Small Business: Aging, Auditory, Vision and Low Vision Technologies – NV (12)
The Aging and Development, Auditory, Vision and Low Vision small business study section (NV 12) reviews applications concerned with novel medical devices, monitoring systems and adaptation/improvement of existing technologies for normal and pathologic states of the eye. Also included is the development of devices to aid the blind and visually impaired.
This study section also reviews applications dealing with the auditory system and hearing, including enhancing hearing of impaired individuals, diagnostic audiometry and devices or processes related to the neurobiology of the auditory system.
With respect to development and aging, studies may examine the basic biology of stem cells as well as strategies for their culture and differentiation in vitro and vivo. Novel strategies for animal cloning as well as the use of genetic approaches to address developmental questions are also covered. In addition, novel devices to assist and monitor geriatric patients are also covered.
Review Dates
Topics
- Devices to enable the blind or people with low vision the ability to function more independently.
- Devices to enable diagnosis of specific ocular conditions more definitely or easier by a non-specialist.
- Improvements in the treatment of specific ocular disorders including improved drug delivery mechanisms to the eye.
- Development of methodologies used in the treatment of wound healing.
- Enhancement of hearing for the hearing impaired.
- Devices or processes related to the neurobiology of the auditory system.
- Development of auditory devices to allow better hearing in noisy environments to cochlear implants to improve hearing.
- Technologies which are designed to improve vestibular function.
- New models of aging: including transgenic, animal and cellular.
- Devices to assist as well as monitor geriatric patients.
Shared Interests and Overlaps
SBIB (12) - Small Business: Cardiovascular and Surgical Devices
IMST (12) - Devices and Detection Systems
There are shared interests between the small business panels in Neurotechnology and Vision Review Branch (NV) and Small Business: Biobehavioral Processes 10 in the study of human neuroscience and cognition. Applications whose aims are related to development of sensors, medical devices, and monitoring systems (e.g., hearing aids, biomarkers, robots, etc.) in the areas of cognitive disorders, brain injury, sleep, vision disorders and trauma are reviewed in NV. Applications that involve neuro-developmental or psychological technologies to measure or influence human health behavior or risk are reviewed in BP 10.
