Federal Grant Award Summary

The University of Chicago received a $133,239 Project Grant award from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) under the Oral Diseases and Disorders Research program (CFDA 93.121), effective April 1, 2026 through March 31, 2031. The award supports the Cultivating Researchers in Oral and Systemic Health Studies (CROSS) program, a research education initiative designed to train the next generation of clinician-scientists in interdisciplinary research at the intersection of oral health, systemic health, and social sciences. The program addresses the historical separation between medical and dental education and research by providing undergraduate students across Chicago-area colleges with hands-on experience in cross-disciplinary clinical research that integrates oral health, medicine, and social science methodologies.

The CROSS program will deliver structured research education and training to build critical competencies in undergraduate students who represent the pipeline for future clinical researchers. By offering early-stage exposure to interdisciplinary research approaches and demonstrating the connections between oral and systemic health outcomes at individual and population levels, the program aims to cultivate researchers capable of conducting rigorous clinical research across professional disciplines. This research education initiative directly supports NIDCR's mission to advance fundamental knowledge in dental, oral, and craniofacial health and translate scientific findings into evidence-based prevention and treatment strategies.