Dental Primary Care Practice-Based Research Network: Administrative and Resource Center
🏛 National Institutes of Health (HHS-NIH11)
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Jul 15, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for dental research organizations and institutions seeking to establish or support an Administrative and Resource Center (ARC) for a practice-based research network (PBRN) focused on dental primary care. Eligible applicants typically include academic dental institutions, dental schools, dental public health programs, and established dental research organizations. Applicants must demonstrate strong partnerships with dental practices across multiple states and regions, capable of conducting clinical research in dental primary care settings. The program supports the infrastructure, coordination, and administrative functions necessary to conduct multi-site dental research and disseminate findings to improve dental care delivery. Geographic scope is national, though preference may be given to networks with broad geographic representation.
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Key dates
- Aug 28, 2025 Applications open
- May 25, 2026 Application deadline
- Apr 30, 2027 Award announced
- May 1, 2027 Project start
Program description
The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) intends to publish a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to promote practice-based research through a Dental Primary Care Practice-Based Research Network (PBRN). This NOFO will invite applications for an Administrative and Resource Center (ARC), to support the infrastructure for the planning and implementation of multiple observational studies and clinical trials, together with a Coordinating Center, described in a separate companion NOFO. Supported studies will focus on integrating oral health care into medical care (whole-person health). The ARC will be responsible for recruiting and retaining practitioners for network membership and study participation, managing a single IRB, ensuring that practitioners and office/clinic staff receive research and study-specific training, and coordinating study deployment across multiple U.S. geographic regions (i.e., Nodes). Applications are not being solicited at this time. Notice is being provided to allow potential applicants time to develop meaningful collaborations and responsive projects. Investigators with expertise in study coordination and conducting clinical research in practice-based research settings are encouraged to apply. 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
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- NIH Application Form SF-424 (R&R)
- Project Narrative (Research Strategy) describing the PBRN structure, administrative functions, and coordination plan
- Detailed Budget and Budget Justification
- Biographical Sketches (NIH Form) for key personnel
- Letters of Commitment from dental practices and partner institutions
- Data Management and Quality Assurance Plan
- Plan for Dissemination and Implementation of Research Findings
- Facilities and Administrative Resources documentation
- Institutional Commitment letter
- Human Subjects Protection documentation (if applicable)
- Research Timeline and Milestones
Program contact
- 👤 Dena Fischer, DDS, MSD, MS
- 📧 dena.fischer@nih.gov
- 📞 301-594-4876
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
-
$15,991,067
-
$14,460,130
Top States by Funding
- WA 2 awards $451.6M
- CA 14 awards $145.2M
- MI 4 awards $75.8M
- PA 4 awards $68.3M
- 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 is eligible to apply for this grant?
Institutions eligible to receive NIH funding typically include academic dental schools, dental research centers, and established dental organizations with capacity to serve as an Administrative and Resource Center for a multi-site dental practice-based research network.
What activities does this grant support?
This grant supports the administrative and coordinating infrastructure for a dental PBRN, including project management, data coordination, quality assurance, communication systems, training, and dissemination of research findings to dental practices.
What is the typical funding range?
NIH PBRN grants typically range from $300,000 to $1,000,000+ annually depending on network scope and complexity, though exact amounts vary by competition and are listed in the specific FOA.
What are the key competitiveness factors?
Competitive applications demonstrate strong dental practice partnerships, prior research experience, robust data management systems, clear plans for dissemination and implementation, and qualified project management staff.
When are deadlines typically?
NIH deadlines are typically announced 6-12 months in advance and occur on standard submission dates (often in January, April, and September). Check NIH-NIH.gov and the specific Funding Opportunity Announcement for exact dates.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Build and document partnerships with dental practices early: the strength of your practice network directly impacts competitiveness. Include letters of commitment from participating practices representing diverse geographic areas and patient populations.
- Develop a robust data management and quality assurance plan: demonstrate technical infrastructure for managing multi-site data collection, including validated protocols, secure systems, and inter-rater reliability procedures.
- Show clear dissemination and implementation pathways: explain how research findings will reach practicing dentists and influence clinical practice. Include plans for publications, conferences, and knowledge translation to the dental community.
- Highlight administrative and project management capacity: detail the staffing plan, including principal investigator qualifications, project coordinator experience, and support for practice engagement and retention.
- Address sustainability beyond the grant period: demonstrate plans for funding the network long-term through practice fees, institutional support, or other revenue streams to show this is a lasting infrastructure investment.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Common reasons dental PBRN applications are rejected include insufficient or weak practice partnerships (practices may withdraw), inadequate data management infrastructure or unclear quality assurance procedures, and poorly developed dissemination plans that don't clearly articulate how findings will impact dental practice. Applicants often underestimate the administrative complexity of managing multi-site networks and fail to budget adequately for coordination, communication, and practice engagement activities.
Similar grants
- CLOSED Dental Primary Care Practice-Based Research Network: Coordinating Center — National Institutes of Health
- OPEN Dental Primary Care Practice-Based Research Network: Clinical Trial or Observational Study Planning and Implementation Cooperative Agreement — National Institutes of Health
- OPEN Community-Based Participatory Research to Advance Data and Practice Transformation (ADAPT) for Optimizing Oral Health for All (UG3/UH3 Clinical Trial Optional) — National Institutes of Health
- OPEN NIDCR Small Grant Program for New Investigators (R03 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) — National Institutes of Health
- OPEN Community Engagement Evaluation and Data Coordination (CEED) Hub to Advance Data and Practice Transformation for Optimizing Oral Health for All (U01, Clinical Trial Not Allowed) — National Institutes of Health