Neuroskeletal Biology of the Dental and Craniofacial Skeletal System (R21) | RFA DE 18 006

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA DE 18 006

Neuroskeletal Biology of the Dental and Craniofacial Skeletal System (R21) is a discretionary NIH grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number RFA-DE-18-006; CFDA 93.121) that supports early-stage, exploratory, or developmental research focused on how the nervous system influences the postnatal dental and craniofacial skeletal system. The central scientific idea behind the FOA is that nerves are not just passive wiring for sensation and pain, but active regulators of tissue metabolism, homeostasis, remodeling, and the ability to regenerate or repair. This opportunity targets research that can clarify how the peripheral and central nervous systems (PNS/CNS) interact with teeth, periodontal tissues, and craniofacial bones under normal conditions and in disease states, with an emphasis on building the conceptual and technical groundwork needed for later, more definitive studies.

The FOA is explicitly aimed at projects that are still in the formative stage, where investigators may be testing new hypotheses, piloting new tools, or creating or adapting models that make these nerve-to-skeleton interactions measurable. In practical terms, the announcement encourages applicants to propose the kind of studies that establish feasibility and open up a new line of inquiry, such as developing appropriate animal models, organoid or tissue-engineered systems, neural manipulation methods, imaging strategies, or biomarker approaches that can capture neural control of craniofacial tissue dynamics. Because it is an R21 mechanism, the expectation is not a fully mature, large-scale research program, but rather a strong, innovative concept supported by a clear plan to generate critical preliminary insights or enabling platforms.

From a health impact perspective, the FOA frames this work as a stepping stone toward improving function and clinical outcomes in dentistry and craniofacial medicine. By understanding and eventually harnessing neuroskeletal signaling, the research supported here is intended to help optimize normal tissue function, reduce the burden of disease, and increase the field's capacity to repair and regenerate injured teeth and craniofacial bones. That includes conditions where remodeling is disrupted, inflammation alters neural and skeletal cross-talk, or injuries require better regenerative strategies. The emphasis on postnatal tissues highlights relevance to real-world clinical problems rather than embryonic development alone.

Administratively, this opportunity is offered by the National Institutes of Health under a grant funding instrument, in the Health funding activity category. The posted award ceiling is $200,000, and the original closing date listed is 2017-11-25, reflecting the specific historical cycle of this FOA as provided in the source data. The eligible applicant pool is broad and includes many types of domestic U.S. organizations: state, county, city, township, and special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; Native American tribal organizations that are not federally recognized tribal governments; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status (excluding higher education institutions when specified); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; small businesses; and other entities.

The FOA also calls out additional eligible applicants to encourage participation from a wide range of institutions and communities. These include 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, eligible agencies of the federal government, regional organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, and non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities or foreign organizations, as well as Indian/Native American tribal governments other than federally recognized ones. Overall, the opportunity is designed to broaden the research base while accelerating innovative, model-building science at the intersection of neuroscience, bone biology, dentistry, and craniofacial regeneration.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Neuroskeletal Biology of the Dental and Craniofacial Skeletal System (R21)" 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 2017-02-27.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2017-11-25. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $200,000.00 in funding.
• 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 RFA DE 18 006

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