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IADR Regional Development Program

International Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research

A priority of the IADR Strategic Plan is to promote oral health research worldwide, with specific emphasis on assisting researchers in regions with less developed research programs, including regions that may have developed and less developed Divisions/Sections within.

There is a two-step online application process – Intent to Apply and Invited Request for Supplemental Materials.

Award Prize/Recognition

The total inclusive budget for all recipients: US$60,000 per year

Key Dates

Applications Open:

Jul 13, 2026

Applications Closed:

Oct 01, 2026

Focus of Proposals

The highest priority will be placed on those proposals targeting support for:

Researchers in low and middle income (LMIC) countries with the highest priority to researchers in low-to lower-middle-income countries.
Projects that will initiate Research and Development and will be sustainable beyond the funds requested.
Research capacity building and/or mentoring of developing scientists, e.g., travel for established scientists to work on site with students/developing researchers for various periods of time.
Projects that support the global oral health strategy and action plan (WHO, 2024).

Special emphasis will be given to proposals that score highly on the extent to which the proposed project will:

develop research capacity of local researchers
develop sustainability of local researchers
have an impact on regional oral health
contribute to global strategy and action plan for oral health?
involve collaboration with expert partners
involve current IADR members at the local level
have potential for recruitment and promotion of new members at the local level
have a strategy to report results at any IADR meeting
have matching funds committed by coalition partners
include capacity building and/or mentoring developing scientists, e.g. travel for established scientists to work on site with students/developing researchers for various periods of time?

AI Based Application Success Predictor

1. Direct relevance to dental, oral and craniofacial research ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This is the fundamental predictor.

Strong proposals should clearly fit areas such as:

Dental research
Oral biology
Oral microbiology
Cariology
Periodontology
Oral cancer
Craniofacial biology
Craniofacial development
Dental materials
Biomaterials
Oral immunology
Orofacial pain/neuroscience
Oral health services
Dental public health
Regenerative dentistry
Clinical and translational oral research

IADR's awards portfolio covers a very broad spectrum of dental, oral, and craniofacial science.

2. Scientific significance ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The project should address an important scientific or clinical problem, not merely a technically interesting question.

A strong proposal should clearly explain:

What is the problem?
What important knowledge gap exists?
Why does it matter?
What will the study discover?
How could the results advance dental/oral science?

For example, IADR's Student Research Fellowships specifically evaluate the significance of the problem and the potential significance to oral-health research.

3. Innovation and originality ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Creativity/originality is a major success factor.

Competitive research should ideally:

Test a novel hypothesis
Challenge an existing paradigm
Introduce a new methodology
Develop a new technology
Address a critical barrier
Produce a new understanding of oral disease
Develop a new diagnostic or therapeutic strategy

IADR student fellowships explicitly evaluate creativity of the project, while the research strategy includes significance, innovation, and approach.

4. Strong and testable hypothesis ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

A strong IADR research proposal should have a specific, testable hypothesis.

The proposal should connect:

Knowledge gap → hypothesis → specific aims → methods → expected outcomes → impact

IADR's Student Research Fellowship criteria explicitly require the presence of a testable hypothesis.

5. Methodological rigor and feasibility ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

A scientifically exciting hypothesis is not sufficient without a credible methodology.

Reviewers should be able to see:

Appropriate study design
Suitable methods
Appropriate controls
Statistical treatment
Adequate facilities
Realistic timeline
Likelihood of successful completion

IADR's student fellowship criteria explicitly include suitability of methods and facilities and likelihood of success.

6. Strong applicant academic/research record ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

IADR's general review framework explicitly includes:

Academic credentials
Academic promise
Commitment to a research career
Ability to conduct the proposed research

Therefore, a strong CV can substantially improve competitiveness, particularly for fellowships and career-development awards.

Important evidence includes:

Publications
Research experience
Presentations
Awards
Prior fellowships
Relevant technical skills
Evidence of increasing research independence

7. Clear career-development potential ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

For fellowships and early-career awards, reviewers want to see how the award will help establish a long-term research career.

A strong career plan should explain:

What research skills will be developed
How the award fills a training gap
How the project advances independence
Future research direction
Planned publications
Future grant applications

For example, the IADR/AADOCR William Butler Fellowship evaluates scholarly excellence, research originality, and commitment to an oral-health research career, and requires a career-development plan.

8. Strong mentor and institutional environment ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

IADR explicitly identifies institutional environment/commitment and the applicant's ability to conduct the proposed research as acceptable review criteria.

For student and early-career awards, a strong mentor should provide:

Relevant scientific expertise
Research supervision
Technical support
Appropriate facilities
Career guidance
Publication support
Grant-development support

The IADR David B. Scott Fellowship, for example, requires a dental student to be sponsored by a dental researcher with appropriate institutional approval.

9. Potential to improve oral health and clinical practice ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

IADR research does not have to be immediately clinical, but strong projects should demonstrate a plausible contribution to:

Better diagnosis
Better prevention
Better treatment
Improved oral health
Improved dental materials
Better clinical practice
Improved patient outcomes

IADR's student fellowship criteria specifically ask how the proposed project could improve scientific knowledge, technical capability, and/or clinical practice.

10. Publication and dissemination potential ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆

IADR places substantial importance on communicating research through its General Session, divisional meetings, presentations, and publications.

For the David B. Scott Fellowship, IADR explicitly intends that the research experience will result in a paper suitable for presentation at an IADR General Session or divisional meeting.

A strong project therefore has:

Publishable results
A clear dissemination plan
Conference presentation potential
Potential to generate follow-up research

Specialties

Others

Eligibility Requirements

Each year, the IADR RDP Committee requests proposals for grants to initiate research and development or otherwise strengthen the oral health research infrastructure in developing regions:

Consideration will be given to supporting ongoing initiatives that have demonstrated an ability to promote research development.
Each Division/Section can be the recipient of only one grant per year.
Current Regional Board Members are available to assist with Regional Development proposals, but may not receive any financial support from funds granted.
Funds cannot be used for honoraria or for consultancy fees to IADR members.

Eligible Countries:

United States

Sponsor Details

Sponsor Institute/Organizations: International Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research

Sponsor Type: Corporate/Non-Profit

Address: 1619 Duke Street Alexandria, VA, 22314-3406

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