The Friends of the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (FNIDCR) online newsletter is a membership benefit. Permission is granted to repost this publication only with inclusion of the header. Past issues are posted at http://www.fnidcr.org/newsletters/index.html.

News

Obama Nominates New NIH Director
President Barack Obama announced his intent to nominate Francis S. Collins as Director of the NIH (7-8-09)

President Obama said, "The National Institutes of Health stands as a model when it comes to science and research. My administration is committed to promoting scientific integrity and pioneering scientific research and I am confident that Dr. Francis Collins will lead the NIH to achieve these goals. Dr. Collins is one of the top scientists in the world, and his groundbreaking work has changed the very ways we consider our health and examine disease. I look forward to working with him in the months and years ahead."

Read the White House release.
Read his bio.

Symposium Added to
Our Annual Gala!
Save Wed., December 9!
For 10 years, The Friends of NIDCR has hosted its annual event in the Washington DC area for its members and friends from across the U.S., Canada and abroad.

This year an exciting afternoon luncheon and symposium have been added. You’ll hear researchers present upcoming, diagnostic, preventive and therapeutic approaches and research conducted in dental offices, including:

• Oral Cancer – Early Detection and Prevention
• Pain Research
• Practice Based Research Networks in Dentistry
• Health Disparities in the DC/Maryland Region

Continuing education hours will be provided.

As in past galas, awards will be presented to honor significant accomplishments in oral health, including Education, Media, Advocacy, Lifetime Achievement and Public Service. See past Award Recipients.

More Information
Schedule, Fees, Hotel
Registration Form

Economic Stimulus
(ARRA) Update

NIH Receives 20,000 Applications for Challenge Grants
NIH has received approximately 20,000 applications for Challenge Grants, a new program under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). This large number of applications is approximately equal to the total number of applications NIH receives in one of the agency’s three major review rounds each year.

The Center for Scientific Review (CSR) will check the applications for compliance and review them in a two-phase process. Reviewers with expertise in the specialized topic areas were recruited to do the first phase reviews. More than 18,000 scientists are expected to be involved in the Challenge Grant peer review process. Scores and summary statements will be available in August 2009. Challenge Grant awards will be issued by September 30, 2009.

View the List of Grants Awarded
Search by state and congressional district on the NIH Research Portfolio Online Reporting Tool (RePORT). To date 2352 grants have been awarded. Search list.

NIH Announces Additional Funding
NIH has announced several new funding opportunities that will be supported with funds made available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). Specifically, ARRA funds will be allocated for:

Small Business Catalyst Awards for Accelerating Innovative Research (R43). Click for details.

New Technologies (BRDG-SPAN) Pilot Program (RC3). Click for details.

Academic Research Enhancement Awards (R15). Click for details

Legislative Update

FNIDCR Award Winner Advocates for
Oral Health in Washington Post
An article by Mary Otto, recipient of the 2007 FNIDCR Media Award of Excellence, was featured in the Health section of the Washington Post (6-23-09), entitled:

Putting Teeth in Health-Care Reform:
Advocates Press to Have Dental Issues Addressed:
'We're Always Left Out'
Click to read the article.

FY2010 Appropriations Update:
Process Underway in House
The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor-HHS-Education, which has jurisdiction over NIH funding, appropriated $30.96 Billion for NIH for FY 2010, an increase of nearly $942 million from FY09 and $500 million above the President’s FY2010 budget request. The full House Appropriations Committee will vote on the measure Friday, July 17, at which time the amount appropriated to NIDCR will be released. In written testimony earlier this year, FNIDCR recommended appropriators to fund NIDCR at $442 million to maintain the majority of scientific work that will commence as a result of the $101 million NIDCR received in temporary stimulus aid.

NIDCR Research

Periodontal Disease in Senior Men
Not enough is known about the oral health needs of seniors. A new study looks at periodontal disease and older men, and it finds gum disease is more common than previously thought. Click for more details.

Scientists Explore Gene Variability in S. Mutans
Scientists have long known that not all species of the oral bacterium Streptococcus mutans are created equal. But what if gene content varies among S. mutans species from throughout the world, what about those present in the same geographic location? Read more.

Click for More Science News in Brief