Biologic Factors Underlying Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Health Disparities (R01 - Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | PAR 18 875

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 18 875

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced this discretionary grant opportunity, PAR-18-875, titled "Biologic Factors Underlying Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Health Disparities (R01 - Clinical Trial Not Allowed)." It uses the R01 research project grant mechanism and is intended for investigator-initiated research that digs into biological drivers of disparities in dental, oral, and craniofacial (DOC) diseases. The central goal is to support studies that clarify how microbial, immune, and genetic factors contribute to differences across populations in when these conditions begin, how quickly they progress, and why they may persist or recur. In practical terms, the FOA is aimed at moving beyond documenting disparities to understanding the underlying biology that helps explain them, which can ultimately inform better prevention, diagnostics, and treatments tailored to populations experiencing disproportionate burden.

A key feature of this FOA is its specific scientific focus on biologic contributors to DOC health disparities. Projects are expected to examine mechanisms such as differences in the oral microbiome and pathogen dynamics, variation in host immune responses and inflammation, and genetic or genomic factors that may shape susceptibility, disease severity, and healing trajectories. The emphasis on onset, progression, and persistence signals that NIH is interested in the full disease timeline, including why certain groups may experience earlier disease, more aggressive disease courses, or chronic conditions that are harder to resolve. Although social, environmental, and structural factors are often important in health disparities, this particular opportunity is framed around the biological side of the equation and encourages research that can identify mechanistic pathways or biologic signatures tied to disparate outcomes.

The award is explicitly labeled "Clinical Trial Not Allowed," meaning applications should not propose clinical trials as defined by NIH. The appropriate scope is generally observational human studies, analysis of existing or newly collected biospecimens, mechanistic laboratory investigations, and translational research that does not meet the NIH definition of a clinical trial. Investigators can still work with human participants, patient samples, and population data, but the application should be structured so it is not testing an intervention with prospective assignment to evaluate health-related outcomes. This distinction matters because NIH routes clinical trials through different FOAs and review expectations.

Eligibility is broad and designed to accommodate a wide range of institutions that can contribute to disparities-focused biomedical research. Eligible applicants include state, county, and city or township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; and public housing or Indian housing authorities. Academic eligibility spans public and state-controlled institutions of higher education as well as private institutions of higher education. A wide set of organizational types can apply, including federally recognized Native American tribal governments, as well as Native American tribal organizations that are not federally recognized. Nonprofits are eligible whether or not they hold 501(c)(3) status, and both for-profit organizations (other than small businesses) and small businesses are also listed as eligible. The FOA additionally highlights eligibility for organizations that often play a major role in community-relevant and disparities-oriented research capacity, such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, and Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs). Faith-based or community-based organizations and regional organizations are also included, along with eligible federal agencies and U.S. territories or possessions, reflecting an intent to support research that is scientifically rigorous while still grounded in diverse communities and settings.

Restrictions around foreign participation are specific. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities and non-domestic foreign institutions are not eligible to apply as applicant organizations, and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are also not eligible to apply as components. At the same time, "foreign components" as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement are allowed, meaning a U.S.-based applicant can include certain international collaborations or activities when they meet NIH criteria for a foreign component and are well-justified scientifically. This structure typically supports U.S.-led projects that may require access to unique populations, expertise, or resources abroad, while keeping the primary applicant organization domestic.

From an administrative standpoint, this opportunity falls under the NIH funding activity category of Health, and it is associated with CFDA numbers 93.121 and 93.307. The FOA was created on July 25, 2018, and the source information lists an original closing date of September 7, 2021. The data provided does not specify an award ceiling or the expected number of awards, which often means applicants should look to NIH institute budgets, typical R01 ranges, and the specific institute guidance for realistic budgeting and scope. Overall, the FOA is built for research teams that can connect modern biologic methods (microbiome science, immunology, genetics/genomics, and related analytics) to real-world DOC health disparities, producing mechanistic insights that can help explain unequal disease burdens and point toward more effective, biologically informed solutions.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Biologic Factors Underlying Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Health Disparities (R01 - 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, 93.307.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2018-07-25.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2021-09-07. (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 18 875

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