The NIDCR E-Newsletter provides information about NIH and NIDCR grant, contract and training program policies; new NIDCR funding opportunities; new grant and contract awards; NIDCR programmatic news; and meetings and events of interest to the research community.
FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
Program Announcements:
Requests for Applications:
Notices:
NEW CONCEPT CLEARANCES
The following concept clearances were approved during a March teleconference with members of the National Advisory Dental and Craniofacial Research Council. Concepts represent early planning stages for initiatives in which NIDCR seeks to support research in an understudied and significant area of science:
FUNDING MODEL FOR NIDCR CLINICAL TRIALS
The new model for funding NIDCR clinical trials was announced at the AADR meeting in San Antonio on March 12. The complete program can be accessed under Policies and Guidance, Clinical Research on the NIDCR web site. Also see the flowchart of the four options for obtaining funding. Although there has been an expanded emphasis on Phase III clinical trials at the NIDCR, pilot data and planning grants are also included as options to provide funding to gather additional information to support the conduct of Phase III clinical trials and preparation of a manual of procedures.
The NIDCR also encourages investigators to submit other types of clinical research such as epidemiological, patient-oriented research and behavioral research through the standard RO1 application process.
SAMPLE MANUAL OF OPERATIONS FOR A CLINICAL TRIAL
View an excellent example of a complete Manual of Operations developed for a NIDCR Phase III clinical trial.
INCREASE IN NRSA STIPEND LEVELS
FY 2003 stipend levels for predoctoral trainees and postdoctoral fellows receiving Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Awards (NRSA) have increased. See the notice about the increase in stipends for NRSA awards.
NIDCR NEWS
OUTCOME OF 2001 DENTAL DEANS MEETING
One of the main outcomes of the dental deans conference held October 2001 at the NIDCR will be a series of NIDCR grants to enhance the research infrastructure of U.S. dental schools. The first part of this effort will be to perform an assessment of critical research needs, followed by the preparation of an institutional Infrastructure Improvement Plan based on the needs assessment. Using the R24 NIH mechanism, a one-year grant of up to $100,000 in direct costs will be made for this activity: Also See the addendum to the planing awards for improvement of research infrastructure in dental schools. The second phase will consist of implementing the Plan. Through the U24 NIH mechanism, a two-year award in the amount of $1 million direct costs per year will cover this phase of the infrastructure enhancement
NIDCR HOSTS SYMPOSIUM ON STATE MODELS FOR ORAL CANCER PREVENTION AND EARLY DETECTION
During the AADR meeting in San Antonio, researchers from the five states (Illinois, Michigan, Florida, New York and North Carolina) funded by NIDCR presented their state’s approach for needs assessment and discussed preliminary findings. Researchers from the state of Michigan have developed a CD-ROM and website training on oral health that includes information about how to conduct an oral cancer examination and tobacco cessation. This training provides up to 4 hours of continuing education credit.
NIDCR SEEKS INPUT ON DRAFT STRATEGIC PLAN
NIDCR is now seeking input on its new draft Strategic Plan.
CONGRESSIONAL JUSTIFICATION FY 2004
The NIDCR FY 2004 Congressional Justification is available on the NIDCR web site, as well as the summary of the FY 2004 President’s Budget for NIH.
DR. ROBERT LANGER TO SPEAK AT NIH
Dr. Robert Langer, internationally known for his work in the fields of biotechnology and materials science, will present the 2003 NIDCR Seymour J. Kreshover Lecture, Monday, June 16 at 3:30 p.m. in the Masur Auditorium on the NIH campus. The title of his lecture is “Biomaterials and How They Will Change Our Lives.” The Kreshover Lecture is open to all interested members of the scientific community.
SCIENTIFIC ADVANCES
Scientists Report Important New Data in Adult Stem Cell Debate
NIH NEWS
NIH TO HOST SYMPOSIUM ON STEM CELL RESEARCH
On June 12, NIH will host a symposium called “NIH Research: Recent Progress and Future Promise of Human Embryonic Stem Cells.”
Online conference registration is available.
NIH TO HOST CELEBRATION OF THE GENOME
April 2003 marks the 50th anniversary of Watson and Crick’s Nobel Prize winning description of the DNA double helix and the historic culmination of the sequencing of the human genome. In celebration of these events, the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) and other institutes within NIH are hosting several scientific symposia.
NIH STATEMENT ON SHARING OF RESEARCH DATA PUBLISHED
The Final NIH Statement on Sharing Research Data was published in the NIH Guide on February 26, 2003: In addition, the NIH Data Sharing Policy web page has been updated with other guidance documents and resources.
PERSONNEL NEWS
Dr. Jaya Satish recently joined the NIDCR Division of Basic and Translational Sciences as director of the Small Business Innovative Research/Small Business Technology Transfer Program (SBIR/STTR). She has considerable prior experience in consulting on small business development in diagnostic genetic medicine for both academic organizations and the corporate sector.
Mostafa A. Nokta, M.D., Ph.D., is the new director of the AIDS and Oral Manifestations of Immunosuppression Program in NIDCR’s Division of Basic and Translational Sciences. Prior to joining the NIDCR, he was at the University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, where in addition to his own research, he was an active committee member of the AIDS Clinical Trials Group for the past 10 years.