1. Home
  2. National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)
Mission

NIDCD’s mission is to conduct and support biomedical and behavioral research and research training in the normal and disordered processes of hearing, balance, taste, smell, voice, speech, and language. The Institute also conducts and supports research and research training related to disease prevention and health promotion; addresses special biomedical and behavioral problems associated with people who have communication impairments or disorders; and supports efforts to create devices which substitute for lost and impaired sensory and communication function.

Interest in Diversity

NIDCD’s overall research-training goal is to increase the number, quality, and diversity of well-prepared and skilled investigators with knowledge and expertise in all areas supported by the Institute: hearing, balance, taste, smell, voice, speech, and language. It supports interdisciplinary teams of clinicians and basic scientists. Furthermore, the Institute aims to foster the next generation of diverse productive, creative, innovative, diverse, and qualified scientists in basic, clinical and translational research.

Diversity-Targeted Programs
Director's Statement
Debara L. Tucci, M.D., M.S., M.B.A
Debara L. Tucci, M.D., M.S., M.B.A
Director's Statement
NIDCD recognizes the need to increase diversity among the scientific workforce and to encourage participation in research training programs by students, researchers, and faculty from underrepresented populations, including individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing. The NIDCD works diligently to increase participation of individuals from these groups in its training activities in order to further the Institute’s research mission and ensure that all populations are served by human communication research.