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. .
Return to NIH Guide Main Index
Office of Extramural Research (OER) |
National Institutes of Health (NIH) 9000 Rockville Pike Bethesda, Maryland 20892 |
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) |
||||||||
Note: For help accessing PDF, RTF, MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Audio or Video files, see Help Downloading Files. |