The NIH funding opportunity "Advancement and Innovation in Measurement of Language Development and Predictors" (R01) encourages research that broadens the conceptualization of environmental factors supporting children's language development and prioritizes the creation of innovative and culturally responsive tools for measurement. This opportunity supports large, multi-year projects grounded in substantial preliminary data and evidence, differing from the companion R21 mechanism designed for exploratory research.

Key goals include enhancing understanding of children's language environments and developing strengths-focused, generalizable, and inclusive measures to identify predictors of language development and impairment. The funding aims to address limitations in current assessment tools, which often fail to represent diverse linguistic, cultural, and socioeconomic populations adequately. Proposals should incorporate community-engaged research (CEr) to ensure that the developed tools are relevant, equitable, and impactful.

Applications must include a Community Engagement (CE) Plan that outlines how community partners will collaborate throughout the project lifecycle. This involvement must extend beyond recruitment and retention to include co-development of research questions, data interpretation, and dissemination. Additionally, a Plan for Enhancing Diverse Perspectives (PEDP) is required, detailing actionable strategies for inclusivity within the research team, participant recruitment, and study design.

Eligible entities include higher education institutions, nonprofits, for-profits, local and federal government agencies, and foreign organizations. Projects may span up to five years, with no specified budget cap, provided the budget reflects the actual needs of the research. Applicants must register with SAM, eRA Commons, and Grants.gov, and proposals requesting $500,000 or more in direct costs annually must contact NIH staff six weeks prior to submission.

The review criteria emphasize scientific merit, innovation, feasibility, and investigator expertise. Particular attention will be given to the integration of diverse perspectives and meaningful community engagement. Projects must also adhere to NIH standards for rigor, transparency, and data management, with all data and findings shared through public repositories to maximize research impact and reproducibility.

Submission deadlines begin on February 5, 2025, with additional cycles available through September 2027. Applicants are encouraged to contact NIH staff to discuss alignment with program priorities and receive guidance on proposal development. Annual reporting requirements include updates on PEDP and CE activities, ensuring ongoing evaluation of inclusivity and community impact.