Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 09 256
Apply for PAR 09 256
- The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "NIDCR Dentist Scientist Pathway to Independence Award (K99/R00)" 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 Aug 14, 2009 and posted on Aug 14, 2009.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 7, 2012. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $7,500,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Private institutions of higher education Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education For profit organizations other than small businesses State governments Small businesses Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments).
- 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) Regional Organizations Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs) U.S. Territory or Possession.
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Opportunity Summary:
The NIDCR Dentist Scientist Pathway to Independence Award (K99/R00) is a National Institutes of Health grant program built to help a specific group of early career researchers, recent DDS/PhD graduates, move more smoothly and quickly from mentored postdoctoral research into stable, independent faculty style research careers. The overall idea behind the broader NIH K99/R00 "Pathway to Independence" model is to keep a strong pipeline of new NIH funded investigators by giving promising researchers a structured bridge: first a mentored phase to sharpen skills and produce strong preliminary results, then an independent phase that supports the jump into a research position where the awardee runs their own project direction. NIDCRs version modifies that model to better match the reality of dentist scientists, who often have to balance research development with clinical responsibilities.
This opportunity is explicitly designed to ensure that dual degree dentist scientists receive the mentoring and protected research time they need to become independent investigators, rather than getting pulled too early into heavy clinical or teaching loads. A major structural requirement is that the mentored K99 phase must last the full two years. In other words, it is not a flexible "up to two years" arrangement; NIDCR requires the complete two year mentored period so the awardee has enough runway for focused training, publication, and career development under supervision before attempting the transition. During both phases of the award, the sponsoring institution or institutions must guarantee at least 75 percent protected time for research. That commitment is central to the program and signals that the award is meant to buy real, enforceable time for research, not just provide money while the recipient is still mostly doing clinical work.
After the mentored K99 phase, the award transitions to the R00 phase, which supports the recipients independent research as they move into an independent position. The R00 component normally lasts up to three years, but NIDCR includes an important dentist specific option: recipients may pursue clinical specialty training during the R00 phase, and in that situation the R00 phase may be extended for up to five years. The extension is intended to make it feasible for a dentist scientist to complete specialty training without losing the chance to establish an independent research trajectory. At the same time, the announcement makes a clear boundary about what the grant will pay for: K99/R00 funds cannot be used to support the clinical specialty training itself. The grant supports the research career development and research program, while any specialty training costs must be covered through other sources. If the awardee already has specialty training, or decides not to pursue it, then the R00 phase is capped at three years.
From an administrative and eligibility standpoint, the funding opportunity was issued by NIH (through NIDCR) as a discretionary grant under the NIH K99/R00 mechanism, aligned with CFDA 93.121 (Oral Diseases and Disorders Research). It did not require cost sharing or matching. Eligible applicant organizations were broad and included many common NIH eligible institution types such as public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations (including 501(c)(3) and other nonprofits), for profit organizations (other than small businesses), small businesses, state governments, certain tribal governments and tribal organizations, and a range of designated institution types such as HBCUs, Hispanic serving institutions, tribally controlled colleges and universities, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian serving institutions, faith based or community based organizations, regional organizations, and US territories or possessions. The archived record lists an estimated total funding amount of $7.5 million for the opportunity and shows it was posted August 14, 2009, with an original and final closing date of September 7, 2012, and an archive date of October 8, 2012.
In practical terms, the program can be understood as a protected time and mentoring guarantee wrapped around a structured transition to independence. The two year mentored phase locks in intensive development at a point when DDS/PhD graduates are still solidifying their research niche, while the independent phase provides a defined window to establish a lab direction, generate fundable results, and compete successfully for independent NIH or other research support. The 75 percent protected research time requirement is one of the most important features because it is meant to prevent the common problem of early career dentist scientists losing momentum when clinical duties expand. The specialty training option acknowledges that dentist scientists career paths often include additional clinical credentialing, but it keeps the focus on building an independent research program by separating training costs from the research award budget.
FAQs: NIDCR Dentist Scientist Pathway to Independence Award (K99/R00)
What is the NIDCR Dentist Scientist Pathway to Independence Award (K99/R00)?
It is an NIH grant program (through the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, NIDCR) designed to help early career dentist-scientists, specifically recent DDS/PhD graduates, transition from mentored postdoctoral research into stable, independent faculty-style research careers.
What is the purpose of the broader NIH K99/R00 Pathway to Independence model?
The K99/R00 model is intended to maintain a strong pipeline of new NIH-funded investigators by providing a structured bridge: a mentored phase to strengthen skills and generate strong preliminary results, followed by an independent phase that supports the move into an independent research position where the awardee leads their own research direction.
How does NIDCRs version differ for dentist-scientists?
NIDCR modifies the standard K99/R00 approach to fit the realities of dentist-scientist career paths, where research development often has to be balanced with clinical responsibilities. The program emphasizes guaranteed mentoring and protected research time so recipients are not pulled too early into heavy clinical or teaching loads.
Who is this award explicitly designed to support?
It is explicitly designed for dual degree dentist-scientists (DDS/PhD) early in their careers, particularly recent graduates moving through mentored postdoctoral research and aiming to become independent investigators.
What are the two phases of the award?
The award has two phases:
- K99 phase: a mentored postdoctoral research phase focused on training, publishing, and career development under supervision.
- R00 phase: an independent research phase that supports the recipients transition into an independent position and the launch of their own research program.
How long must the mentored K99 phase last?
NIDCR requires the K99 mentored phase to last the full two years. It is not structured as an "up to two years" period; the complete two-year mentored duration is a required element of this opportunity.
Why does NIDCR require a full two-year K99 mentored period?
The two-year requirement is intended to provide enough runway for focused research training, publication, and career development under mentorship before the investigator attempts the transition to independence.
What is the protected time requirement during the award?
During both the K99 and R00 phases, the sponsoring institution or institutions must guarantee at least 75 percent protected time for research.
Why is the 75 percent protected research time requirement so important?
It is meant to prevent a common barrier for early career dentist-scientists: losing research momentum when clinical duties (and sometimes teaching obligations) expand. The requirement is designed to make the protected research time real and enforceable, not merely a nominal expectation.
How long does the independent R00 phase typically last?
The R00 phase normally lasts up to three years.
Is there an option to extend the R00 phase beyond three years?
Yes. NIDCR includes a dentist-specific option allowing recipients to pursue clinical specialty training during the R00 phase, and in that situation the R00 phase may be extended for up to five years.
What is the reason for allowing an R00 extension up to five years?
The extension is intended to make it feasible for a dentist-scientist to complete clinical specialty training without losing the opportunity to establish an independent research trajectory.
Will K99/R00 grant funds pay for clinical specialty training?
No. The announcement draws a clear boundary: K99/R00 funds cannot be used to support the clinical specialty training itself. The award supports research career development and the research program, while specialty training costs must be covered through other sources.
If the recipient already has specialty training or does not pursue it, how long can the R00 phase be?
If the awardee already has specialty training, or decides not to pursue specialty training during the R00 phase, the R00 phase is capped at three years.
What kind of grant mechanism is this?
It is an NIH discretionary grant using the K99/R00 mechanism (Pathway to Independence), issued through NIDCR.
What CFDA program is this aligned with?
The opportunity is aligned with CFDA 93.121, Oral Diseases and Disorders Research.
Does this opportunity require cost sharing or matching?
No. The opportunity did not require cost sharing or matching.
What types of organizations were eligible to apply?
Eligible applicant organizations were broad and included public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations (including 501(c)(3) and other nonprofits), for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), small businesses, state governments, certain tribal governments and tribal organizations, and a variety of designated institution types such as HBCUs, Hispanic-serving institutions, tribally controlled colleges and universities, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-serving institutions, faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, and US territories or possessions.
What was the estimated total funding amount listed for this opportunity?
The archived record lists an estimated total funding amount of $7.5 million.
When was this funding opportunity posted and when did it close?
The record shows it was posted on August 14, 2009. The original and final closing date listed was September 7, 2012, and the archive date was October 8, 2012.
In practical terms, what does this program provide to recipients?
It can be understood as a structured transition-to-independence package that combines mentoring and guaranteed protected research time with a defined pathway into an independent research role. The two-year mentored phase supports intensive development, while the independent phase provides a window to establish a lab direction, generate fundable results, and compete for independent NIH or other research support.
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