Healthy Smiles, Healthy Children Accepting Grant Applications

CHICAGO, June 1, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Healthy Smiles, Healthy Children (HSHC), the Foundation of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD), is currently accepting applications for its three grant programs which are due on August 15, 2011: HSHC Access to Care, Oral Health Research and Future Dental Researcher Fellowship.

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The HSHC Access to Care Grants are matching/challenge grants of up to $20,000 per year supporting United States service initiatives that provide dental care to underserved and limited access children. Other requirements/stipulations include:

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• HSHC will give special consideration to programs that have demonstrated success and have potential for replication in other communities, as well as initiatives that have illustrated collaboration with other institutions and organizations.  
• HSHC funds may be applied to cover costs of clinic supplies and instruments, patient/parent education materials, take-home supplies (toothbrushes, toothpaste, etc.), education and/or outreach to recruit dentist participation in program activities, or other activity with clear, direct impact on child oral care.
• Access to Care Grants must be expended within 12 months of award.

HSHC Oral Health Research Grants are multi-year awards of up to $100,000 a year for up to three years that can be applied to research initiatives consistent with the AAPD's research agenda.  This includes:

• Transmission, etiology, risk assessment, early detection, prevention and management of caries using antimicrobials, fluorides and remineralizing agents; disparities and barriers to accessing dental care, including evaluation of different health care delivery systems; efficacy and effectiveness of infant oral health promotion (i.e., first dental visit by age 12 months), including examining the interface between dentistry and medicine; salivary diagnostics, genetics and proteomics; examination of pulp treatment and restorative materials, including pulp biology, efficacy and biocompatibility of pulp treatment and restorative materials; non-pharmacologic behavior management approaches; safe and effective sedative and analgesic agents for pain and anxiety control; specific (immunity, genetics) and non-specific host factors in the etiology and prevention of oral diseases; prevention, diagnosis and management of dental trauma in children; and etiology, detection, prevention and management of localized or generalized aggressive periodontitis.  
• HSHC will allot special consideration to research projects designed to better understand caries and its impact on child oral health and/or to evaluate performance of dental care programs targeting underserved and limited access children.
• Research proposals for studies falling outside of the AAPD research agenda will not be considered.
• HSHC research funds may be utilized for larger scale projects involving multiple donors or smaller investigations where HSHC is the lead or lone supporter.
• Indirect project costs will not be funded.
• Oral Health Research Grants must be expended within three years of award.

The HSHC/AAPD Future Dental Researcher Fellowship initiative will provide one qualified investigator with up to $75,000 per year for three years. Applicant must be in post doctoral studies or on faculty at a university. Preference will be given to those entering into a 3^rd year of research on a particular study focusing on dental care programs targeting underserved and limited access child populations.

Of particular note:

• The Fellow will receive financial support from HSHC and mentoring from his/her sponsoring institution.
• Indirect project costs will not be funded.

"Every child deserves a healthy smile, and it is of upmost importance to HSHC that the intent of our grants and programs properly address the key barriers to comprehensive quality oral health care for all children," said Dr. David K. Curtis, President of HSHC.  "Through our investment in research initiatives such as our new Oral Health Research Grants and Future Dental Researcher Fellowship, we look forward to providing all children with the most up-to-date science and evidence-based care."

Guidelines, requirements and application instructions are now available on the HSHC Web site: www.healthysmileshealthychildren.org.  For further information, please contact Tracey Schilligo at 312-337-2169 or via e-mail at [email protected].

About Healthy Smiles, Healthy Children: The Foundation of the AAPD

Healthy Smiles, Healthy Children, the Foundation of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, was established in 1987 by the AAPD to support and promote service, education and research that advances the oral health of infants and children through adolescence, including those with special health care needs. HSHC's endowment is used to support community-based initiatives that provide Access to Care for all children.  For more information, visit the HSHC Web site at www.healthysmileshealthychildren.org.

SOURCE Healthy Smiles, Healthy Children