
| External Advisory Committee and NIGMS approval | February to March 2027 |
| Earliest start | April 1, 2027 |
Application Components
- PHS 398 Face Page and Form Page 2 (Project Summary, Narrative, Key Personnel)
- Specific Aims (1 page)
- Research Strategy (6 pages: Significance, Innovation, Approach, and a Core Utilization Plan)
- Bibliography
- NIH Biosketches for the PI and key personnel
- Detailed Budget and Justification
- Department Chair letter confirming protected research time
- Letter of support from a BARC senior mentor or collaborator
- Facilities and Other Resources
- IACUC/IRB approval or submission evidence, and Resource Sharing Plan
Review Criteria
Applications are reviewed by at least six internal and external experts using the NIH Simplified Review Framework: Factor 1, Importance of the Research (1-9); Factor 2, Rigor and Feasibility (1-9); Factor 3, Expertise and Resources (sufficient or not). Reviewers also weigh the likelihood of an extramural application and use of BARC cores.
Contact
Wu Zhou, Ph.D., Professor and Director of BARC; Nekeisha Johnson, Project Manager and Coordinator of BARC. The Balance and Auditory Research Center, 2500 North State Street, Jackson, MS 39216.
