NIDCR Strategic Planning and Priority Setting

In consultation with NIH leadership, the NIDCR engages in long- and short-term program planning to identify Institute priorities. These efforts develop and use information from several sources and consult a broad range of key stakeholders including the extramural scientific community, patient advocacy organizations, NIDCR's Advisory Council and Board of Scientific Counselors, other NIH Institutes and Centers, other federal agencies, industry and ad hoc advisory groups. The Institute also obtains input through a range of conferences and workshops that review emerging scientific opportunities, identify public health concerns, and provide state-of-the-science assessments. As a component of the NIH, the NIDCR conducts its planning and priority setting within a larger context that considers input from the Congress and the Administration, the Department of Health and Human Services, the NIH, and external peer review.

The 2009-2013 NIDCR strategic planning process gathered public and stakeholder input about prospective activities, areas of research emphasis, future research approaches, needs, and opportunities. The NIDCR obtained this input in several ways, through:

• an open-forum listening session—augmented by informal conversations—at the American Association for Dental Research meeting in Dallas, Texas on April 2, 2008;
• an open-forum listening session held in conjunction with the NIDCR Patient Advocates Forum on the NIH campus on April 21, 2008;
• web-based responses from 140 individuals and organizations to six strategic planning questions posted on the NIDCR website between May and July 2008;
• two open-forum listening sessions—augmented by informal conversations—at the International Association for Dental Research meeting in Toronto, Canada on July 2-3, 2008;
• a series of NIDCR staff meetings to obtain input on NIDCR goals and priorities;
• presentations during National Advisory Dental Research Council meetings;
• a feedback session held on February 9, 2009 with stakeholders representing federal agencies, professional dental organizations, dental specialties, voluntary organizations, and industry;
• public comment obtained through web posting of the draft plan during February 2009.

The NIDCR Strategic Planning Steering Committee contributed extensively and provided direction for the development of the plan. NIDCR is indebted to all who provided comments and suggestions through these efforts, which were vital to the development of a workable, dynamic and responsive 2009-2013 NIDCR Strategic Plan.