Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA DE 10 005
Apply for RFA DE 10 005
- The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Increasing the Service Life of Dental Resin Composites (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 Dec 10, 2009 and posted on Sep 1, 2009.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jan 13, 2010. (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: State governments Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Private institutions of higher education Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) For profit organizations other than small businesses Small businesses Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities Public and State controlled institutions of higher education County governments Independent school districts Special district governments City or township governments Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- Other Eligible Applicants include the following Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions Eligible Agencies of the Federal Government Faith based or Community based Organizations Hispanic serving Institutions Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) Indian/Native American Tribal Governments (Other than Federally Recognized) Non domestic (non U.S.) Entities (Foreign Organizations) Regional Organizations Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs) U.S. Territory or Possession.
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Opportunity Summary:
The National Institutes of Health, through the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), offered this funding opportunity (RFA-DE-10-005) to support exploratory research aimed at making dental resin composite restorations last longer in the mouth. The central idea is that many composite fillings fail over time because the material slowly degrades and because the restoration surface and margins interact with the oral environment in ways that encourage biofilm growth and, ultimately, secondary (recurrent) tooth decay around or under the restoration. This grant calls for research that digs into those mechanisms in a more rigorous, multidisciplinary way, so researchers can both measure real clinical success more effectively and create better materials or entirely new restorative approaches.
Scientifically, the opportunity targets two tightly connected problem areas. First is degradation driven by physical and environmental stressors in the oral cavity, including things like mechanical wear, cyclic loading from chewing, temperature changes, moisture, and chemical exposures. Second is the way resin composite composition and breakdown products may influence, and be influenced by, oral biofilms. The FOA is especially interested in how these interactions at the tooth-restoration interface can make conditions favorable for secondary caries. In practical terms, NIDCR is looking for projects that can clarify why composites fail, identify measurable indicators of impending failure, and point toward strategies that prevent degradation or reduce biofilm-related risk.
This announcement uses the NIH R21 mechanism, which is designed for high-impact, exploratory or early-stage concepts rather than fully mature multi-year programs. It is positioned as a companion to a parallel announcement with the same scientific scope that uses the R01 mechanism (RFA-DE-10-004). That pairing signals that NIDCR wanted both shorter, proof-of-concept style projects (R21) and larger, more comprehensive research efforts (R01) working on the same overarching problem of extending composite service life.
Funding levels and project limits are clearly defined. NIDCR planned to commit about $3,000,000 in total costs in fiscal year 2010 across this R21 and the parallel R01 announcement combined. For the R21 portion specifically, the expectation was roughly 3 to 4 awards, depending on application quality and available funds. Individual R21 budgets were capped at $275,000 in direct costs over a maximum two-year period, with an additional constraint of no more than $200,000 in direct costs in any single year. Cost sharing or matching was not required.
Applications had to follow a tight page limit consistent with the R21’s exploratory intent. The Research Plan section of the PHS398 application (Items 3 through 5) could not exceed 6 pages total, and that page count included tables, graphs, figures, diagrams, and charts. This structure pushes applicants to present a focused rationale, clear approach, and strong justification for why the work is innovative and feasible within two years.
Eligibility was broad and included a wide range of organization types: public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofits (including 501(c)(3) and certain non-501(c)(3) entities), for-profit organizations (including small businesses), state and local governments, tribal governments and tribal organizations, public housing authorities, school districts, special district governments, and additional categories such as faith-based or community-based organizations. The FOA also explicitly allowed non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations) and other special institution types (for example, HBCUs, Hispanic-serving institutions, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-serving institutions, tribally controlled colleges and universities, and U.S. territories or possessions). On the investigator side, any qualified Project Director/Principal Investigator with the expertise and resources to conduct the work could apply through an eligible organization, and the NIH encouragement for applicants from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups and individuals with disabilities was stated directly.
Key administrative details include that the opportunity was posted September 1, 2009, with an original closing date of January 4, 2010 and a current closing date listed as January 13, 2010. The CFDA program associated with the funding is 93.121 (Oral Diseases and Disorders Research). The full announcement and instructions were provided through the NIH Grants Guide link listed in the FOA, with NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) webmaster contacts available for access or linking issues.
In plain terms, this R21 was meant to fund fast-moving, creative research that can explain why composite restorations break down and how that breakdown connects to biofilm behavior and recurrent decay, while also pushing toward better ways to test, predict, and improve clinical performance. The emphasis on multidisciplinary work suggests NIDCR expected collaboration across dental materials science, microbiology and biofilm research, chemistry, engineering, and clinical dentistry to produce insights that translate into longer-lasting restorations.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the goal of this funding opportunity (RFA-DE-10-005)?
This NIH/NIDCR funding opportunity supports exploratory research aimed at making dental resin composite restorations (composite fillings) last longer in the mouth. It focuses on understanding why composites fail over time and on identifying strategies, measurements, materials, or approaches that improve clinical longevity.
Which NIH institute is sponsoring this opportunity?
The opportunity is offered by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) through the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR).
What research problems is NIDCR trying to solve with this FOA?
The FOA targets two closely linked problem areas: (1) degradation of resin composite restorations due to physical and environmental stressors in the oral cavity, and (2) interactions between resin composites (including their composition and breakdown products) and oral biofilms, especially at restoration margins and the tooth-restoration interface where secondary (recurrent) caries can develop.
Why do resin composite restorations fail, according to the FOA description?
The FOA highlights two major contributors to failure: gradual material degradation over time, and surface/margin interactions with the oral environment that can encourage biofilm growth and lead to secondary decay around or under the restoration.
What kinds of oral stressors are specifically mentioned as drivers of degradation?
The FOA points to physical and environmental stressors such as mechanical wear, cyclic loading from chewing, temperature changes, moisture, and chemical exposures in the oral environment.
How does biofilm relate to this funding opportunity?
NIDCR is especially interested in how resin composite composition and degradation products may influence oral biofilms (and vice versa), and how these interactions at the tooth-restoration interface can create conditions favorable for secondary caries.
What types of outcomes or advances is NIDCR looking for from funded projects?
Projects are expected to clarify mechanisms of composite failure, identify measurable indicators of impending failure (so clinical success can be measured more effectively), and point toward strategies that prevent degradation or reduce biofilm-related risk. The FOA also encourages work that could lead to better materials or entirely new restorative approaches.
What grant mechanism is used for this announcement?
This FOA uses the NIH R21 mechanism, which is intended for high-impact, exploratory, or early-stage research rather than fully mature, long-term programs.
How is this R21 related to the parallel R01 announcement?
This R21 (RFA-DE-10-005) is described as a companion to a parallel announcement with the same scientific scope that uses the R01 mechanism (RFA-DE-10-004). The pairing indicates NIDCR sought both shorter, proof-of-concept projects (R21) and larger, more comprehensive projects (R01) addressing the same overarching goal of extending composite service life.
How much funding did NIDCR plan to commit overall?
NIDCR planned to commit about $3,000,000 in total costs in fiscal year 2010 across this R21 announcement and the parallel R01 announcement combined.
How many R21 awards were expected?
For the R21 portion, NIDCR expected to make roughly 3 to 4 awards, depending on application quality and available funds.
What is the maximum project period for an R21 under this FOA?
The maximum project period is two years.
What is the budget limit for this R21 opportunity?
Budgets are capped at $275,000 in direct costs over the two-year maximum period, with an additional limit of no more than $200,000 in direct costs in any single year.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The FOA states that cost sharing or matching is not required.
What application format is mentioned, and what is the key page limit?
Applications use the PHS398 format. The Research Plan section (Items 3 through 5) is limited to 6 pages total, and that 6-page limit includes tables, graphs, figures, diagrams, and charts.
Why is there such a tight page limit for the research plan?
The FOA ties the structure to the R21’s exploratory intent, pushing applicants to present a focused rationale, clear approach, and strong justification that the work is innovative and feasible within a two-year period.
Who is eligible to apply (organizations)?
Eligibility is broad and includes public and private institutions of higher education; nonprofits (including 501(c)(3) and certain non-501(c)(3) entities); for-profit organizations (including small businesses); state and local governments; tribal governments and tribal organizations; public housing authorities; school districts; special district governments; and additional categories such as faith-based or community-based organizations.
Are foreign (non-U.S.) organizations eligible?
Yes. The FOA explicitly allows non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations) and other special institution types.
Are specific institution types explicitly mentioned as eligible?
Yes. The FOA explicitly references eligibility for special institution types such as HBCUs, Hispanic-serving institutions, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-serving institutions, tribally controlled colleges and universities, and U.S. territories or possessions.
Who is eligible to serve as the Project Director/Principal Investigator (PD/PI)?
Any qualified PD/PI with the expertise and resources to conduct the work may apply through an eligible organization.
Does the FOA encourage applications from underrepresented groups?
Yes. NIH encouragement for applicants from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups and individuals with disabilities is stated directly in the FOA description provided.
When was the opportunity posted, and what are the key closing dates listed?
The opportunity was posted on September 1, 2009. It lists an original closing date of January 4, 2010 and a current closing date of January 13, 2010.
What CFDA program is associated with this opportunity?
The associated CFDA program is 93.121, titled Oral Diseases and Disorders Research.
Where were the full announcement and instructions provided?
The FOA indicates the full announcement and instructions were provided through the NIH Grants Guide link listed in the FOA, with NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) webmaster contacts available for access or linking issues.
What kind of scientific approach does NIDCR emphasize for this topic?
The FOA emphasizes a more rigorous, multidisciplinary approach to understanding failure mechanisms and improving measurement of clinical success, with translation toward longer-lasting restorations.
What disciplines are implied by the FOA as relevant to this work?
The FOA suggests multidisciplinary collaboration across dental materials science, microbiology and biofilm research, chemistry, engineering, and clinical dentistry.
In practical terms, what is this R21 meant to fund?
It is meant to fund fast-moving, creative, proof-of-concept style research that explains why resin composite restorations break down, how that breakdown connects to biofilm behavior and recurrent decay, and how to better test, predict, and improve clinical performance.
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