The NIH's "Leveraging Extant Data to Understand Developmental Trajectories of Late Talking Children" is a funding opportunity under the R21 Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant. This initiative aims to enhance understanding of early language delays in children, particularly those who exhibit late talking, by leveraging existing data sources. The project emphasizes data sharing and the creation of shared data repositories to better identify developmental patterns, predictors, and risk factors associated with late talking. Researchers will analyze existing datasets, particularly focusing on children at risk for or with a history of late talking, to improve the understanding of developmental outcomes. Clinical trials are not allowed under this funding opportunity.

This initiative is part of the TALK (Tackling Acquisition of Language in Kids) effort and aims to improve the accessibility and utility of existing data. It is supported by several NIH institutes, including the NIDCD, NICHD, and NIMH, with co-funding possible from other NIH offices. The ultimate goal is to create an open data ecosystem that allows for secondary data analysis and better understanding of late language emergence in children. Research is expected to identify gaps in current datasets, inform future research, and support tools for more effective data use.

Funding for this project allows for a combined budget of $275,000 for two years, with no more than $200,000 allowed in a single year. Research projects must focus on leveraging existing human data, involving no new data collection. This includes data cleaning, harmonizing data across multiple datasets, and enhancing data discoverability. Projects should focus on underrepresented populations or communities at higher risk for late talking, such as children from underserved backgrounds, and projects using longitudinal data are especially encouraged.

Eligible applicants include U.S. and foreign organizations, non-profit entities, higher education institutions, government agencies, and independent school districts. Applicants are also required to submit a Data Management and Sharing Plan outlining how the scientific data and metadata will be shared and managed. Additionally, a Plan for Enhancing Diverse Perspectives (PEDP) must be included to address inclusivity and diverse participation in research.

The earliest submission date is January 7, 2024, with deadlines on February 7, July 19, and November 19, 2024. Applications are reviewed through the NIH peer review system, with decisions based on scientific merit, project significance, and innovation.