NIDCR Dentist Scientist Career Transition Award for Intramural Investigators (K22 Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | PAR 19 152

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 19 152

The NIDCR Dentist Scientist Career Transition Award for Intramural Investigators (K22; PAR-19-152) is a National Institutes of Health grant opportunity aimed at helping dentist-scientists move from an NIH Intramural postdoctoral fellowship into a stable, independent research career at an extramural institution. The program is set up as a structured transition: first, it supports additional mentored research time within the NIH Intramural Research Program, and then it provides independent funding to help the awardee launch their own research program after they secure a position outside NIH. In practical terms, the K22 is meant to bridge the gap between being a mentored intramural fellow and becoming an independent investigator with a research program that can compete for future independent NIH grants.

A defining feature of this specific FOA is that it is for applicants whose proposed work does not involve serving as the lead for an independent clinical trial. That means the applicant cannot propose to lead an independent clinical trial, a clinical trial feasibility study, or an ancillary study to a clinical trial under this announcement. However, the FOA does allow the applicant to gain research experience in a clinical trial or in a basic experimental study involving human participants, as long as the trial or human study is led by a mentor or co-mentor rather than the applicant. In other words, mentored exposure to clinical research is allowed, but taking responsibility as the primary clinical trial leader is not, and applicants who want to lead a trial are directed to use one of the companion announcements designed for that purpose.

The FOA also points applicants toward different companion opportunities depending on the nature of the proposed human research. If the project is more translational or product- or process-oriented, applicants are instructed to consider the companion Clinical Trial Required option (PAR-18-360). If the work is a prospective basic science study involving human participants as described in NIH guidance (referenced as NOT-OD-18-212), applicants are directed to the companion Basic Experimental Studies with Humans FOA (listed in the text as PAR-19-NNN). The main takeaway is that applicants need to match their research plan to the correct FOA based on whether they will lead a clinical trial and on how NIH classifies the involvement of human participants.

On eligibility, the opportunity is broadly available to many types of US-based applicant organizations that commonly apply for NIH grants, including public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofits (with or without 501(c)(3) status), for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), small businesses, and various levels of government (state, county, city/township, special district), as well as tribal governments and tribal organizations. The announcement explicitly highlights additional eligible organization types such as HBCUs, Hispanic-serving institutions, tribally controlled colleges and universities, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian serving institutions, and Asian American, Native American, and Pacific Islander serving institutions, along with faith-based or community-based organizations and US territories or possessions. At the same time, it clearly states that non-US (foreign) institutions are not eligible to apply as applicant organizations, and non-US components of US organizations are not eligible to apply. That said, foreign components (as NIH defines them in the NIH Grants Policy Statement) are allowed, which typically means parts of the scientific work may be conducted abroad under an eligible US applicant organization when justified and permitted by NIH policy.

Administrative details included in the source information are that the sponsoring agency is the National Institutes of Health, the funding instrument is a grant, and the activity area is health (CFDA 93.121). The original closing date listed is 2022-01-07, and an award ceiling and expected number of awards are not specified in the provided data. Overall, this K22 is best understood as a career-transition mechanism specifically for dentists in NIH intramural postdoctoral roles who need a mentored-to-independent pathway, with careful boundaries around clinical trial leadership so that the application is routed to the right NIH funding track based on the proposed research.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "NIDCR Dentist Scientist Career Transition Award for Intramural Investigators (K22 Independent 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 2019-01-08.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2022-01-07. (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 19 152

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