The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) is announcing the Small Research Grants for Oral Health Data Analysis and Statistical Methodology Development (R03 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) funding opportunity, intended to support research projects involving secondary data analyses or the development of statistical methodologies for dental, oral, or craniofacial health data. This program is part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) efforts to facilitate cost-effective and innovative research using existing databases.

The primary objective of this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is to fund meritorious research that leverages existing oral or craniofacial databases or develops advanced statistical methodologies to analyze such data. Applications should focus on well-defined, feasible projects with a total project period not exceeding two years. Projects may use data from sources such as NIDCR-funded studies, electronic dental and medical records, registries, or other relevant datasets. Proposals focusing solely on correlation without hypothesis testing or projects involving genomics data are considered lower priorities or inappropriate for this NOFO.

Eligible applicants include higher education institutions (public and private), non-profit organizations, for-profit organizations, small businesses, local and state governments, tribal governments, independent school districts, and foreign organizations. Both domestic and foreign entities are eligible, provided they meet registration requirements, including an active System for Award Management (SAM) account, Unique Entity Identifier (UEI), and eRA Commons account. Program Directors/Principal Investigators (PDs/PIs) must have an active eRA Commons ID before submission.

The funding opportunity allows for a budget of up to $100,000 per year in direct costs, with a total cap of $200,000 over two years. Applications are due by February 16, 2025, with standard NIH submission dates applying thereafter. Applications must be submitted electronically through ASSIST, Grants.gov Workspace, or institutional system-to-system solutions, adhering strictly to NIH guidelines for formatting and content. All proposals must include justification for the selected datasets, details on methodology, and plans for addressing missing or biased data. For projects developing statistical methodologies, applicants must provide a clear rationale and demonstrate their application to oral health research.

Applications will undergo peer review for scientific merit, rigor, feasibility, and relevance to the program’s priorities. The review process evaluates the significance, innovation, rigor, and qualifications of the investigators, as well as the adequacy of institutional resources. Proposals demonstrating novel insights into oral health issues, improved statistical approaches, or causal research will receive priority.

The earliest start date for funded projects is December 2025, contingent upon the completion of advisory council reviews and NIH funding decisions. Awarded projects are subject to standard NIH terms and conditions, including requirements for annual progress reports, compliance with human subjects protections, and data sharing policies. For additional information, applicants may contact the listed program officers, peer review officials, or grants management contacts provided in the NOFO.

This NOFO advances the NIDCR's strategic goals by promoting innovative analyses of existing data, improving statistical methodologies, and addressing critical gaps in dental, oral, and craniofacial health research.