Causal Hypotheses on the Oral-Systemic Health Impacts of Human Behaviors among People with Chronic Conditions

The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under the National Institutes of Health (NIH), has forecasted a funding opportunity titled “Causal Hypotheses on the Oral-Systemic Health Impacts of Human Behaviors among People with Chronic Conditions.” This opportunity reflects NIDCR’s mission to advance fundamental knowledge about dental, oral, and craniofacial health and disease and to promote translational research that improves health outcomes. This grant is announced under the Assistance Listing Number 93.121, focused on Oral Diseases and Disorders Research, and is categorized under the health-related discretionary funding opportunities. The purpose of this forecasted opportunity is to solicit applications that propose innovative research on how human behaviors—shaped by a variety of causal mechanisms—affect oral and systemic health outcomes in populations with chronic conditions. Eligible studies should focus on establishing or refining causal hypotheses rather than drawing mere statistical associations. The range of causal factors includes but is not limited to biological, biopsychosocial, congenital, environmental, interpersonal, neurological, psychological, and comorbid influences. These hypotheses should examine the direct or indirect impacts of these behavioral determinants on oral-systemic health to inform preventive, therapeutic, and management strategies for dental, oral, and craniofacial (DOC) conditions. NIDCR encourages collaborations among experts in dental, oral, craniofacial, and systemic health, including care and service delivery across the life course. This initiative seeks to engage behavioral scientists and professionals in public and social sciences whose expertise is relevant to the intersections of chronic illness and oral-systemic health. The objective is to generate findings that are primed for clinical trial translation, with the ultimate goal of enhancing health, reducing illness, and improving quality of life. This funding opportunity will be administered as a cooperative agreement. Applications are not being accepted at this time, as this is a forecasted opportunity intended to give researchers and institutions ample time to prepare high-quality proposals and establish meaningful collaborations. The forecasted application open date is March 2, 2026, and the estimated submission deadline is June 5, 2026. Selected awards are expected to be made by April 1, 2027, with projects beginning on the same date. Eligible applicants include a wide range of organizations such as public and private institutions of higher education, state and local governments, small businesses, for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), independent school districts, public housing authorities, and both federally and non-federally recognized Native American tribal organizations and governments. Additionally, nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education) are eligible. For further information, potential applicants can contact Dr. William Elwood at the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research via email at william.elwood@nih.gov or by phone at 301-402-0116. Investigators are encouraged to begin planning and coordination well in advance of the forecasted open date to ensure a competitive and responsive submission.