NIDCR Extramural Research Grants

NIDCR Extramural Research Grants

Funds investigator-initiated oral, dental, and craniofacial research across United States institutions.

The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) is the primary federal funder of research on dental, oral, and craniofacial (DOC) health and disease. NIDCR issues Notices of Funding Opportunities (NOFOs) continuously throughout the fiscal year across its five extramural branches: Integrative Biology and Infectious Diseases; Translational Genomics Research; Behavioral and Social Science Research; Clinical Research; and Other Grant Programs including conference and training awards. Supported research mechanisms include R01, R21, R33, R34, R56, P01, P30, P50, U01, U54, UH2/UH3, UG3/UH3, DP1, and DP2, giving investigators the full range of NIH project and center instruments.

Eligible applicants include US universities, nonprofit research institutions, and international institutions of higher education, depending on the specific NOFO. Modular R01 applications are subject to the NIH-wide $250,000 annual direct-cost cap. NIDCR does not publicly post paylines; investigators must contact a program officer or monitor eRA Commons for percentile cutoffs. The institute's Strategic Plan 2021–2026 establishes five overarching scientific goals — including advancing understanding of oral microbiome complexity, improving craniofacial developmental biology, and reducing oral health disparities — which inform which topics receive dedicated NOFOs in any given fiscal year.

Applications follow standard NIH three-cycle annual receipt dates (February, June, and October for most research mechanisms). NIDCR staff review applications for programmatic fit before study section review; investigators are encouraged to submit an inquiry to the relevant branch program officer before committing to a specific NOFO. Funded projects are searchable in NIH RePORTER, where applicants can review the portfolio of active NIDCR awards to confirm alignment with current institute priorities before submitting.