NIDCR Dual Degree Dentist Scientist Pathway to Independence Award (K99/R00 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | PAR 22 041

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 22 041

The NIDCR Dual Degree Dentist Scientist Pathway to Independence Award (K99/R00, Clinical Trial Not Allowed) is a National Institutes of Health grant opportunity designed to help dual-degree dentist scientists move efficiently from a mentored postdoctoral research role into an independent, tenure-track (or equivalent) faculty research position. The program is built around the idea that the strongest long-term dentist-scientist workforce comes from supporting promising investigators at the exact point where they often get stuck: the transition from supervised training to running an independent lab and research program. In practical terms, the award provides a structured runway that starts with intensive mentored development and then shifts into independent support once the awardee secures an appropriate faculty appointment and is ready to lead their own research.

The award has two phases. The K99 phase provides up to two years of mentored support for advanced postdoctoral training and career development. During this period, the awardee works under the guidance of experienced mentors to strengthen research skills, publish, build a scientific niche, and assemble the record needed to compete for an independent position. The R00 phase then provides three to five years of support for independent research after the investigator transitions into a tenure-track or equivalent role. A notable feature of this specific NIDCR K99/R00 is the flexibility to extend the independent R00 phase to a full five years when needed to accommodate clinical training in a dental specialty program. That accommodation is capped at no more than 3 person-months of effort per year (25 percent effort) devoted to the specialty training during any R00 year, which signals that the primary focus of the award remains research independence while still recognizing the real-world training demands many dentist scientists face.

This opportunity is explicitly labeled "Clinical Trial Not Allowed," meaning the proposed research under this award mechanism cannot include clinical trials as defined by NIH policy. Applicants need to shape their research plans accordingly, focusing on non-clinical-trial research that still aligns with NIDCRs mission areas in dental, oral, and craniofacial health. For many candidates, this may include mechanistic, translational, basic, computational, behavioral, or other human-subjects work that does not meet the NIH definition of a clinical trial, but the key point is that clinical trial designs are not permitted under this funding announcement.

On eligibility, the sponsoring agency is NIH, and the funding activity is in the health category under CFDA 93.121. A wide range of U.S.-based applicant organizations can apply, including public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, state and local governments, federally recognized tribal governments, certain tribal organizations, public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, nonprofits (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3), excluding institutions of higher education as specified), for-profit organizations other than small businesses, and small businesses. The announcement also calls out additional eligible applicant types such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, and Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), along with faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, and U.S. territories or possessions. While a broad range of domestic institutions may apply, non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities and non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply as applicant organizations. At the same time, foreign components are allowed when they meet the NIH definition in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, which can matter for projects that benefit from specific international collaborations or unique resources located outside the United States.

The funding opportunity title is "NIDCR Dual Degree Dentist Scientist Pathway to Independence Award (K99/R00 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" and the funding opportunity number is PAR-22-041. The opportunity category is discretionary, the funding instrument is a grant, and the original closing date listed is 2025-01-07. The overarching takeaway is that this mechanism is meant to produce independent dentist-scientist faculty by pairing a short, focused mentored period with a substantial independent phase, with extra flexibility built in for those balancing research independence with limited specialty clinical training during the R00 years.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "NIDCR Dual Degree Dentist Scientist Pathway to Independence Award (K99/R00 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.121.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2022-01-10.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2025-01-07. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For-profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others.

Apply for PAR 22 041

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