New legislation recognizes NIDCR’s role in scientific research and public health
The United States Senate introduced and passed with unanimous support a resolution recognizing NIDCR’s 75th anniversary that hailed “its critical role in improving the dental, oral, and craniofacial health of the United States through research, training, and the dissemination of health information.” The resolution was requested and championed by the American Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research and endorsed by the American Dental Association, the American Dental Education Association, and the Friends of NIDCR.
The bipartisan anniversary resolution (S.Res.605) was introduced by Sen. Ben Cardin and cosponsored by Sen. Mike Braun. In the United States House, Rep. Brian Babin, a dentist, introduced a similar version of the anniversary resolution (H.Res.1078).
The resolution recognizes NIDCR’s leadership since 1948 in advancing a better understanding of dental, oral, and craniofacial health and disease, promoting American public health, and training generations of dentist-scientists. It concludes that NIDCR remains a “vital, venerable, and essential” part of NIH and the nation’s biomedical and public health infrastructure.
The resolution specifically commends the institute for fostering translational research across the biomedical sciences, including work in microbiology, immunology, cell biology, mineralized tissues, dental and orofacial pain, head and neck cancers, human behavior, health disparities, and other fields. It also acknowledges NIDCR’s leadership in pioneering epidemiological and preventive research that was instrumental during the second half of the 20th century in eradicating the nation’s epidemic of rampant tooth decay, a public health legacy that lives on to the present day.
The resolution singles out NIDCR more recently for its efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially investigating oral viral entry and infection and the transmission of the novel coronavirus in dental settings. This was a major concern for millions of people during a time of great uncertainty.
“So many dedicated scientists have received funding from NIDCR or called it home through the years,” said NIDCR Director Rena D'Souza, D.D.S., Ph.D., M.S. “The resolutions are a testament to them, their unflagging commitment to oral health sciences, and their many enduring gifts to dentistry, medicine, and public health.
“But our job for the nation isn’t finished. Maintaining good oral health is critical to overall health, and we have so much more to learn about oral and craniofacial biology that will improve the well-being of current and future generations.”
To learn more about Dr. D’Souza’s vision for the future, watch NIDCR at 75: Looking Forward.
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