The NIH's Funding to US Dental Institutions from 2005 to 2014.

This study examines funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to US dental institutions between 2005 and 2014 based on publicly available data from the NIH Research Portfolio Online Reporting Tools. Over the 10-y span, 56 US dental institutions received approximately $2.2 billion from 20 Institutes, Centers, and Offices at the NIH. The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) is the largest NIH supporter of dental institutions, having invested 70% of the NIH total, about $1.5 billion. The NIDCR is also the primary supporter of research training and career development, as it has invested $177 million, which represents 92% of the total NIH investment of $192 million. Over the past 10 y, about half of the NIDCR's extramural award dollars have gone to dental schools, while the NIH has invested about 1%. There has been an approximately 10% net decrease in extramural dollars awarded to dental institutions over the past decade; however, given the year-to-year variability in support to dental institutions, it is unclear if this net decline reflects a long-term trend. In addition, there was an overall reduction in the extramural dollars awarded by the NIDCR and by the NIH. For example, from 2005 to 2014, the total NIDCR budget for extramural research decreased by roughly 4%, which represents a decrease of $20 million to dental institutions. After adjusting for inflation, the decline in funding to dental institutions from the NIDCR and NIH was approximately 30%. Although the NIDCR and NIH continue to invest in dental institutions, if the current decline were to continue, it could negatively affect the research conducted at dental institutions. Therefore, we discuss opportunities for dental institutions to increase NIDCR and NIH support and improve their capacity for research, research training, and career development.

Recent Trends in Oral Cavity Cancer Research Support in the United States.

The objectives were to characterize oral cavity cancer (OCC) funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) with a secondary aim of comparing NIH support provided to OCC and other malignancies. NIH awards supporting OCC inquiry from 2000 to 2014 were accessed from the NIH RePORTER database. These data were used to evaluate temporal trends and the role of human papilloma virus and to determine the academic training and professional profiles of the principal investigators. Comparison of 2014 funding levels with other malignancies was also performed, controlling for incidence. Overall funding totals decreased considerably after 2009. Funding administered through the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) was 6.5 times greater than dollars awarded by the National Cancer Institute in 2000. During the period evaluated, NIDCR support decreased in most years, while National Cancer Institute support increased and approached NIDCR funding levels. Funding for human papilloma virus-related projects gradually rose, from 3.4% of dollars in 2000 to 2004 to 6.2% from 2010 to 2014 ( P < 0.05). A majority of principal investigators had a PhD omnia solus (57%), and 13% possessed dual PhD/clinical degrees. Among clinicians with specialty training, otolaryngologists and oral/maxillofacial pathologists garnered the most funding. OCC had a 2014 funding:incidence ratio of $785, much lower than for other malignancies. There has been increased volatility in funding support in recent years possibly due to budget cuts and sequestration. The National Cancer Institute has played an increasingly important role in supporting OCC research, concomitant with decreasing NIDCR support. Our findings suggest that OCC is underfunded relative to other non-oral cavity malignancies, indicating a need to increase the focus on rectifying the disparity.