ORAL HEALTH RESEARCH CURRICULUM GRANTS

RELEASE DATE:  August 8, 2002

PA NUMBER: PAR-02-144 (This PAR has been reissued, see PAR-06-160)

EXPIRATION DATE: August, 2005, unless reissued

National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR)
 (http://www.nidcr.nih.gov/)

THIS PA CONTAINS THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION

o   Purpose of the PA
o   Education Program Objectives and Description
o   Mechanism of Support
o   Eligible Institutions 
o   Individuals Eligible to Become Principal Investigators
o   Special Requirements
o   Where to Send Inquiries
o   Submitting an Application
o   Peer review Process
o   Review Criteria
o   Award Criteria
o   Required Federal Citations

PURPOSE OF THIS PA

The purpose of the NIDCR Oral Health Research Curriculum (OHRC) Grants 
is to infuse an appreciation of science and the results of scientific 
research in the dental school curriculum.  The main emphasis of this 
new program is to strengthen the research component of dental education 
and to enhance the application of basic and clinical research findings 
to clinical training.  Projects funded through this grant should 
encourage students and faculty to participate in broadly defined 
scholarly activity, monitor the latest science and provide students 
with an appreciation for research so they may be more likely to pursue 
academic careers, advanced degrees and research training.   Through 
these grants clinical, basic and behavioral science researchers will 
become an active part of the educational fabric and interact with 
students throughout all four years of dental school as well as during 
the postgraduate specialty training period.  

EDUCATION PROGRAM OBJECTIVES AND DESCRIPTION

Several recent reports have considered the rationale for and ways to 
strengthen the interaction between research and dental education.  The 
reports were "Dental Education at the Crossroads - Challenges and 
Change" (Institute of Medicine, 1995), "Oral Health in America: A 
Report of the Surgeon General" (Department of Health and Human 
Services, 2000) and the "Future of Dentistry" (American Dental 
Association, 2001).  Each of these documents reinforced the fundamental 
importance of research to oral health, the dental profession and dental 
education.  Major recommendations of these reports were related to the 
creation and expansion of oral health knowledge, the importance of 
research and scholarship and the interaction between research and 
education.  OHRC grants should create, develop, design, implement and 
evaluate educational experiences in research in dental schools at the 
predoctoral and postdoctoral levels that enhance the education process, 
cultivate future scientists and encourage the participation of 
clinician graduates in oral health research and academic careers. To 
develop a stimulating dental curriculum and supportive internal 
environment in which the creation and acquisition of new scientific and 
clinical knowledge are valued and actively pursued, goals and 
activities such as the following may be included in the grant:

o Incorporate a scientific perspective into all elements of dental 
education and the curriculum, which should be "invigorated with the 
spirit of faculty research."  
o Develop and implement effective ways to accelerate the transfer, 
translation and integration of basic and clinical research findings 
into the dental curriculum such that "clinically relevant education" is 
provided in the basic sciences and "scientifically based education" is 
offered in clinical care.  This is especially important during the 
years of clinical training for dental students.
o Involve and integrate oral health researchers in the design and 
implementation of the dental school curriculum and in clinical 
activities.
o Expect faculty to be critically knowledgeable about scientific 
advances in their field, and remain current in their teaching and 
practice.  
o Provide interested students with a direct opportunity to learn 
research methods, to undertake research projects as part of their 
regular classes, especially during the third and fourth predoctoral 
clinical training years, and to participate in faculty and independent 
research projects.  This requires available faculty who can guide or 
mentor students, accessible facilities, adequate funds for materials 
and supplies, appropriate time at all stages of pre- and postdoctoral 
education, an opportunity for students to present research findings, 
and a faculty member or administrator designated to insure that these 
conditions are met.  
o Develop educational tracks with special curricula, degrees or 
certification for predoctoral students and postgraduate trainees 
interested in research and academia.
o Enhance the participation and commitment of underrepresented 
minorities and women to careers in oral health research.  This can be 
accomplished by improving the quality of mentoring in oral health 
relevant research areas for underrepresented minorities and women, and 
providing summer research experiences and mentoring for 
underrepresented minority and women junior faculty.
o  Develop a plan to evaluate the program implemented through this 
award.
o  Provide documentation that funds will be made available by the 
institution to ensure that the program developed through this grant is 
continued after termination of the award.

The NIDCR expects applicant institutions to propose their own creative 
and innovative programs encompassing topics such as those listed above.  

Individuals supported by NIH training and career development mechanisms 
(K, T or F grants) may receive educational experiences funded by these 
mechanisms as participants, but may not receive salary or stipend 
supplementation from the R25 program.  In addition, the OHRC Grants may 
not be used for support of non-research clinical training.  

MECHANISM OF SUPPORT

This PA will use the NIH Education Research Program grant (R25) award 
mechanism.  As an applicant, you will be solely responsible for 
planning, directing, and executing the proposed project.  This PA uses 
just-in-time concepts.  

Awards are renewable one time only.  Initial support is limited to four 
years, during which a planning phase should be completed by the end of 
the first year.  The remaining three (or fewer) years should be used 
for implementing and evaluating the plan.  Funds can be used to cover 
costs for such things as faculty coordinator(s), clerical and 
administrative support, consultants, travel, supplies, equipment and an 
evaluation process.  With strong justification, up to three additional 
years may be requested through a competitive renewal application to 
finish the implementation and evaluation.  The length of the grant 
period should be consistent with the objectives of the program.  In 
most cases, these awards will be made to develop new educational 
approaches for which the institution will subsequently assume support.  
Funds requested for this program are limited to $150,000 per year in 
direct costs.  Requests for lower direct costs as well as institutional 
commitment are strongly encouraged. Institutional commitment consists 
of support provided by the institution or parent university/health 
science center for the development of the dental school"s research 
curriculum throughout the project funding period and beyond the award.  
The Institution may contribute resources in terms of released time for 
the Principal Investigator and support for clerical and administrative 
personnel, travel, consultants and meetings, faculty support, core 
facilities and space and equipment.

The NIDCR anticipates making three to five R25 awards each year, 
depending on their excellence and relevance as judged by peer review 
and program staff.

ELIGIBLE INSTITUTIONS

Applicants are limited to public or private U.S. dental schools.  Those 
institutions which have ongoing research training activities and a 
substantial number of program faculty with active research projects in 
which students and junior faculty can gain relevant experiences will be 
viewed most favorably.  If multiple sites are to be used, the applicant 
institution must be one of those sites and a strong justification must 
be included for the other sites.  Institutions with existing 
Institutional National Research Training Grants (T32) or other 
federally funded training programs may apply for an OHRC grant provided 
the proposed educational experiences are distinct from those training 
programs receiving NIH support.

INDIVIDUALS ELIGIBLE TO BECOME PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATORS

Any individual with the skills, knowledge, and resources necessary to 
carry out the proposed program is invited to work with their 
institution to develop an application for support.  Individuals from 
underrepresented racial and ethnic groups as well as individuals with 
disabilities are always encouraged to apply for NIH programs.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

Allowable Costs

Allowable costs must be consistent with NIH policy and be reasonable, 
allocable, and well documented and justified for the research 
curriculum program.  Grant funds may not be used to supplant funds 
otherwise available at the applicant institution.

Personnel Costs – professional staff participating in the design and 
implementation of the program may request salary and fringe benefits 
appropriate for the percent of time devoted to the program.  The 
principal investigator may request salary support for his/her role in 
leadership, management, coordination, and evaluation of the Program, in 
accordance with at least a 25 percent effort commitment to the Program.  
This is deemed the minimal amount of time expected for a successful 
project.  Salary support in accordance with percent effort commitment 
to the program may be requested for other program faculty critical to 
the design, development, implementation and refinement of the 
specialized curricula essential to the didactic needs of the program.  
Salary support also may be requested for program faculty for their 
service on an Advisory Committee.  Salaries requested may not exceed 
the levels commensurate with the institution"s policy for similar 
positions.  The principal investigator and Program faculty may derive 
additional compensation from other Federal sources or awards provided 
the additional compensation does not exceed the maximum annual salary 
level for Federal employees and their percent effort on all awards does 
not exceed 100 percent. If mentoring interactions and other activities 
with students is considered a regular part of an individual"s academic 
duties, then mentoring and other interactions with students are non-
reimbursable from grant funds. Funds also may be requested for 
consultants as necessary. 

Limited administrative and clerical salary costs for staff that are 
directly supporting the program may be requested and must be 
specifically identified and justified.  Consultation costs, equipment, 
supplies, necessary travel (including foreign travel for uniquely 
qualified foreign faculty), and other program related expenses must be 
justified as specifically required by the program proposed and not 
duplicate items generally available for educational programs at the 
host institution.

Facilities and Administrative (F&A) Costs, formerly known as "indirect 
costs," may be allowed for the applicant organization and any approved 
subcontract based on 8 percent of total direct costs exclusive of 
tuition and fees and expenditures for equipment.

Note that all costs associated with consortium/contractual 
arrangements, both direct and F&A costs, are included in the $150,000 
direct costs ceiling limitation for this program.

WHERE TO SEND INQUIRIES

We encourage your inquiries concerning this PA and welcome the 
opportunity to answer questions from potential applicants.  Inquiries 
may fall into three areas: scientific/research, peer review and 
financial or grants management issues:

o Direct your questions about programmatic issues to:

Dr. James Lipton
Division of Population and Health Promotion Sciences
National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research
Natcher Building, MSC 6402
Room 4AS-37J
Bethesda, MD 20892-6402
Telephone: (301) 594-2618
FAX: (301) 480-8318
Email:  James_Lipton@nih.gov

o Direct your questions about peer review issues to:

Dr. George Hausch
Division of Extramural Activities
National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research
Building 45, Room 4AN-44F
Bethesda, MD  20892
Telephone: (301) 594-2904
FAX: (301) 480-8303
E-mail:  George_Hausch@nih.gov

o Direct your questions about financial or grants management matters 
to:

Kevin Crist
Grants Management Branch
Division of Extramural Activities, NIDCR
Natcher Building, Rm 4AN-44B
Bethesda, MD  20892-6402
Telephone:  (301) 594-4800
FAX:  (301) 480-8301
Email:  Kevin_Crist@nih.gov

LETTER OF INTENT

Prospective applicants are asked to submit a letter of intent that 
includes the following information:

o  Descriptive title of the proposed program
o  Name, address, and telephone number of the Principal Investigator
o  Names of other key personnel who will participate in the program
o  Participating institutions
o  Number and title of this PA 

Although a letter of intent is not required, is not binding, and does 
not enter into the review of a subsequent application, the information 
that it contains allows NIDCR staff to estimate the potential review 
workload and plan the review.

The letter of intent is to be sent approximately four weeks prior to 
the application receipt date, as indicated at 
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/dates.htm.  The letter should be sent to 
Dr. George Hausch, Acting Director, Division of Extramural Activities.

SUBMITTING AN APPLICATION

Applications must be prepared using the PHS 398 research grant 
application instructions and forms (rev. 5/2001).  The PHS 398 is 
available at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/phs398/phs398.html 
in an interactive format.  For further assistance contact GrantsInfo, 
Telephone (301) 435-0714, Email: GrantsInfo@nih.gov.

Applicants must use the forms for regular research grants and follow 
the specific instructions in the PHS 398 application kit, with the 
exceptions listed below.  Note that the page limitations given in the 
instructions apply to this mechanism.  A complete detailed budget (Form 
Pages 4 & 5) with narrative justifications is required.  Applications 
that do not conform to the specific instructions detailed below will be 
returned without review.

Specific Instructions for Applications in Response to this Program 
Announcement:

1.  Application face page:  item number two on this page must include 
the program announcement number and the title, Oral Health Research 
Curriculum Grant (R25).

2.  Description, Performance Sites, and Key Personnel (Form Page 2):  
under Performance Sites include "Consortium/Contractual Arrangements" 
if applicable, with a description of plans for collaborating with other 
institutions for purposes of exchange and sharing of resources, 
including faculty, equipment and facilities. If multiple sites are to 
be used, the applicant institution must be one of those sites and for 
other sites a strong justification must be included.

3.  Resources (Resources Format Page): describe the educational 
environment, include a description of the facilities, laboratories, 
participating departments, computer services, and any other resources 
to be used in the conduct of the proposed program.  Use continuation 
pages, as necessary.

4.  Research Plan: part "c" of this section should be retitled 
"Preliminary Data and Activities" and included if applicable.  This 
section should contain information on steps that have led to the 
proposed program.  A section entitled "Progress Report" is required for 
competing continuation and supplemental applications.

5.  Research Plan: part "d" of this section should be retitled " Oral 
Health Research Curriculum Program Plan" and should contain material 
organized under the following subheadings, as appropriate to the 
specific program:

a) Program Direction - describe arrangements for administration of the 
program, provide evidence that the Program Director is actively engaged 
in research and/or teaching in an area related to oral health, and can 
organize and administer the program, as well as evidence of 
institutional and community commitment and support for the proposed 
program.

b) Program Faculty/Staff - describe the characteristics and 
responsibilities of the faculty, provide evidence, as necessary, that 
participating faculty and preceptors are actively engaged in research 
or other scholarly activities related to oral health.

c) Proposed Research Curriculum Program - provide programmatic detail 
on the special activities proposed that will be implemented to 
strengthen the research component of dental education and to enhance 
the application of basic, behavioral and clinical research findings to 
clinical training (e.g., courses, activities). A description of plans 
to provide education to students in the responsible conduct of research 
must be in the curriculum.  This must include the protection of human 
subjects, animal welfare and conflict of interest. Training in genetics 
also is a mandatory component of the program.

d) Program Participants - provide detail about the proposed 
participants (e.g., predoctoral dental students, postgraduates in 
clinical residency programs), include a description of plans for 
recruiting as participants individuals from underrepresented 
racial/ethnic groups, women and persons with disabilities.  Competing 
continuation applications must include a detailed account of 
experiences in recruiting and retaining individuals from 
underrepresented groups during the previous award period.

e) Research Curriculum Evaluation Plan - include evaluation plans for 
determining success of the program in achieving its goals and 
objectives.  Please note that applications that do not have an adequate 
evaluation plan will be considered non-responsive to this program 
announcement.  The inclusion of evaluation instruments is encouraged.

APPLICATION RECEIPT DATES:  Applications submitted in response to this 
program announcement will be accepted at the standard application 
deadlines, which are available at 
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/dates.htm.  Application deadlines are also 
indicated in the PHS 398 application kit.

SENDING AN APPLICATION TO THE NIH: Submit a signed, typewritten 
original of the application, including the checklist, and three  
signed, photocopies, in one package to:

Center For Scientific Review
National Institutes Of Health
6701 Rockledge Drive, Room 1040, MSC 7710
Bethesda, MD  20892-7710
Bethesda, MD  20817 (for express/courier service)

At the time of submission, two additional copies of the application 
must be sent to:

George Hausch, Ph.D.
Acting Director, Division of Extramural Activities
National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research,
Natcher Building, MSC 6402
Room 4AN-44F
Bethesda, MD  20892-6402
Telephone:  (301) 594-2904
FAX:  (301) 480-8303
Email:  George_Hausch@nih.gov

APPLICATION PROCESSING:  Applications must be received by or mailed on 
or before the receipt dates described at 
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/submissionschedule.htm.  

The CSR will not accept any application in response to this PA that is 
essentially the same as one currently pending initial review unless the 
applicant withdraws the pending application.  The CSR will not accept 
any application that is essentially the same as one already reviewed.  
This does not preclude the submission of substantial revision of an 
application already reviewed, but such applications must include an 
Introduction addressing the previous critique.

PEER REVIEW PROCESS

Applications submitted for this PA will be assigned on the basis of 
established PHS referral guidelines.  An appropriate scientific review 
group convened by the NIDCR will evaluate applications for scientific 
and technical merit.

As part of the initial merit review, all applications will:

o Receive a written critique
o Undergo a selection process in which only those applications deemed 
to have the highest scientific merit, generally the top half of 
applications under review, will be discussed and assigned a priority 
score
o Receive a second level review by the National Advisory Dental and 
Craniofacial Research Council

REVIEW CRITERIA

Applications for the OHRC Grant program should be characterized by 
innovation, scholarship and responsiveness to the special and/or 
changing needs of oral health research.  In the written comments, 
reviewers will be asked to discuss the following aspects of your 
application in order to judge the likelihood that the proposed program 
will have a substantial impact on the pursuit of these goals:

o  Significance
o  Approach
o  Innovation
o  Investigator
o  Environment

The scientific review group will address and consider each of these 
criteria in assigning your application"s overall score, weighting them 
as appropriate for each application.  Your application does not need to 
be strong in all categories to be judged likely to have major impact 
and thus deserve a high priority score.  

(1) SIGNIFICANCE:  Does the proposed program address the objectives 
stated in this program announcement and the overall mission of the 
NIDCR?

(2) APPROACH:  Is the proposed specialized curriculum appropriate and 
adequate to achieve the goals outlined?  For competitive renewal 
applications, is the need for further R25 support clear?

(3) INNOVATION:  Does the curriculum include original and unique 
approaches or methods for addressing purpose and educational program 
objectives in this PA?  Are plans to challenge existing paradigms or 
develop new approaches or techniques described?

(4) INVESTIGATOR:  Does the program leadership demonstrate a record of 
achievements and are their qualifications appropriate to meeting the 
proposed goals and implementing the stated plan?

(5) ENVIRONMENT:  Is the scientific/education environment described, 
indicating the unique features and probability of success of the 
program?  Is institutional commitment to the proposed program 
documented?  If multiple sites are to be used, is this adequately 
justified in terms of the educational experiences provided?  Are plans 
provided for the coordination and communication between multiple sites?

ADDITIONAL REVIEW CRITERIA: In addition to the above criteria, the 
application will also be reviewed with respect to the following:

EVALUATION: Is there an adequate plan for evaluating the effectiveness 
of the program in achieving its objectives?  For competing continuation 
applications, has the program been adequately evaluated and has the 
level of success been satisfactory?

CONTINUATION of the program after Federal supports ends: Is there an 
adequate plan for continued institutional support after the R25 award 
terminates?

PROTECTIONS:  The adequacy of the proposed protection for humans, 
animals, or the environment, to the extent they may be adversely 
affected by the project proposed in the application.

INCLUSION:  The adequacy of plans to include subjects from both 
genders, all racial and ethnic groups (and subgroups), and children as 
appropriate for the scientific goals of the research.  Plans for the 
recruitment and retention of subjects will also be evaluated. (See 
Inclusion Criteria included in the section on Federal Citations, below)

DATA SHARING:  The adequacy of the proposed plan to share data, 
especially on evaluation and effectiveness of the program with other 
academic institutions through publications in the literature.

BUDGET:  Are justifications provided for each budgeted item and for 
each year of support that is requested?  Are requests for 
administrative and clerical personnel appropriately justified?  If more 
than 5% in total direct cost is requested for the Research Education 
Evaluation Plan, is an appropriate justification provided?

AWARD CRITERIA

Applications submitted in response to a PA will compete for available 
funds with all other recommended applications.  The following will be 
considered in making funding decisions:

o  Scientific merit of the proposed project as determined by peer 
review
o  Availability of funds
o  Relevance to program priorities

REQUIRED FEDERAL CITATIONS

URLs IN NIH GRANT APPLICATIONS OR APPENDICES: All applications and 
proposals for NIH funding must be self-contained within specified page 
limitations.  Unless otherwise specified in an NIH solicitation, 
Internet addresses (URLs) should not be used to provide information 
necessary to the review because reviewers are under no obligation to 
view the Internet sites.  Furthermore, we caution reviewers that their 
anonymity may be compromised when they directly access an Internet 
site.

HEALTHY PEOPLE 2010:  The Public Health Service (PHS) is committed to 
achieving the health promotion and disease prevention objectives of 
"Healthy People 2010," a PHS led national activity for setting priority 
areas.  This PA is related to one or more of the priority areas.  
Potential applicants may obtain a copy of "Healthy People 2010" at 
http://www.health.gov/healthypeople/.

AUTHORITY AND REGULATIONS:  This program is described in the Catalog of 
Federal Domestic Assistance No. 93.121 and is not subject to the 
intergovernmental review requirements of Executive Order 12372 or 
Health Systems Agency review.  Awards are made under authorization of 
the Public Health Service Act, Title IV, Part A (Public Law 78-410, as 
amended by Public Law 99- 158, 42 USC 241 and 285) and administered 
under PHS grants policies and Federal Regulations 42 CFR 52 and 45 CFR 
Part 74.  Awards will be administered under NIH grants policies 
described at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/policy.htm.

The PHS strongly encourages all grant and contract recipients to 
provide a smoke-free workplace and promote the nonuse of all tobacco 
products.  In addition, Public Law 103- 227, the Pro-Children Act of 
1994, prohibits smoking in certain facilities (or in some cases, any 
portion of a facility) in which regular or routine education, library, 
day care, health care or early childhood development services are 
provided to children.  This is consistent with the PHS mission to 
protect and advance the physical and mental health of the American 
people.

Weekly TOC for this Announcement
NIH Funding Opportunities and Notices

	Office of Extramural Research (OER)			National Institutes of Health (NIH) 9000 Rockville Pike Bethesda, Maryland 20892			Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
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