Dentist Scientist Career Transition Award for Intramural Investigators (K22 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
🏛 National Institutes of Health (HHS-NIH11)
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Jul 16, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for early-career dentist scientists currently serving as intramural investigators at NIH who are transitioning to independent research careers. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents with a DDS, DMD, or equivalent degree plus a research doctorate (PhD or MD/DDS with research specialization). The award supports a 5-year transition period during which investigators develop their independent research program while maintaining intramural appointment. Geographic scope is limited to NIH intramural research settings. Supported activities include basic science, clinical research (excluding clinical trials), and translational research in dentistry-related fields. The award includes salary, research support, and mentorship infrastructure to facilitate career independence.
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Program description
The purpose of the NIDCR Dentist Scientist Career Transition Award for Intramural Investigators (K22) program is to facilitate transition of highly qualified dentists from NIH Intramural postdoctoral research positions to extramural academic tenure-track or equivalent faculty positions at eligible institutions. The award will provide support for two years of mentored postdoctoral research training in the NIH Intramural Research Program, and three years of independent research funding at the extramural institution.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
- 501(c)(3) Public Charity
- City / Municipal Government
- County Government
- Nonprofits
- Postdoctoral Researcher
- Private University
- Public Authority
- Public K-12 School
- Public University
- Researcher (independent)
- Small Business (SBA-defined)
- Special District
- State Government
- Tribal Nation
- Tribal Organization
How to apply
Application links
Required documents
- NIH Form SF-424 (R&R) and R&R cover page
- Project narrative (research strategy, specific aims, significance, innovation, approach)
- Detailed budget and budget justification
- Biographical sketch (NIH format)
- Career development/transition plan and milestones
- Letters of institutional support and commitment
- Mentor statement and mentor's biographical sketch
- NIH Form 2590 (Research & Related Senior Key Personnel)
- IRB/IACUC approval documentation (if applicable)
- Suggested reviewers and conflicts of interest disclosures
Program contact
- 👤 National Institutes of Health
- 📧 grantsinfo@nih.gov
- 📞 301-402-2541
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
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$443,702,768
-
$32,310,944
-
$31,252,186
-
$29,535,192
-
$23,987,187
-
$23,513,241
-
$18,362,716
-
$16,829,492
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$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?
Applicants must be dentists with a DDS or DMD degree and an additional research doctorate (PhD, MD, or DDS with significant research training), currently employed as intramural NIH investigators with citizenship or permanent residency status.
What is the funding amount and project period?
K22 awards typically provide approximately $100,000-$150,000 annually in direct costs over 5 years, though exact amounts vary. The project period is 5 years to support the transition to independence.
What types of research are supported?
The program supports basic, clinical (non-trial), and translational research in dental and oral health sciences. Clinical trials are explicitly not allowed under this mechanism.
How competitive is this award?
K22 awards are highly competitive. Success requires a strong research track record, clear independence plan, and institutional support. Applicants should expect rigorous peer review focused on innovation and feasibility of transition goals.
When is the next deadline?
The deadline date is January 7, 2028, with applications typically due by 5 PM ET. Applicants should check NIH Apply portal for exact cutoff times and any possible rolling deadlines.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Clearly articulate how your proposed research differs from your current intramural work and demonstrates genuine independence, since transition is core to K22 review criteria.
- Develop a detailed 5-year career transition plan with measurable milestones for independence (publications as PI, grant submissions, lab building, mentee development).
- Secure strong institutional support and a committed mentor (ideally outside your current lab) who has experience with early-career researcher development.
- Build in preliminary data and pilot studies to demonstrate feasibility; reviewers scrutinize the gap between current work and proposed independence trajectory.
- Avoid proposing clinical trials or studies that fall outside NIDCR's dental science mission; check the current NIDCR strategic plan to align your research with agency priorities.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Applicants often underestimate the transition component and present research that is too similar to their current intramural work, making it unclear how they will achieve independence. Another common pitfall is insufficient preliminary data or an overly ambitious research agenda that reviewers view as unrealistic given the 5-year transition period. Finally, weak mentorship plans or lack of clear institutional commitment to supporting independent space, funding, and resources often signal to reviewers that the organization is not genuinely invested in the applicant's career progression.
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