NIH-funded research R01 grant

Exploring how bilingualism affects literacy in children with dyslexia

Official title: Bilingual and cross-cultural investigation of developmental dyslexia

Funded at University of Michigan at Ann Arbor · NIH-11014385 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This study is looking at how being bilingual in Chinese and English might help children with dyslexia improve their reading skills, and it’s for families of kids who are learning both languages and facing reading challenges.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Michigan at Ann Arbor
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Ann Arbor, United States)
Project startApril 14, 2023
Project endJanuary 31, 2028
Funding year2025
Award (this year)$581,623
NIH project number5R01HD111637-03
Project IDNIH-11014385 on NIH RePORTER

Who could benefit from this research

Could help

Ideal candidates for this research are bilingual children aged 0-11 years, particularly those who are Chinese-English bilinguals and diagnosed with developmental dyslexia.

Less likely to help

Patients who are monolingual or do not have developmental dyslexia may not receive direct benefits from this research.

What this research studies

This research investigates the relationship between bilingualism and literacy development in children with developmental dyslexia, particularly focusing on Chinese-English bilinguals. It aims to understand how the interaction between two languages can influence literacy skills and the cognitive processes involved. By examining the connections between sound and meaning in both languages, the study seeks to uncover potential advantages that bilingual children may have in overcoming reading difficulties. The research employs a framework that looks at how these linguistic interactions can enhance literacy development in bilingual children with dyslexia.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved literacy interventions for bilingual children with dyslexia, enhancing their reading skills and academic performance.

How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in understanding bilingualism's impact on literacy, suggesting that this approach could yield valuable insights.

Where this research is happening

  • University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
    Ann Arbor, United States
    Active

Researchers

  • Principal investigator: Kovelman, Ioulia — University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
  • Study coordinator: Kovelman, Ioulia

Related research

Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.