Biosensors in the Oral Cavity (R01) | Apply Online

FAQs: Biosensors in the Oral Cavity (R01) (RFA-DE-17-004)

What is the Biosensors in the Oral Cavity (R01) funding opportunity?

It is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding announcement under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that supports R01 research grants focused on creating or adapting biosensor technologies designed to function inside the mouth (the oral cavity).

What is the main goal of this opportunity?

The central goal is to advance noninvasive tools that can continuously, dynamically, and in real time monitor physiological processes in the human body, using the oral cavity as the sensing location.

What types of projects does this FOA aim to support?

The program is aimed at interdisciplinary research projects that develop sensing systems capable of capturing meaningful biological signals from the oral cavity without relying on blood draws or other invasive sampling.

Why does the FOA emphasize the oral cavity?

The announcement highlights the mouth as a rich source of measurable information about health and disease, making it a valuable site for extracting actionable data through noninvasive sensing approaches.

What kinds of biological signals or sources are biosensors expected to detect or analyze?

Proposed biosensors are expected to detect and analyze signals derived from oral fluids (such as saliva and other oral secretions), oral and dental tissues, cells, microorganisms (including components of the oral microbiome), and chemical compounds present in or passing through the oral environment.

What are examples of health-related targets that could be monitored using oral-cavity biosensors?

The opportunity describes potential monitoring of biomarkers or signals associated with inflammation, infection, metabolic status, tissue breakdown or repair, microbial shifts, or exposure to specific compounds, as long as the approach aligns with the oral cavity as the primary sampling and sensing site.

Are the biosensors expected to support continuous and real-time monitoring?

Yes. A central emphasis of the program is continuous, dynamic, real-time monitoring of physiological processes using the oral cavity.

Does the FOA encourage integration with digital or remote monitoring workflows?

Yes. The announcement explicitly points to desirable capabilities such as wireless and remote communication of sensor outputs, on-device or local processing of signals, and transmitting data to a centralized location for collection and analysis.

What advanced features are highlighted as desirable for proposed biosensors?

Desirable advanced capabilities include wireless and remote communications, local/on-device signal processing, and centralized data transmission for collection and analysis to support longitudinal monitoring and everyday use settings.

Does this opportunity mention closed-loop or responsive therapy systems?

Yes. The FOA notes potential for biosensors to communicate with drug delivery devices, enabling responsive or closed-loop behavior where therapeutic compounds could be dispensed dynamically based on immediate physiological needs.

What fields or expertise are relevant for interdisciplinary teams responding to this FOA?

The FOA anticipates projects that bring together expertise from areas such as bioengineering, materials science, analytical chemistry, dentistry, microbiology, data science, and clinical research.

What is the funding mechanism for this opportunity?

This opportunity uses the NIH R01 grant mechanism.

What agency and department sponsor this opportunity?

It is an NIH funding announcement under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

How is the funding type categorized in the provided description?

It is listed as a discretionary grant in the health funding activity category.

What is the CFDA number listed for this opportunity?

The CFDA number provided is 93.121 (and the source shows another listing also as 93.121).

What is the award ceiling listed for the opportunity?

The award ceiling is listed as $250,000.

When was the funding opportunity created and posted?

The funding opportunity was created and posted on June 8, 2016.

What is the closing date for this opportunity?

The original and current closing date is October 19, 2016.

Who is eligible to apply?

The eligible applicant pool is broad and includes state governments, county governments, city/township governments, special district governments, independent school districts, public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, federally recognized Native American tribal governments and other tribal organizations, public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, nonprofit organizations with and without 501(c)(3) status (excluding higher education institutions where specified), for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), small businesses, and additional applicants as described in the full eligibility text.

Are industry and small businesses included in the eligibility list?

Yes. The eligibility list includes for-profit organizations (other than small businesses) as well as small businesses.

Does the FOA appear intended only for universities?

No. Based on the listed eligibility categories, it is structured to attract a wide range of academic, nonprofit, governmental, and industry participants.

What kind of real-world impact is the program aiming for?

The program is oriented toward oral-cavity-based biosensing platforms that move toward real-world, real-time health monitoring and, potentially, sensor-guided therapy.

Does the FOA require that the oral cavity be the primary sampling and sensing site?

Yes. The described intent is that the oral cavity is the primary sampling and sensing site for detecting and analyzing relevant biological signals.

Is the program limited to basic detection only?

No. While detection is part of the scope, the announcement highlights additional capabilities that would increase utility, including wireless/remote data communication, local processing, centralized data transmission, and potential integration with drug delivery for responsive therapy.