Full Text DE-95-005

INSTITUTIONAL DENTAL SCIENTIST TRAINING PROGRAM

NIH GUIDE, Volume 24, Number 18, May 19, 1995

RFA:  DE-95-005

P.T. 44

Keywords: 
  Dentistry 
  Biomaterials 
  Bioengineering 
  Epidemiology 
  Health Services Delivery 


National Institute of Dental Research

Letter of Intent Receipt Date:  September 1, 1995
Application Receipt Date:  October 24, 1995

PURPOSE

The National Institute of Dental Research (NIDR) invites new National
Research Service Award (NRSA) applications proposing an institutional
Dental Scientist Training Program (DSTP).  The purpose of the DSTP is
to offer an integrated dental and graduate research training program
that leads to attainment of both the D.D.S./D.M.D. and Ph.D. degrees.
The NIDR anticipates that graduates of the DSTP will be able to bring
into clinical studies of oral health and disease fundamental
knowledge and insight from the basic biomedical, behavioral and
social sciences, as well as from other fields such as biomaterials,
bioengineering, biostatistics, epidemiology, health services
research, and the computer and information sciences.

Background

For many years, there has been a recognized need to train and develop
clinician-scientists capable of understanding and pursuing oral
health research from both the basic and clinical perspectives. In
particular, such researchers can elucidate essential biological
processes and apply this knowledge to the care and treatment of
individual patients.  To facilitate development of
clinician-scientists, the NIDR currently funds the Dentist Scientist
Award and the institutional postdoctoral NRSA.  These mechanisms
support dentists to obtain the Ph.D. in one of the research fields
listed above as related to oral health.

This RFA proposes an additional mechanism based on the Medical
Scientist Training Program (MSTP) model currently being supported by
the National Institute of General Medical Sciences, NIH.  The MSTP
enables trainees to pursue the M.D. and Ph.D. degrees concurrently,
in an integrated, interdisciplinary program.  Initiation of a
combined D.D.S./D.M.D.-Ph.D. Dental Scientist Training Program under
the NRSA Act has received strong support from the NIDR Dental
Research Programs Advisory Committee and the National Advisory Dental
Research Council (NADRC).  The DSTP was recommended specifically by
the National Research Council of the National Academy of Sciences in
their 1994 report entitled "Meeting the Nation's Needs for Biomedical
and Behavioral Scientists," and strongly endorsed by the Institute of
Medicine in their 1994 report entitled "Dental Education At The
Crossroads - Challenges and Change."  The DSTP is envisioned as
providing an alternative approach to expanding the cadre of
well-trained oral health researchers by stimulating early commitment
to research careers by outstanding dental students.  According to the
American Dental Association and American Association of Dental
Schools, at least 21 U.S. dental schools currently offer some type of
combined D.D.S./D.M.D.-Ph.D. program.  Thus, there exists a group of
institutions that are capable of developing a formal DSTP as
described in this RFA.

Research areas in which the DSTP students are trained must be
relevant to the goals of the NIDR, which include:  the causes,
epidemiology, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of dental caries,
periodontal, and soft tissue diseases, oral cancer, oral
manifestations of AIDS and HIV infection, and craniofacial anomalies;
orofacial pain and trigeminal neurobiology; temporomandibular
disorders; structure and function of teeth, jaws, oral mucosa, bone,
connective tissue, salivary glands; behavioral, social, economic and
cultural factors related to oral diseases and disorders;
biomaterials; fluoride and nutrition; and research on older
Americans, gender differences, minorities, those with medical
problems and disabilities, and individuals and groups at high-risk
for oral health problems.

HEALTHY PEOPLE 2000

The Public Health Service (PHS) is committed to achieving the health
promotion and disease prevention objectives of "Healthy People 2000",
a PHS-led national activity for setting priority areas.  This Request
for Applications (RFA), Institutional Dental Scientist Training
Program, is related to the priority area of oral health.  Potential
applicants may obtain a copy of "Healthy People 2000" (Full Report:
Stock No. 017-001-00474-0 or Summary Report:  Stock No.
017-001-00473-1) through the Superintendent of Documents, Government
Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402-9325 (telephone 202/783-3238).

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Applications may be submitted by domestic, public and private dental
schools.  Only one application may be submitted by an institution.

Trainee Eligibility

All DSTP trainees must be enrolled in a formal, combined program that
leads to the award of a D.D.S. or D.M.D. and a Ph.D. or an equivalent
degree in one of the research fields listed above in the Background
section related to oral health and disease.  Trainees must enter the
DSTP not later than their third year of dental school, although
preference will be given to an appointment in the trainee's first or
second year.  In addition, all trainees must have received a
baccalaureate degree by the beginning date of their appointment.
Individuals currently enrolled in a joint D.D.S.-Ph.D. program are
eligible for consideration as trainees.  Individuals who obtained a
Ph.D. prior to entering dental school and desire to pursue another
research doctorate while in dental school are not eligible for the
DSTP.

At the time of appointment, trainees must be citizens or noncitizen
nationals of the United States, or have been lawfully admitted to the
United States for permanent residence and have in their possession an
Alien Registration Receipt Card (I-151 or I-551).  Noncitizen
nationals are persons who, although not citizens of the United
States, owe permanent allegiance to the United States.  They are
generally persons born in lands that are not states but which are
under United States sovereignty, jurisdiction, or administration
(e.g., American Samoa).  Individuals on temporary or student visas
are not eligible.

MECHANISM OF SUPPORT

Awards resulting from this RFA will be National Institutes of Health
(NIH) NRSA Institutional Research Training Grants (T32).
Responsibility for the planning, direction, and execution of the
proposed project will be solely that of the applicant institution.
The total project period for an application submitted in response to
this RFA may not exceed five years.  An award may be renewable upon
submission of a successful competing application, depending on
programmatic needs and the availability of funds.  The anticipated
award date is July 15, 1996.

Each DSTP trainee may receive up to five years of NRSA support.
Extension for a maximum of one additional year beyond this period
requires a waiver from the NIH.  Since a trainee's course of study
for the combined degrees may take longer than six years, all
institutions must identify other potential sources of support for an
individual's additional years of study.

FUNDS AVAILABLE

In response to this RFA, the NIDR expects to make at least three new
awards, each with two predoctoral trainee positions in the first
year.  The estimated total funding for the first year of support for
the entire program is approximately $165,000.  This level of support
is dependent on the receipt of a sufficient number of applications of
high scientific and educational merit.  Although this program is
provided for in the financial plans of the NIDR, awards pursuant to
this RFA are contingent upon the availability of funds.

RESEARCH OBJECTIVES

A.  Dental and Graduate Research Training Program

The Dental Scientist Training Program must provide integrated
clinical and graduate research training required to obtain the
D.D.S./D.M.D. and Ph.D. degrees and to pursue the investigation of
oral health and diseases.  Institutions with existing joint
D.D.S/D.M.D.-Ph.D. degree programs likely will be most competitive,
but other dental institutions with appropriate resources are
encouraged to apply.

Each program must offer two distinct and integrated components to all
trainees.  A clinical component must ensure that the trainee acquires
requisite clinical knowledge and technical expertise in order to meet
the requirements for a D.D.S./D.M.D. degree and to obtain a license
to practice dentistry.  A science field component must be a doctoral
(Ph.D.) level program that ensures that the trainee develops
knowledge and research skills in scientific areas relevant to oral
health.  Such areas are stated in the Background section.

The Program Director (PD) and applicant institution(s) are strongly
encouraged to develop an innovative interdisciplinary program that
maximizes the research and educational resources of the academic
institution(s) and any collaborating organizations.  Applicant
institutions must be able to provide programs tailored to meet the
unique research and clinical development needs of each DSTP trainee
and ensure that the individuals complete the program with requisite
competencies.  The sequence in which the two components are offered
and their integration should be based on the specific circumstances
and organization of the training institution and should represent
what is deemed most desirable, feasible, and efficient by the program
director and administration of the dental and graduate institutions.

The applicant institution must have developed a recruitment and
retention plan that addresses the efforts to recruit women and
underrepresented minorities.  Plans must be provided for the
appointment of an advisory body to act as an overview committee and
to assist in DSTP trainee selection.

B.  Program Director (PD)

The PD must possess the scientific expertise, leadership, and
administrative capabilities required to coordinate and supervise a
multidisciplinary research and clinical training program of this
scope.  The PD must have the commitment and capability to provide
guidance to DSTP trainees during their dental and research career
development and will be responsible for the selection of the
trainees.

The PD may be expected to participate in at least one annual meeting
with the staff of the NIDR.  This meeting likely will be held in
conjunction with the annual meeting of the American Association for
Dental Research.

The PD will be required to submit to the NIDR a detailed description
of each DSTP trainee's planned supervised research experience as soon
as feasible, but no later than at the midpoint of the individual's
program.  Annually, the PD and advisory committee will assess the
progress of each trainee and submit a detailed report of each to the
NIDR.  DSTP trainee support for the subsequent year in the program
will be dependant on satisfactory performance.

C.  Mentors

Each trainee must have a mentor, an accomplished investigator active
in the proposed area, to guide the person's development and research
project.  Usually, a mentor will be the doctoral thesis advisor.  The
mentor must be committed to continue this involvement throughout the
individual's total period of development under the award.  A
co-mentor, representing the clinical component, also may be named.
Where feasible, women and minority mentors should be involved as role
models.

D.  Trainees

Trainees must meet the criteria described in ELIGIBILITY
REQUIREMENTS.

E.  Duration of Support and Effort

The applicant should request support for two trainees to enter the
program in the first year.  A total of at least four but not more
than six trainees should be requested for the entire five-year
project period. The full complement of trainees should be in place by
the third project year.  In planning trainee appointments, the PD and
the trainees should be aware that continued NIDR support beyond the
five-year project period is dependent upon the availability of
appropriated funds and success in competition for renewed support.
In the event that a competitive renewal application for the next
five-year project period is unsuccessful, no phase-out funds will be
provided.  Thus the applicant institution must have plans in place to
provide continued support in the event that funding from the NIDR is
not available.

F.  Allowable Costs

Stipends:  The annual trainee stipend is $10,008 per year regardless
of previous research experience.  A stipend is provided as a
subsistence allowance for trainees to help defray living expenses
during the research training experience. Stipends may be supplemented
by an institution from non-Federal funds.  Other funds from the PHS,
such as from the NIH, may not be used to supplement stipends.
Non-PHS Federal funds may be used for stipend supplementation only if
specifically authorized under the terms of the program from which the
supplemental funds are derived.  For example, an individual may make
use of Federal educational loan funds or Department of Veterans'
Affairs benefits when permitted by those programs.  Under no
circumstance may the condition of stipend supplementation detract
from or prolong the training.

Other Training Costs:  Reimbursement of tuition and fees, including
self-only medical insurance, are allowable if such charges are
required of all persons in a similar training status at the
institution, without regard to their source of support.  Annual
increments in tuition costs beyond the first year of a five-year
award will not be allowed.

Trainee travel, including attendance at scientific meetings that the
institution determines to be necessary to the individual's training,
is an allowable training cost at an amount of $800 per trainee.  In
addition, support for travel to a research training experience away
from the grantee institution may be permitted with prior approval
from the NIDR.

Institutional costs of $1,500 per predoctoral trainee may be
requested to defray the cost of training related expenses, such as
staff salaries, consultant costs, equipment, research supplies, and
staff travel.

Indirect costs:  reimbursement of actual indirect costs at a rate up
to, but not exceeding, eight percent of the total direct costs,
exclusive of tuition, fees, and equipment, is allowed.

Payback Provisions:  Predoctoral trainees do not incur payback
obligations.

G.  Evaluation

For purposes of evaluating the impact of the Dental Scientist
Training Program, awardees must agree to provide the NIDR with
information on career outcomes for graduates.  This information will
be supplied annually for 10 years subsequent to completion of the
award.  Program directors can satisfy this requirement by providing
current curriculum vitae for each of their graduates, including
information about current address and title, employment history,
publications, and research grants and contracts received from
government, academia, or private industry.  Plans to track the
careers of DSTP graduates should be included in the application.

INCLUSION OF WOMEN AND MINORITIES IN RESEARCH INVOLVING HUMAN
SUBJECTS

It is the policy of the NIH that women and members of minority groups
and their subpopulations must be included in all NIH supported
biomedical and behavioral research projects involving human subjects,
unless a clear and compelling rationale and justification is provided
that inclusion is inappropriate with respect to the health of the
subjects or the purpose of the research.  This new policy results
from the NIH Revitalization Act of 1993 (Section 492B of Public Law
103-43) and supersedes and strengthens the previous policies
(Concerning the Inclusion of Women in Study Populations, and
Concerning the Inclusion of Minorities in Study Populations) which
have been in effect since 1990.  The new policy contains some new
provisions that are substantially different from the 1990 policies.
All investigators proposing research involving human subjects should
read the "NIH Guidelines For Inclusion of Women and Minorities as
Subjects in Clinical Research," which have been published in the
Federal Register of March 28, 1994 (FR 59 14508-14513), and reprinted
in the NIH GUIDE FOR GRANTS AND CONTRACTS of March 18, 1994, Volume
23, Number 11.

Investigators may obtain copies from these sources or from the
program staff or contact person listed below.  Program staff may also
provide additional relevant information concerning the policy.

LETTER OF INTENT

Prospective applicants are asked to submit, by September 1, 1995, a
letter of intent that includes a descriptive title of the proposed
research, the name, address, and telephone number of the Program
Director, the identities of other key personnel, participating
institutions, and the number and title of the RFA in response to
which the application may be submitted.  Although a letter of intent
is not required, is not binding, and does not enter into the review
of subsequent applications, the information that it contains is
helpful in planning the review of applications.  It allows NIDR staff
to estimate the potential review workload and to avoid conflicts of
interest in the review.

The letter of intent is to be sent to Dr. James A. Lipton at the
address listed under INQUIRIES.

APPLICATION PROCEDURES

It is strongly recommended that prospective applicants contact Dr.
Lipton early in the planning phase of application preparation.  This
will help ensure that applications are responsive to the RFA.

Applications are to be submitted on form PHS 398 (rev. 9/91),
utilizing the appropriate pages and additional instructions for
institutional NRSA applications.  Application forms are available at
most institutional offices of sponsored research and from the Office
of Grants Information, Division of Research Grants, National
Institutes of Health, 6701 Rockledge Drive, Room 3032, MSC 7762,
Bethesda, MD 20892-7762, telephone 301/710-0267; and from Dr. Lipton.

A plan must be included for the recruitment of women and individuals
from minority groups that are nationally underrepresented in these
sciences.  No awards will be made to applications lacking this
component.

Applications must include a description of formal and informal
activities related to instruction about the responsible conduct of
research to be incorporated into the proposed research training
program.  Instruction should be provided at least in the following
areas: conflict of interest, responsible authorship, policies for
handling misconduct, policies regarding the use of human and animal
subjects, and data management.  The application should contain
information on the rationale, subject matter, appropriateness,
format, frequency, and duration of instruction, and the amount and
nature of faculty participation.  No award will be made if an
application lacks this component.

Information regarding, "Modification of Existing Review Criteria for
NRSA Institutional Research Training Grants," is given in the NIH
Guide, Vol. 21, No.11, March 20, 1992.

To identify the application as a response to this RFA, check "YES" on
item 2a of page 1 of the application and enter "RFA: DE-95-005,
Institutional Dental Scientist Training Program."  The RFA label
available in the application form  PHS 398 (rev. 9/91) must be
affixed to the bottom of the face page.  Failure to use this label
could result in delayed processing of the application such that it
may not reach the review committee in time for review.

Submit a signed, typewritten original of the application, including
the Checklist, and three signed photocopies, in one package to:

DIVISION OF RESEARCH GRANTS
NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH
6701 ROCKLEDGE DRIVE, ROOM 1040 MSC 7710
BETHESDA, MD  20892-7710
BETHESDA, MD  20817 (for express/courier service)

At the time of submission, two additional copies of the application
must be sent to:

H.  George Hausch, Ph.D.
Division of Extramural Research
National Institute of Dental Research
Natcher Building, Room 4AN.44F
45 Center Drive, MSC 6402
Bethesda, MD  20892-6402
Telephone:  (301) 594-2372

This RFA is for a single competition.  Applications must be received
by October 24, 1995.  If an application is received after that date
or is deemed non-responsive to the RFA, it will be returned without
review.

REVIEW CONSIDERATIONS

Applications will be reviewed for completeness and responsiveness to
the RFA by NIH staff.  Incomplete or nonresponsive applications will
be returned to the applicant without further consideration.
Remaining applications may be subjected to triage by the NIDR Special
Grants Review Committee, a standing NIH initial review group, to
determine their merit, relative to others received in response to the
RFA.  The NIDR will withdraw applications judged to be noncompetitive
and notify the applicant.  Applications judged to be competitive will
be evaluated further for scientific and technical merit by the review
committee.

The following review criteria will be applied:

o  The clinical and graduate research training program:  The
institutional commitment and ability to provide opportunities for an
integrated training program, including didactic, clinical, and
research components, in dentistry and graduate education; the
relationships among clinical and basic science dental/medical
departments and the graduate school in the design and conduct of
research programs; degree requirements; the availability of
prescribed and optional courses or seminars; the manner in which the
trainee's guided research activities will be selected; procedures for
monitoring trainee's progress; the unique and innovative aspects of
the program; and the plans to provide support for trainees in the
event that a competitive renewal application is unsuccessful.

o  Program Director:  Scientific and administrative expertise;
experience in or potential for managing training programs in
dentistry and development of research skills; time commitment; other
research support; the composition and role of an advisory committee
in development of the program; assignment of mentors and projects;
and evaluation of progress.

o  Mentors:  Their roles and time commitment now and for the duration
of the program; accomplishments in basic and/or clinical research;
current and pending research grant holdings; and mentoring experience
of graduate researchers and dental clinicians.

o  Training environment:  Institutional commitment; evidence of
ongoing fundamental and clinical research; availability of research
support, equipment, facilities, and clinical resources.

o  Recruitment and selection of trainees:  Plans for and
institutional history in recruitment of minorities, women, and others
who are underrepresented in oral health research; trainee selection
criteria; the availability of high-quality candidates; and retention
strategies.

o  Responsible Conduct of Research:  The quality of proposed
scientific integrity instruction.

Secondary review will be conducted by the National Advisory Dental
Research Council (NADRC).  Among the information the NADRC considers
will be the report of the initial review committee on the plans for,
and success in, recruitment of women and individuals from
underrepresented minority groups.

Schedule

Applications will be processed according to the following schedule

Letter of Intent Receipt Date:  September 1, 1995
Application Receipt Date:       October 24, 1995
Initial Review Group Meeting:   February 1996
Council Meeting:                June 1996
Earliest Date of Award:         July 15, 1996

AWARD CRITERIA

Funding decisions will be based on the recommendations of the initial
review committee and National Advisory Dental Research Council, the
need for research personnel in specific program areas, and the
availability of funds.  The earliest award date will be July 15,
1996.  The NIDR appreciates the value of complementary funding from
other public and private sources, including foundations and
industrial concerns, for activities that will complement and expand
those supported by the NIDR.

INQUIRIES

Written and telephone inquiries concerning this RFA are encouraged.
The opportunity to clarify any issue or questions from potential
applicants is welcome.

Direct inquiries on programmatic issues to:

James A. Lipton, D.D.S., Ph.D.
Division of Extramural Research
National Institute of Dental Research
Natcher Building, Room 4AN-18J
45 Center Drive, MSC 6402
Bethesda, MD  20892-6402
Telephone:  (301) 594-2618 or 594-7710
FAX:  (301) 480-8318
Email:  LIPTONJ@DE45.NIDR.NIH.GOV

Direct inquiries pertaining to grants management issues to:

Mr. Martin Rubinstein
Division of Extramural Research
National Institute of Dental Research
Natcher Building, Room 4AS-55
45 Center Drive, MSC 6402
Bethesda, MD  20892-6402
Telephone:  (301) 594-4800
FAX:  (301) 480-8303

AUTHORITY AND REGULATIONS

This program is also described in the Catalog of Federal Domestic
Assistance No. 93.121.  NRSA Institutional Research Training Grants
are made under the authority of Section 487 of the Public Health
Service (PHS) Act as amended (42 USC 288).  Title 42 of the Code of
Federal Regulations, Part 66, is applicable to this program.  This
program is not subject to the intergovernmental review requirements
of Executive Order 12372 or Health Systems Agency review.

The PHS strongly encourages all grant and contract recipients to
provide a smoke-free workplace and promote the non-use of all tobacco
products.  In addition, Public Law 103-227, the Pro-Children Act of
1994, prohibits smoking in certain facilities (or in some cases, any
portion of a facility) in which regular or routing education,
library, day care, health care or early childhood development
services are provided to children.  This is consistent with the phs
mission to protect and advance the physical and mental health of the
american people.

.

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