Tailoring Dental Treatment for Individuals with Systemic Diseases that Compromise Oral Health (R21) | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the name of this NIH funding opportunity?

The funding opportunity is titled "Tailoring Dental Treatment for Individuals with Systemic Diseases that Compromise Oral Health (R21)."

What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?

The Funding Opportunity Number is PAR 16-153.

What type of research does this opportunity support?

This opportunity supports early-stage, developmental, and exploratory clinical research focused on improving dental care for individuals whose oral health is adversely affected by underlying systemic diseases or conditions.

What is the central purpose of this program?

The central purpose is to close key evidence gaps on how best to treat oral diseases in medically complex patients, recognizing that standard dental treatment approaches may not work the same way across different systemic disease contexts.

Why is this opportunity focused on systemic diseases and oral health?

It is focused on systemic diseases because underlying medical conditions can change how patients respond to dental treatments, potentially affecting safety, effectiveness, and outcomes. The goal is to generate evidence that supports more precise, patient-tailored dental treatment guidelines rather than one-size-fits-all recommendations.

Is the research expected to be clinically practical?

Yes. The program emphasizes generating practical, clinically relevant evidence that can move the field toward patient-tailored dental treatment guidelines.

What kinds of questions or aims are encouraged?

Studies are encouraged to examine why dental treatment outcomes vary within patient groups affected by systemic disease and to identify measurable factors that can predict those outcomes.

What types of measurable factors might be studied to predict dental treatment outcomes?

Examples mentioned include clinical characteristics, biological markers, medication exposures, disease severity measures, and other patient-level variables that may explain different responses to dental interventions.

Does the program only support observational studies?

No. While observing associations may be part of the work, the stated intent goes beyond observation by developing early evidence that supports stratifying care (for example, determining which patients benefit from a treatment, which may need modified approaches, and which may face higher risks or reduced effectiveness with conventional care).

What does "stratifying care" mean in the context of this opportunity?

Stratifying care refers to separating or grouping patients based on measurable factors (such as disease severity, biomarkers, or medication exposures) to help determine who is most likely to benefit from a given dental treatment, who may need an adjusted approach, and who may face heightened risks or reduced effectiveness under standard care.

Is the use of established patient cohorts expected?

Yes. A notable expectation is that applications propose studies leveraging established cohorts of individuals who already have the systemic disease or condition of interest.

Why is there a preference for established cohorts?

The announcement signals a preference for efficient, feasibility-oriented clinical research using existing participant groups, datasets, or ongoing clinical cohorts. This can accelerate hypothesis testing and reduce start-up time compared with building a cohort from scratch.

What does the R21 mechanism imply about project scope?

Because this is an R21, projects are intended to be exploratory and hypothesis-generating or proof-of-concept, aimed at producing preliminary clinical evidence that could support larger, confirmatory trials or broader clinical research programs later.

What is the award ceiling for this grant opportunity?

The award ceiling listed is $200,000.

Which federal agency is offering this opportunity?

This is an NIH funding opportunity under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), listed as HHS-NIH11.

What is the funding activity category?

The opportunity falls within the health funding activity category.

What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?

The CFDA number listed is 93.121.

When was this opportunity posted?

The opportunity was posted on March 25, 2016.

What is the closing date for applications?

The closing date listed is May 7, 2019 (the record indicates both the original and current closing dates are the same).

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is broad and includes public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations (with or without 501(c)(3) status), for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), small businesses, and multiple levels of government (state, county, city/township, and special district).

Are tribal entities eligible to apply?

Yes. Eligible applicants include Native American tribal governments (federally recognized) and tribal organizations (other than federally recognized tribal governments).

Are public housing authorities eligible?

Yes. Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities are included in the eligible applicant types.

Does the opportunity allow any additional eligible applicant categories?

Yes. An "others" category is mentioned, referencing additional eligibility clarifications in the full announcement text.

What kind of impact is this program aiming for over the long term?

The longer-term goal is to improve the safety, effectiveness, and personalization of dental care for medically vulnerable populations by developing early, actionable evidence on how systemic disease alters dental treatment needs and outcomes.