The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) is continuing support for research conducted within a dental Practice-Based Research Network (PBRN). The National Dental PBRN Administrative and Resource Center and National Coordinating Center support the infrastructure for and implementation of multiple observational studies and clinical trials. This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is soliciting applications for clinical trials and large clinical observational studies to be conducted in the National Dental PBRN through a milestone-driven UG3/UH3 cooperative agreement mechanism. Each UG3/UH3 award will support an individual project which will utilize the National Dental PBRN infrastructure and resources for study planning and implementation. This FOA supports a UG3 clinical study planning phase and potential transition to a UH3 implementation phase. Progression to the UH3 phase is based on an administrative review and is dependent on success in meeting UG3 milestones, consideration of the dental PBRN as an appropriate venue for conduct of the research, NIDCR program priorities, and availability of funds.
The main goals of the dental PBRN are to streamline the implementation of national oral health research studies in dental practices on topics of importance to practitioners and their patients, to provide evidence useful in daily patient care, and to facilitate the translation of research findings into clinical practice. This FOA encourages applications proposing research studies that align with the goals of the dental PBRN.