Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA DE 09 002
Apply for RFA DE 09 002
- The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Harnessing Inflammation for Reconstruction of Oral and Craniofacial Tissues (R21)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.121 Oral Diseases and Disorders Research.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jul 1, 2008 and posted on Jul 1, 2008.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Oct 31, 2008. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $3,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $200,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: For profit organizations other than small businesses City or township governments Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Private institutions of higher education Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities Independent school districts Special district governments Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) County governments Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Small businesses State governments.
- Other Eligible Applicants include the following Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions Hispanic serving Institutions Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) Indian/Native American Tribal Governments (Other than Federally Recognized) Regional Organizations Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs) U.S. Territory or Possession.
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Opportunity Summary:
Harnessing Inflammation for Reconstruction of Oral and Craniofacial Tissues (R21) (Funding Opportunity Number RFA-DE-09-002) is a National Institutes of Health grant opportunity issued by the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR). It is an exploratory/developmental R21 mechanism aimed at pushing early-stage, high-risk, high-impact ideas that could open up new directions in how oral and craniofacial tissues heal after disease or injury. The central scientific focus is inflammation, specifically moving beyond describing inflammatory responses and instead figuring out how the body actively resolves inflammation in both acute and chronic settings, and how that resolution (or failure to resolve) shapes regeneration versus scarring.
The opportunity is looking for projects that elucidate molecular mechanisms that drive the resolution phase of inflammation and connect those mechanisms to tissue repair outcomes in oral and craniofacial contexts. In practical terms, NIDCR is interested in understanding how inflammatory processes can be guided so healing becomes more predictable and regenerative, rather than ending in fibrosis, persistent inflammation, or scar formation that compromises function and structure. A key concept emphasized in the announcement is the "predictable control and patterning" of the tissue inflammatory microenvironment, meaning applicants are encouraged to propose ways to intentionally shape local inflammatory signals, cell recruitment, and the timing of resolution so that the tissue environment becomes conducive to reconstruction and regeneration.
This FOA is explicitly positioned to support early development of clinically relevant approaches. That includes strategies to promote inflammation resolution, reduce or overcome fibrosis and scarring, and ultimately regenerate and reconstruct damaged oral and craniofacial tissues. The agency signals strong interest in multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary research, encouraging applicants to integrate fields such as cell and developmental biology, stem cell biology, and immunology with chemistry, pharmacology, and bioengineering. The idea is that solving inflammation-controlled regeneration problems will likely require combined expertise, for example pairing mechanistic immunology with biomaterials that modulate immune cell behavior, or combining stem cell approaches with pharmacologic or engineered cues that steer inflammatory resolution.
The announcement also makes a point about what it does not want: long-term projects or projects that mainly continue an existing line of investigation without a genuinely exploratory, developmental thrust are not considered a good fit. In other words, the R21 is intended for trying bold, early concepts that could create a step change in the field rather than incremental progress within an established program. Consistent with that emphasis on integration and team science, the multiple-PI application format is strongly encouraged, reflecting the expectation that many proposed projects will require leadership from more than one discipline.
From an administrative standpoint, this is a discretionary grant opportunity in the health category, associated with CFDA 93.121 (Oral Diseases and Disorders Research). It does not require cost sharing or matching. The total estimated funding for the competition is listed as $3,000,000, with an award ceiling of $200,000. The opportunity was posted July 1, 2008, with an original and current closing date of October 31, 2008, and an archive date of November 30, 2008.
Eligibility is broad and includes for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), small businesses, nonprofit organizations (including those with and without 501(c)(3) status), private and public institutions of higher education, and a range of governmental entities (city/township, county, state, special district, independent school districts, and public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities). It also explicitly includes tribal governments (federally recognized and other than federally recognized), tribal organizations, tribally controlled colleges and universities, and several categories of minority-serving institutions such as HBCUs, Hispanic-serving institutions, and Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-serving institutions, as well as U.S. territories or possessions and regional organizations.
Overall, the grant is best understood as a targeted push to reframe inflammation from being viewed mainly as an obstacle to healing into something that can be understood, directed, and leveraged to enable better reconstruction of oral and craniofacial tissues. The strongest applications under this FOA would likely propose bold mechanistic work tied to actionable, translational strategies for controlling inflammatory resolution and preventing fibrosis, backed by multidisciplinary methods and teams capable of connecting molecular insights to engineered or pharmacologic interventions with real clinical relevance.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the full title of this funding opportunity?
The opportunity is titled Harnessing Inflammation for Reconstruction of Oral and Craniofacial Tissues (R21).
What is the funding opportunity number (FOA number)?
The funding opportunity number is RFA-DE-09-002.
Which agency is offering this grant?
This is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant opportunity issued by the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR).
What type of grant mechanism is being used?
This FOA uses the R21 exploratory/developmental mechanism, which is intended for early-stage, high-risk, high-impact ideas.
What is the main scientific focus of the FOA?
The central focus is inflammation in oral and craniofacial tissue healing, with an emphasis on understanding and controlling the resolution phase of inflammation and how that resolution (or failure to resolve) influences regeneration versus scarring/fibrosis.
What does the FOA mean by moving beyond "describing inflammatory responses"?
It means projects should go past documenting which inflammatory signals are present and instead aim to uncover molecular mechanisms that actively drive inflammation resolution in both acute and chronic settings, and link those mechanisms to real tissue repair outcomes.
What kinds of outcomes is NIDCR hoping to influence through this research?
NIDCR is looking for work that helps make healing more predictable and regenerative, rather than ending in persistent inflammation, fibrosis, or scar formation that compromises tissue structure and function.
What does "predictable control and patterning of the tissue inflammatory microenvironment" mean in this FOA?
It refers to proposing approaches that intentionally shape local inflammatory conditions, such as inflammatory signals, immune cell recruitment, and the timing of inflammation resolution, to create a microenvironment that supports reconstruction and regeneration.
What kinds of projects are encouraged under this FOA?
Projects are encouraged to (1) elucidate molecular mechanisms controlling inflammation resolution and (2) connect those mechanisms to oral and craniofacial tissue repair, including early development of clinically relevant approaches that promote resolution, reduce scarring, and support regeneration.
Is this FOA intended to support clinically relevant or translational ideas?
Yes. The FOA explicitly positions itself to support early development of clinically relevant approaches, including strategies to promote inflammation resolution, overcome fibrosis/scarring, and regenerate/reconstruct damaged oral and craniofacial tissues.
What research approaches or disciplines does NIDCR encourage applicants to integrate?
The FOA strongly emphasizes multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary research. It encourages integrating areas such as cell and developmental biology, stem cell biology, and immunology with chemistry, pharmacology, and bioengineering.
Why is a multidisciplinary approach highlighted so strongly?
The FOA frames inflammation-controlled regeneration as a problem that often requires combined expertise, for example pairing mechanistic immunology with biomaterials that modulate immune behavior, or combining stem cell approaches with pharmacologic or engineered cues to steer inflammatory resolution.
What types of applications are explicitly not a good fit for this FOA?
The FOA states it is not looking for long-term projects or projects that mainly continue an existing line of investigation without a genuinely exploratory/developmental thrust. Incremental extensions of established programs are not the intended target.
Is this FOA designed for bold or high-risk ideas?
Yes. As an R21 exploratory/developmental opportunity, it is intended to support bold, early concepts that could open new directions rather than deliver incremental progress.
Is a multiple-PI application allowed or encouraged?
The FOA indicates that the multiple-PI application format is strongly encouraged, reflecting the expectation that many projects will require leadership spanning more than one discipline.
What is the CFDA number associated with this program area?
The FOA is associated with CFDA 93.121 (Oral Diseases and Disorders Research).
What is the estimated total funding available for this competition?
The total estimated funding is listed as $3,000,000.
What is the award ceiling listed in the FOA?
The award ceiling is listed as $200,000.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The FOA states that cost sharing/matching is not required.
When was this opportunity posted?
The opportunity was posted on July 1, 2008.
What is the closing date for this FOA?
The original and current closing date is October 31, 2008.
When was (or is) the archive date for this opportunity?
The archive date is listed as November 30, 2008.
What general categories of organizations are eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), small businesses, nonprofit organizations (with or without 501(c)(3) status), private and public institutions of higher education, and a wide range of governmental entities.
Are small businesses eligible?
Yes. Small businesses are explicitly listed as eligible.
Are for-profit organizations eligible?
Yes. For-profit organizations (other than small businesses) are explicitly listed as eligible.
Are nonprofit organizations eligible even if they do not have 501(c)(3) status?
Yes. The FOA includes nonprofit organizations with and without 501(c)(3) status.
Are public and private colleges and universities eligible?
Yes. The FOA includes private and public institutions of higher education.
What types of government entities are eligible?
The FOA lists multiple eligible government entities, including city/township, county, state, special district, independent school districts, and public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities.
Are tribal governments and tribal organizations eligible?
Yes. The FOA explicitly includes tribal governments (federally recognized and other than federally recognized), as well as tribal organizations.
Are tribally controlled colleges and universities eligible?
Yes. Tribally controlled colleges and universities are explicitly listed as eligible.
Are minority-serving institutions included in eligibility?
Yes. The FOA explicitly includes several minority-serving institution categories, including HBCUs, Hispanic-serving institutions, and Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-serving institutions.
Are U.S. territories or possessions eligible to apply?
Yes. The FOA includes U.S. territories or possessions among eligible entities.
Are regional organizations eligible?
Yes. Regional organizations are listed as eligible.
What is the overall goal of the FOA in plain terms?
The FOA aims to shift inflammation from being viewed mainly as an obstacle to healing into something that can be understood, directed, and leveraged to enable better reconstruction and regeneration of oral and craniofacial tissues.
What would a strong application generally look like under this FOA?
Based on the description, strong applications would likely combine bold mechanistic insight into inflammation resolution with actionable strategies (engineered, pharmacologic, or otherwise) to control the inflammatory microenvironment, prevent fibrosis/scarring, and support clinically relevant reconstruction, ideally through multidisciplinary team science (often via multiple PIs).
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