ADA urges NIDCR to prioritize prevention, oral-systemic research in next strategic plan
Association calls for investment in research workforce, data integration and practice-based research
The ADA is urging the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, or NIDCR, to maintain strong investment in core oral health research while expanding its focus on oral-systemic health, research capacity and integration of dental data with the broader biomedical enterprise.
The recommendations are part of the ADA’s response to NIDCR’s request for information on strategic directions for fiscal years 2027–31. The institute is seeking input as it develops its next strategic plan.
“ADA commends NIDCR's continued leadership as the nation's leading federal funder of dental, oral, and craniofacial (DOC) research,” the Association wrote.
The ADA organized its recommendations around the four areas identified in the request for information: dental, oral and craniofacial research; integration of oral health research, data and care with the broader biomedical enterprise; research capacity; and research operations.
For dental, oral and craniofacial research, the ADA called for sustained investment in fundamental science, including research on the oral microbiome and inflammatory pathways. The Association also recommended priorities including nonoperative and minimally invasive caries management, precision dental medicine, prevention science, dental faculty development and research evaluating different care delivery and workforce models.
According to the letter, NIDCR should prioritize research into the clinical, behavioral and systems-level factors involved in translating evidence on nonoperative caries management into U.S. practice. The ADA said research should address implementation barriers such as fee-for-service incentives and nonbinding clinical guidelines.
The Association also called for continued research on fluoride.
“Continued investment in fluoride efficacy and safety, prescription–strength topical fluoride, and community-water fluoridation prevention programs remains essential to reducing disparities in caries incidence,” the ADA wrote.
The ADA identified integration of dental, oral and craniofacial research with the broader biomedical enterprise as another area that should receive greater emphasis. Its recommendations include research on links between periodontal disease and systemic conditions, dental data interoperability and practice-based and registry-linked research.
The Association said fragmented implementation of dental data standards remains a barrier to integrating oral health into the broader biomedical evidence base and conducting large-scale, real-world research. It recommended that NIDCR explicitly fund research and infrastructure development supporting harmonized data systems.
The ADA also urged NIDCR to strengthen the dental research workforce, including by expanding support for research training mechanisms targeted at dentist-scientists. According to the letter, continued investment in practice-based research networks, biorepositories and shared analytic infrastructure could help ensure research capacity keeps pace with scientific opportunities.
“A robust and sustained research workforce is foundational to every other priority in NIDCR's strategic plan,” the Association wrote.
In its recommendations on research operations, the ADA supported regular, structured engagement between NIDCR and scientific and professional organizations, including the ADA, while maintaining opportunities for broader public input.
The Association also recommended measurable objectives and progress indicators, along with periodic updates addressing NIDCR’s research portfolio, outcomes, workforce development and translation of research into clinical and public health practice.
“ADA appreciates NIDCR's engagement with the professional community in shaping its strategic direction for fiscal years 2027–2031 and welcomes the opportunity for continued dialogue and collaboration as the strategic plan is developed,” the Association concluded.
