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NIH Invests in Hearing and Balance Data Science Initiatives
NIDCD Director Debara L. Tucci shares updates on new programs and the January Advisory Council meeting
Published on Feb. 25, 2026
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The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) is making significant investments in data science initiatives to advance hearing and balance research. These include the launch of nHEAR, a national clinical audiology database, EarBase for digitized human temporal bone data, and HearGene Connect for genetic and phenotypic studies. NIDCD Director Debara L. Tucci also provided updates from the January Advisory Council meeting, including discussions on the Unified NIH Funding Strategy and upcoming seminars.
Why it matters
Enabling access to large-scale, multimodal datasets is essential for advancing scientific research across all NIH institutes. These new data science initiatives from NIDCD will help address long-standing gaps in hearing and balance research by enabling studies at a greater scale and fostering new collaborations. The programs also prioritize participant privacy and data security.
The details
NIDCD is launching several major data science initiatives, including nHEAR, a national clinical audiology database; EarBase, a hub for digitized human temporal bone data; and HearGene Connect, a natural history study and genetic registry. These platforms will leverage decades of existing data and enable interoperability with electronic health records. They will provide important resources for the research community while preserving participant privacy and data security.
- The January 22, 2026 National Deafness and Other Communication Disorders Advisory Council meeting was held virtually.
- The next NIDCD Director's Seminar Series lecture, 'Wearables and Machine Learning Changing Health Access and Science,' will be held on May 13, 2026.
- The Request for Information (RFI) on NIH data sharing policies is open for public comment until March 28, 2026.
The players
Debara L. Tucci
Director of the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD).
Judith Cooper
Director of NIDCD's Division of Scientific Programs.
Becky Wagenaar-Miller
Director of NIDCD's Division of Extramural Activities.
Kia Johnson
Director of the Arthur M. Blank Center for Stuttering Education and Research Satellite in Atlanta, Georgia, and a new member of the NIDCD Advisory Council.
What they’re saying
“Enabling access to large-scale multimodal databases is essential to advancing science across all institutes at NIH.”
— Debara L. Tucci, Director, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (nih.gov)
What’s next
The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.
The takeaway
NIDCD's investments in data science initiatives like nHEAR, EarBase, and HearGene Connect demonstrate a commitment to advancing hearing and balance research through large-scale, collaborative datasets that prioritize participant privacy and data security.
