Science Policy

The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) requested information on a proposed concept (research initiative) presented at the January 2024 National Advisory Dental and Craniofacial Research Council meeting. The goal of the proposed concept Reissuance of NIDCR Small Grant Program for New Investigators is to provide support for research conducted by scientists who are in the early stages of establishing their independent research career in dental, oral, and craniofacial research. In our response, AADOCR provided support for the re-issuance of this research initiative and encouraged the NIDCR to reassess the scoring criteria for R01s that evaluates the expertise and capability of the investigator. The removal of the criterion for researchers that are within the early career categorization may further increase their likelihood of securing an R01.

View AADOCR Comments >>

The U.S. Office of Global Affairs (OGA) requested information as they prepared for the G7 Health Ministers Meeting. AADOCR, on behalf of IADR, submitted written comments in which we encouraged the OGA to support efforts to integrate oral health into universal health coverage (UHC) by i). integrating essential oral health services and the basic package of oral care, ii). creating an oral health workforce geared towards population health needs and the social determinants of health and iii). financial protection and inclusion of dental care coverage in health insurance packages, as well as expanding fiscal space for oral health care. Our response also called on the OGA to bolster the oral health global strategy, with a call for the integration of oral health prevention and the basic description of oral health problems during the life course within the nursing career curriculum. Additionally, our response supported the issuance of a call for all countries to enact health care policies similar to the US Preventive Services Task Force to encourage the incorporation of basic oral health services within health systems to increase equity and accessibility, promote water fluoridation as a cost-effective means for improving population oral health, and continue financial support for the WHO.

View AADOCR Comments >>

The 21st Century Cures Act has been credited for playing a critical role in the advancement of medical research and health care delivery in areas such as biomedical research funding and innovation, mental health care reform, drug development, and health information technology. The newer version, Cures 2.0, aims to further accelerate medical research, increase patient access to novel therapeutics, and enhance telehealth services. It called for the creation of a new agency that would prioritize funding for high-risk, high-reward research; a long-term study of COVID-19 impacts; preparedness planning initiatives; and increased diversity in clinical trial participants, changes to FDA operations, Medicare reimbursement, and coverage of innovative health technologies. To ensure that they are moving in the right direction and fully realizing the goals of the 21st Century Cures Act and Cures 2.0, and as they envision Cures 3.0, Senators DeGette and Bucshon requested information on the Cures Act.

View AADOCR Comments >>

The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) requested information on proposed concepts (research initiatives) presented at the September 2024 National Advisory Dental and Craniofacial Research Council meeting. In our response, AADOCR provided input on the following concepts (i) Digital Twins for Advancing Innovation and Optimizing Clinical Outcomes in Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial (DOC) Medicine, (ii). Integration of Medically Necessary Prevention, Treatment, and Monitoring of Oncologic-related Oral, Dental, and Craniofacial Complications, (iii). Community Engaged Research to Advance Oral Health Intervention Models for Racial/Ethnic Minority HIV/AIDS Populations, (iv). Modulating the Microbiome Towards Health, (v). Dental Primary Care Practice-Based Research Network to Support Research in Clinical Practices.

View AADOCR Comments >>

The NIDCR requested information on a proposed concept (research initiative) presented at the January 2023 National Advisory Dental and Craniofacial Research Council meeting. The goal of the proposed concept “ Reissuance of NIDCR Prospective Observational or Biomarker Validation Study Cooperative Agreement (U01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)” is to provide investigators with the support necessary to conduct prospective cohort studies or biomarker validation studies. The first version of this funding opportunity was published in 2017, and since then it has been consistently utilized by junior and senior investigators to request support for resource intensive studies. AADOCR, in consultation with its Science Information Committee and Board, provided feedback on this concept during its concept clearance process

View AADOCR Comments >>

The NIH requested information from its stakeholders to gather public input on the NIH Plan to Enhance Public Access to the Results of NIH-Supported Research (NIH Public Access Plan). This plan provides a roadmap for how NIH will enhance access to research products, namely scholarly publications and scientific data, and will ensure these research products are useful and accessible to the public. NIH sought input on (i). how to best ensure equity in publication opportunities for NIH-supported investigators, (ii). steps for improving equity in access and accessibility of publications, (iii). methods for monitoring evolving costs and impacts on affected communities, and (iv). early input on considerations to increase findability and transparency of research. AADOCR, in consultation with its Science Information Committee and Board, provided responses to this request.

View AADOCR Comments >>

The NIH requested information on the National Toxicology Program’s (NTP) draft NTP Monograph on the State of the Science Concerning Fluoride Exposure and Neurodevelopmental and Cognitive Health Effects: A Systematic Review document. The monograph was reviewed by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) on two different occasions. On both occasions, NASEM found the monograph’s conclusion unsubstantiated by the data included within. An independent working group of subject-matter experts was also convened to evaluate the adequacy of NTP responses to external peer review and/or federal agency comments received during the development of the State of the Science Monograph and the Meta-Analysis Manuscript. AADOCR, in consultation with its Science Information Committee and Board, provided feedback on the NTP Monograph and the Working Group Report. 

View AADOCR Comments >>

The Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Global Affairs (OGA) hosted a stakeholder listening session in preparation for the upcoming G7 Health Ministers meeting. The Stakeholder Listening Session was designed to seek input from stakeholders to help inform and prepare for U.S. government engagement in the Health Ministers' Meeting. In addition to the listening session, they invited stakeholders to submit written comments on priority areas that were expected to be discussed during the G7 meeting. One of those priority areas was “Contribute to achieving more resilient, equitable and sustainable universal health coverage through strengthening health systems”. AADOCR, in consultation with its Board, provided feedback on the G7 Health Ministers’ agenda.

View AADOCR Comments >>

The NIH, Office of the Director, Office of Disease Prevention (ODP) requested information on its draft strategic plan for Fiscal Years 2024–2028, Prevention Research: Creating a Healthier Future for All. Feedback was invited on areas where targeted efforts could help accelerate prevention research. AADOCR, in consultation with its Science Information Committee and Board, provided a response that focused on the following priority areas: (i). systematically monitor NIH investments in prevention research and the progress and results of that research, (ii). identify prevention research areas for investment or expanded effort by NIH, (iii). advance tobacco regulatory and prevention science, (iv). promote and coordinate prevention research that addresses health disparities, and (v). improve the availability and visibility of information about prevention research, inform diverse audiences about the scope and impact of disease prevention research, and engage with ODP's partners to enhance and support ODP's mission. 

View AADOCR Comments >>

The NIDCR requested information on a proposed concept (research initiative) presented at the May 2023 National Advisory Dental and Craniofacial Research Council meeting. The goal of the proposed concept “Renewal of the NIDCR FaceBase Program” is to support a state-of-the-art, public repository of dental, oral, and craniofacial (DOC) research and clinical data to enable and accelerate data-driven efforts in knowledge discovery, translation of knowledge gained into health and health care solutions, and the delivery of those solutions. AADOCR, in consultation with its Science Information Committee and Board, provided feedback on this concept during its concept clearance process. 

View AADOCR Comments >>

The NIH requested information on the DRAFT “Scientific Integrity Policy of the National Institutes of Health”. The DRAFT NIH Scientific Integrity Policy codifies NIH's long-standing expectations to preserve scientific integrity throughout all NIH activities, establishes key roles and responsibilities for those who will lead the agency's scientific integrity program, and, as appropriate, establishes relevant reporting and evaluation mechanisms. Feedback was requested on the following new additions (i). role and responsibilities of the NIH Scientific Integrity Officer, (ii).  role and responsibilities of the NIH Chief Scientist (CS), (iii). responsibilities of the NIH Scientific Integrity Council, and (iv). prohibitions against Political Interference. AADOCR, in consultation with its Science Information Committee and Board, provided feedback on this proposed policy. 
 

View AADOCR Comments >>

The NIDCR requested information on their proposed concepts (research initiatives) presented at the September 2023 National Advisory Dental and Craniofacial Research Council meeting. The research initiatives were as follows:

• Accelerating Product Excellence in Innovation and for Clinical Adoption (APEx)
• Advancing HIV/AIDS and Oral Health Research
• Bacteriophage Therapy: Tipping the Balance to Oral Health
• Community-Based Participatory Research Consortium: Advancing DAta and Practice Transformation (ADAPT) for Caries Equity
• Determining the Tri-directional Relationship Between Oral Health, Nutrition, and Comprehensive Health
• NIDCR Mentoring Networks for Underrepresented and Early-Career Investigators (Reissue)
• Organs-on-a-Chip in Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research (DOC-OoCs)

AADOCR, in consultation with its Science Information Committee, Committee on Diversity and Inclusion, and Board, provided feedback on these concepts during their concept clearance processes. 

View AADOCR Comments >>