Office of the Director, NIDCR
OBJECTIVE
We are seeking concept clearance for an initiative aimed at enhancing the research infrastructure and at building the research capacity of dental schools. The initiative will encourage applications for the development and initial implementation of institutional plans to strengthen research programs through the creation of a critical mass of researchers in a pre-selected area and through improvements in the research support infrastructure, including facilities and equipment. The strengthening of the research capacity of these schools resulting from this initiative will enhance their ability to carry out modern, cutting edge research in oral, dental and craniofacial diseases and disorders.
BACKGROUND
Oral, dental and craniofacial diseases and disorders are among the most common problems affecting the health and well being of the U.S. population. As highlighted in the U.S. Surgeon General's Report, "Oral Health in America", oral health is essential to general health and means much more than healthy teeth. The challenge is to understand complex diseases caused by the interaction of multiple genes with environmental and behavioral variables and to translate research findings into improved care and healthier lifestyles. NIDCR has expanded its research support portfolio to address these complex interactions in the genesis of oral, dental and craniofacial diseases and disorders. The growth in the scientific areas of interest has been accompanied by a parallel shift in research emphasis from traditional disciplines to new approaches involving molecular medicine and other tools of modern biomedical research. The areas of scientific opportunity include genomics, proteomics, stem cell biology, biomimetics and bioengineering, pharmacogenetics, gene transfer and gene therapy, clinical genetics and molecular epidemiology, cell engineering and bioinformatics. These areas of scientific opportunity require not only an appropriate research infrastructure, but also cross-disciplinary interactions between investigators with solid skills and competencies in new and expanding areas of science.
A large portion of dental, oral and craniofacial research is performed in the nation's dental schools, but their research infrastructure and workforce capacity need to be strengthened in order to help them take advantage of the new opportunities in research and to remain competitive and full participants in the modern research enterprise. This initiative is designed to provide the necessary resources for dental schools to develop and to implement comprehensive institutional plans to improve their research infrastructure, to strengthen their research capabilities by recruiting and retaining research personnel and to establish institutional linkages that augment and expand their research capacity. The proposed initiative is an outgrowth of a summit conference held at NIDCR in October 2001 with dental school deans, associate deans for research and officials from the associated parent university. The participants addressed four major topics: 1) the role of research in the dental school mission; 2) issues in the recruitment and retention of students and faculty into research; 3) issues of costs, manpower needs and infrastructure requirements for basic and clinical research and 4) partnerships that can enhance the research agenda. A number of recommendations emerged from this meeting, including the need for institutional needs assessments and strategic planning on the part of the schools and the need for external support for these activities. NIDCR has partnered with the other sponsors of the Conference (ADEA, AADR, ADA) in identifying "next steps" actions following the Conference. This initiative is an important part of this joint effort.
The initiative contemplates that awards will be made in two phases, a planning phase and an implementation phase. The first year will focus on the development of a comprehensive plan based on a needs assessment and school-wide evaluation. The plan should contain at least the following elements:
- Identification of the area(s) of research that will be developed.
- Description of steps to be taken to create a critical mass of researchers in this area.
- Description of plans to create or improve the necessary infrastructure to support the research, including facilities and shared resources.
- Description of intra and inter institutional links that may be developed to enhance the research program.
- Description of plans to develop training and career development programs for faculty and students.
- Description of long-term goals to transition the support provided by the Planning Awards to competitive grant support applications submitted by the faculty.
Funds provided during this planning phase of the award can be used for technical assistance activities, for focus groups as part of the institutional assessment and for staff, supplies and services related to the development of the plan. The research capacity building may focus on clinical, basic or both types of research.
The implementation phase will be years 2 and 3 of the award. Funds can be used to recruit and integrate additional scientists or to provide support to "magnet" investigators; to create or renovate research facilities; to develop shared research cores; and to purchase modern research equipment.
FUNDING MECHANISM
This initiative will use the exploratory grant award mechanism (P20).