NIDCR Dental Specialty and PhD Program (DSPP)(K12) | RFA DE 18 003

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA DE 18 003

The NIDCR Dental Specialty and PhD Program (DSPP) (K12) funding opportunity (RFA-DE-18-003) is a National Institutes of Health discretionary grant designed to help institutions build structured, mentored career development programs that produce the next generation of dentist-scientists. The central idea is to support an integrated training pathway where dentists complete advanced clinical training in a recognized dental specialty while also receiving rigorous, supervised research training that culminates in a PhD. The PhD can be in biomedical science, behavioral science, or another discipline that clearly applies to dental, oral, and craniofacial research. By combining specialty training and doctoral-level research training in a coordinated program, the initiative aims to shorten the time it takes for early-career dentists to become highly competent in both clinical care and research, and to speed their transition into independent, productive research careers focused on improving dental, oral, and craniofacial health.

From a programmatic standpoint, this is an institutional career development mechanism (K12), meaning the applicant organization proposes and operates the overall program, and then supports appointed scholars (often called K12 scholars) through a defined curriculum of mentored research, coursework, and professional development, alongside their clinical specialty training. The emphasis is on developing clinician-scientists who can bridge patient-centered clinical expertise with the ability to design, conduct, and lead impactful research. In practice, that typically means training that builds strong foundations in scientific methodology, responsible conduct of research, advanced quantitative or behavioral methods as appropriate, grant-writing skills, publication and presentation experience, and sustained mentorship that guides scholars toward competitive independent funding and long-term research leadership in areas relevant to NIDCR’s mission.

Eligibility is geared toward U.S.-based organizations capable of running an integrated specialty and PhD training environment. Eligible applicants include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, federally recognized Native American tribal governments, and nonprofit organizations (including both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3) nonprofits, as long as they are not institutions of higher education when applying in that category). The opportunity also highlights additional eligible applicant types that may apply when they meet the FOA’s requirements, including Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, certain Indian/Native American tribal governments other than federally recognized entities (as specified), and U.S. territories or possessions. Foreign institutions are not eligible to apply, and non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are also not eligible, which keeps the program’s institutional training and supported activities within allowable domestic boundaries.

The opportunity is categorized under the health funding activity area and is associated with CFDA number 93.121. The source record indicates an original closing date of July 3, 2017, and a creation date of March 21, 2017. While the summary data provided does not list an award ceiling or expected number of awards, the core purpose is clear: NIDCR is investing in institutional training models that can reliably produce dentist-scientists with dual competency, positioning them to become independent investigators who will advance research and ultimately improve oral health outcomes. For the most precise and current requirements (such as scholar eligibility, required program components, budget structure, allowable costs, and review criteria), applicants would need to rely on the full FOA text referenced in the notice.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "NIDCR Dental Specialty and PhD Program (DSPP)(K12)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.121.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2017-03-21.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2017-07-03. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, Others.

Apply for RFA DE 18 003

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