NIDCR Dentist Scientist Career Transition Award for Intramural Investigators (K22 Basic Experimental Studies Involving Humans Required) | PAR 22 046

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 22 046

The NIDCR Dentist Scientist Career Transition Award for Intramural Investigators (K22) (Funding Opportunity Number PAR-22-046) is an NIH career transition grant designed specifically for highly qualified dentists who are currently in NIH intramural postdoctoral fellowship positions. Its core goal is to help these intramural fellows move from a mentored, training-focused research environment inside the NIH to an independent research position at an extramural institution, with dedicated support intended to launch them as new investigators who can compete for and sustain independent research funding. In practical terms, the program is meant to bridge a common career gap: leaving the structured mentorship of the NIH Intramural Research Program and establishing an independent, externally funded lab or research program at a university, research institute, or other eligible organization outside NIH.

This opportunity is categorized as a discretionary grant program under the NIH (Agency: National Institutes of Health), within the health funding activity area, and is associated with CFDA number 93.121. The “K22” mechanism signals that it is a career development-to-independence transition award rather than a traditional research project grant. The specific version here is labeled “Basic Experimental Studies Involving Humans Required,” which indicates that the intended research scope must include human subjects work that fits NIH’s definition of basic experimental studies involving humans. Applicants interested in this FOA should interpret that label as more than a clerical tag: it affects how the application must address human subjects protections, study design, and NIH policy expectations for this category of human research.

Eligibility on the applicant organization side is broad and includes many U.S.-based organizational types that commonly host NIH-funded investigators. Eligible applicants include state, county, city or township, and special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; nonprofit organizations both with and without 501(c)(3) IRS status (when not institutions of higher education); public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; and Native American tribal organizations other than federally recognized tribal governments. The FOA also explicitly notes additional eligible categories such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, eligible federal agencies, and U.S. territories or possessions. It also allows for-profit organizations (other than small businesses) and small businesses as eligible applicant organizations, which can be relevant when a dentist-scientist is transitioning into certain research institute or industry-adjacent environments, assuming all other NIH and FOA requirements are met.

At the same time, there are clear limits related to non-U.S. entities. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations or foreign institutions) are not eligible to apply as the applicant organization, and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are also not eligible to apply. However, the FOA states that foreign components, as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are allowed. That means the primary applicant institution must be eligible and based in the U.S. (or an eligible U.S. territory/possession entity), but certain parts of the project can involve foreign collaboration or performance sites if they meet NIH’s definition and are well-justified under NIH policy.

From an administrative standpoint, the opportunity was created on 2022-01-10, and the original closing date listed is 2024-07-18. The funding instrument type is a grant. The source data provided does not specify an award ceiling or the expected number of awards, which usually means applicants would need to consult the full FOA text and NIH budget guidance to understand typical NIDCR K22 budget limits, allowable costs, and how NIDCR expects the transition and independent phases to be supported.

Overall, this K22 is best understood as a structured on-ramp for dentist-scientists who have already demonstrated strong promise during NIH intramural postdoctoral training and are ready to step into an extramural faculty-equivalent or independent investigator role. The emphasis is not just on completing another mentored project, but on building a credible, fundable independent research trajectory in dental, oral, and craniofacial research, with required involvement of basic experimental studies in humans and with institutional eligibility rules that keep the applicant organization domestic while still permitting appropriately defined foreign components.

• 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 Basic Experimental Studies Involving Humans Required)" 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 2024-07-18. (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 22 046

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