Causal Hypotheses on the Oral-Systemic Health Impacts of Human Behaviors among People with Chronic Conditions
Can you apply?
This grant is for research institutions and investigators seeking to develop causal hypotheses about behaviors and oral-systemic health impacts among people with chronic conditions.
Eligible applicants include academic institutions, research centers, hospitals, and nonprofit organizations with research capacity. Investigators with expertise in behavioral, biological, biopsychosocial, public, and social sciences are encouraged to apply.
Collaborative projects combining dental, oral, craniofacial, and systemic health expertise are particularly welcomed. Applications should propose innovative research designed for clinical translation to prevent, treat, and manage dental, oral, and craniofacial conditions and related systemic health outcomes.
Key dates
- Jul 29, 2025 Applications open
- Jun 5, 2026 Application deadline in 4 days
- Apr 1, 2027 Award announced
- Apr 1, 2027 Project start
This grant is for research institutions and investigators seeking to develop causal hypotheses about behaviors and oral-systemic health impacts among people with chronic conditions.
Eligible applicants include academic institutions, research centers, hospitals, and nonprofit organizations with research capacity. Investigators with expertise in behavioral, biological, biopsychosocial, public, and social sciences are encouraged to apply.
Collaborative projects combining dental, oral, craniofacial, and systemic health expertise are particularly welcomed. Applications should propose innovative research designed for clinical translation to prevent, treat, and manage dental, oral, and craniofacial conditions and related systemic health outcomes.
Program description
The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) intends to publish a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to solicit applications for innovative research on the factors that cause human behaviors and the oral-systemic health impacts of those behaviors to enhance health, lengthen life, and reduce illness and disability among people with chronic conditions. Causal hypotheses may include biological, biopsychosocial, congenital, environmental, interpersonal, neurological, psychological, and comorbidity factors that—individually, sequentially, or in combination—contribute to human behaviors and oral-systemic health outcomes, with impacts that may be direct or traceably distal. Applications that propose projects to develop or refine causal hypotheses, e.g., causal explanation and causal inference—rather than statistical association, also are encouraged. Project results should be poised for clinical trials translation to prevent, treat, and manage dental, oral, and craniofacial (DOC) and related conditions. Applications are not being solicited at this time. Notice is being provided to allow potential applicants sufficient time to develop meaningful collaborations and responsive projects. Investigators with expertise and insights into this area of behavioral, biological, biopsychosocial, public, and social sciences are encouraged to consider applying for this new NOFO. In addition, collaborative investigations combining expertise in dental, oral, craniofacial, and systemic health over the life course, including care and services, will be encouraged, and these investigators also should begin to consider applying. NIDCR is authorized to forecast this opportunity under the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C §§ 241 and 284) and federal regulations (42 CFR Part 52 and 2 CFR Part 200).
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
- 501(c)(3) Public Charity
- County Government
- Nonprofits
- Private University
- Public Authority
- Public K-12 School
- Public University
- Small Business (SBA-defined)
- State Government
- Tribal Nation
- Tribal Organization
Demographic focus
Details
This grant is for research institutions and investigators seeking to develop causal hypotheses about behaviors and oral-systemic health impacts among people with chronic conditions.
Eligible applicants include academic institutions, research centers, hospitals, and nonprofit organizations with research capacity. Investigators with expertise in behavioral, biological, biopsychosocial, public, and social sciences are encouraged to apply.
Collaborative projects combining dental, oral, craniofacial, and systemic health expertise are particularly welcomed. Applications should propose innovative research designed for clinical translation to prevent, treat, and manage dental, oral, and craniofacial conditions and related systemic health outcomes.
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance)
- Research Project Narrative
- Specific Aims
- Research Design and Methods
- Significance and Innovation
- Budget and Budget Narrative
- Biographical Sketches (Key Personnel)
- Institutional Endorsement/Support Letter
Program contact
- 👤 William Elwood, PhD National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Health (NIDCR)
- 📧 william.elwood@nih.gov
- 📞 301-402-0116
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 93.121 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$443,702,768
-
$32,310,944
-
$31,252,186
-
$29,535,192
-
$23,987,187
-
$23,513,241
-
$18,362,716
-
$16,829,492
-
$15,691,075
-
$14,460,130
Top States by Funding
- WA 2 awards $451.4M
- CA 13 awards $134.6M
- MI 4 awards $75.8M
- PA 4 awards $67.6M
- MA 5 awards $39.0M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 93.121). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $319,987,302 | |
| 2025 | $332,151,837 | |
| 2026 est. | $337,316,521 |
FAQ
Who can apply for this grant?
Researchers at academic institutions, medical centers, and nonprofit organizations with research infrastructure. Investigators in behavioral, biological, and social sciences are encouraged.
What types of research projects are eligible?
Projects developing or refining causal hypotheses about behaviors and oral-systemic health impacts. Work should propose biological, psychological, environmental, and other factors affecting health outcomes.
Is this grant accepting applications now?
No. This is a Notice of Funding Opportunity. Applications are not yet being accepted. The deadline is June 5, 2026.
What outcomes should my project target?
Research should be poised for clinical translation. Projects should address prevention, treatment, and management of dental, oral, and craniofacial conditions with systemic health impacts.
Are collaborative projects preferred?
Yes. Applications combining dental, oral, craniofacial, and systemic health expertise across disciplines are particularly encouraged.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Start building multidisciplinary collaborations now. The NOFO values partnerships combining dental and systemic health expertise.
- Focus on causal mechanisms, not just statistical associations. The funding opportunity emphasizes causal hypotheses and causal inference approaches.
- Design projects with clinical translation in mind. Reviewers will assess feasibility of moving results toward clinical trials and practice applications.
- Consider the full lifespan and comorbidities. Applications addressing care and services across the life course will be competitive.
- Review NIDCR priorities early. Use the time before the formal deadline to align your project with NIDCR strategic priorities and recent funded research.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Proposing correlational or observational studies without clear causal hypotheses. Focusing on statistical associations rather than causal mechanisms or causal inference frameworks. Neglecting clinical translation aspects or failing to articulate a pathway to clinical trial testing.
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