NIDCR Dentist Scientist Career Transition Award for Intramural Investigators (K22 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | PAR 22 044

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 22 044

The NIDCR Dentist Scientist Career Transition Award for Intramural Investigators (K22 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) is an NIH grant program designed to help highly qualified dentist-scientists move from the NIH Intramural Research Program into independent, tenure-track or equivalent research positions at extramural institutions. Its core goal is to create a clear, supported pathway from mentored postdoctoral training inside NIH to running an independent research program outside NIH, with funding that helps launch the awardee as a new investigator. In practical terms, it is meant for dentists currently in NIH intramural postdoctoral fellowship roles who are ready to compete for faculty-level positions and need structured support to establish independence and secure early research momentum.

This opportunity is offered by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) through the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR). It is a discretionary grant program in the health area (CFDA 93.121) and is listed under Funding Opportunity Number PAR-22-044. The "Clinical Trial Not Allowed" designation means applicants must propose research that does not include an NIH-defined clinical trial; projects should stay within basic, translational, mechanistic, or other non-clinical-trial research approaches aligned with NIDCRs mission in dental, oral, and craniofacial science.

A notable feature of the announcement is the broad range of eligible applicant organizations for the extramural phase. Eligible applicants include many types of U.S.-based organizations and government entities, such as public and private institutions of higher education, state and local governments (including county and city/township governments), special district governments, independent school districts, federally recognized Native American tribal governments, and public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities. It also allows nonprofit organizations (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3), as long as they are not institutions of higher education when categorized that way), for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), small businesses, and other types of organizations that meet NIH eligibility rules. The announcement explicitly highlights additional categories 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 (AANAPISISs). It also notes that eligible agencies of the federal government, faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, tribal governments that are not federally recognized, and U.S. territories or possessions may be among the eligible applicants.

At the same time, there are clear limits related to foreign participation. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities and foreign institutions are not eligible to apply, and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply. However, foreign components are allowed, as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement. That typically means the main applicant organization must be eligible and based in the U.S., but certain elements of the research can involve foreign collaboration or activities if they meet NIH policy requirements and are justified scientifically.

Key administrative details included in the listing are the original closing date of January 7, 2025, and the creation date of January 10, 2022. The listing does not provide an award ceiling or expected number of awards in the provided text, which usually means applicants need to consult the full FOA and NIH budget guidance to understand typical K22 support levels and any institute-specific budget limits.

Overall, the program is best understood as a career transition mechanism: it targets dentist-scientists who have developed strong research capabilities within NIHs intramural environment and are ready to take the next step into independent extramural research careers. It supports that jump by providing a structured, NIH-recognized pathway to independence, while keeping the research scope within non-clinical-trial boundaries and allowing a wide set of U.S. organizations to serve as the extramural home for the emerging investigator.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "NIDCR Dentist Scientist Career Transition Award for Intramural Investigators (K22 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.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2022-01-10.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2025-01-07. (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 22 044

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