Strategic Goals and Objectives

The 2009-2013 NIDCR Strategic Plan provides a guide for the Institute's funding decisions and defines the areas that will be closely monitored for key developments and innovations that can be applied to oral, dental and craniofacial health. The Goals and Objectives presented throughout this Plan strike a careful balance between basic and applied research; address workforce issues; and confront the vexing problem of health disparities. Clearly, the Goals and Objectives herein do not encompass the entire range of NIDCR-supported research that collectively contributes to our overall mission, but they do capture the areas that offer the most significant scientific promise in the near term. We will continue to monitor new advances across the entire NIDCR portfolio of research and to pursue emerging opportunities to further enhance progress.