National Center for Rehabilitative Auditory Research (NCRAR) as a Resource for Veterans with Hearing and Balance Challenges
Official title: National Center for Rehabilitative Auditory Research
Funded at Portland VA Medical Center · NIH-11427443 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A nationwide VA research center helps researchers study and improve diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of hearing and balance problems in Veterans.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Portland VA Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Portland, United States) |
| Project start | October 1, 2017 |
| Project end | September 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2027 |
| NIH project number | 5I50RX002361-10 |
| Project ID | NIH-11427443 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Veterans experiencing hearing loss, tinnitus, sound tolerance issues, or balance dysfunction who could participate in related research or benefit from new tools and interventions.
✕Less likely to help
Some participants may not experience direct benefit if findings do not translate into clinical practice or if they do not meet study-specific criteria.
What this research studies
NCRAR provides infrastructure and education to support research on hearing and balance disorders affecting Veterans, with plans for Diagnosis and Assessment, Rehabilitation, and Prevention. The center also runs education programs like conferences, seminars, student training, and externships with the VA Portland Health Care System. Technology development includes advancing the OtoID portable audiometer and upgrading the Tinnitus Evaluation System to a tablet format for clinic or home use. Studies will explore topics such as outer hair cell loss, hidden hearing loss, and decreased sound tolerance to better understand and treat auditory dysfunction in Veterans. This is a center-driven effort to translate foundational work into practical tools and care pathways for patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to better diagnosis, home-ready monitoring tools, and improved treatments for hearing and balance issues in Veterans.
How similar studies have gone: Previous center-based research has informed new diagnostic and rehabilitation approaches; NCRAR aims to build on this with newer technology and education programs.
Where this research is happening
-
Portland VA Medical Center
Portland, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Konrad-Martin, Dawn L — Portland VA Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Konrad-Martin, Dawn L
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.