III 

118TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 605 

Recognizing the 75th anniversary of the National Institute of Dental and 

Craniofacial Research and its critical role in improving the dental, oral, 

and craniofacial health of the United States through research, training, 

and the dissemination of health information. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MARCH 20, 2024 

Mr. CARDIN (for himself and Mr. BRAUN) submitted the following resolution; 

which was considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Recognizing the 75th anniversary of the National Institute 

of Dental and Craniofacial Research and its critical role 

in improving the dental, oral, and craniofacial health 

of the United States through research, training, and 

the dissemination of health information. 

Whereas, in 1948, Congress and President Harry S. Truman 

created the National Institute of Dental Research as a 

component of the National Institutes of Health (referred 

to in this preamble as ‘‘NIH’’), in response to an epidemic of tooth decay that adversely affected the oral 

health, overall health, and military readiness of the 

United States; 

Whereas, on October 21, 1998, Congress changed the name 

of the National Institute of Dental Research to the NaVerDate Sep 11 2014 00:50 Mar 21, 2024 Jkt 049200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR605.ATS SR605

ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
2 

•SRES 605 ATS 

tional Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (referred to in this preamble as ‘‘NIDCR’’) to accurately reflect the support of NIDCR for both dental and 

craniofacial research; 

Whereas NIDCR is the primary dental, oral, and craniofacial 

biomedical and behavioral research and research training 

organization in the United States, advancing fundamental knowledge about dental, oral, and craniofacial 

health and disease, disease prevention, early detection, 

and treatment strategies to improve overall health for all 

individuals and communities across the lifespan; 

Whereas NIDCR is recognized by Congress, the NIH, oral 

health stakeholders, and the biomedical research community as a leader of the oral health research enterprise of 

the United States that supports research funding, management, and scientific training across the United States; 

Whereas NIDCR performs interdisciplinary research and 

translates results from the laboratory to the clinic, by 

means of scientific excellence in laboratory, clinical, behavioral, translational, and population-based programs in 

support of the mission of the NIH, which is the premier 

biomedical research agency in the world; 

Whereas NIDCR responds urgently to critical public health 

needs such as the COVID–19 pandemic, providing over 

$4,000,000 in fiscal year 2020 in grant supplements to 

study SARS–CoV–2, develop novel viral detection systems, and address critical needs of patients and oral 

health practitioners; 

Whereas NIDCR collaborates with academic institutions, industry partners, and government agencies to disseminate 

information about discoveries to the public; 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
3 

•SRES 605 ATS 

Whereas the researchers at NIDCR pioneered the use of epidemiology and preventive approaches to demonstrate that 

dental caries is an epidemic disease and community water 

fluoridation is a safe, effective, and economical way to 

prevent and reduce tooth decay; 

Whereas NIDCR established— 

(1) the Laboratory of Oral Medicine and the Laboratory of Microbiology and Immunology to conduct research on the causes, prevention, and treatment of 

periodontitis and other diseases of the soft tissues of the 

oral cavity; 

(2) the Laboratory of Oral Biology and Physiology 

to conduct research on the cell biology of secretory tissues and proteins; 

(3) the Mineralized Tissue Research Branch to investigate skeletal development and disorders; 

(4) the Center for Integrative Biology and Infectious 

Diseases to investigate pain, tissue regeneration, oral 

cancers, autoimmune illnesses, salivary gland biology, and 

oral microbiota; 

(5) the Center for Clinical Research to conduct clinical trials and practice-based research and to investigate 

clinical technologies, oral health disparities, and oral 

health for those with HIV/AIDS; and 

(6) the National Oral Health Information Clearinghouse as a centralized public resource on oral health topics; 

Whereas, in 2000, NIDCR established the NIDCR Patient 

Advocates Forum to enhance communication among patient groups and incorporate patient perspectives in research planning, and continues to maintain active engagement with the group; 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
4 

•SRES 605 ATS 

Whereas NIDCR— 

(1) launched the National Caries Program to prevent and reduce dental caries; 

(2) created the Epidemiology and Oral Disease Prevention Program to investigate the national distribution 

of dental caries, periodontal diseases, and other oral diseases and disorders; 

(3) launched the Research and Action Program to 

Improve the Oral Health of Older Americans and Other 

Adults at High Risk; 

(4) established the first regional Dental PracticeBased Research Network, to investigate pressing clinical 

issues, including the association between bisphosphonates 

and osteonecrosis of the jaw, and methods for treating 

cracked teeth and tooth hypersensitivity; and 

(5) launched the FaceBase Consortium to compile 

the biological instructions to build the human face and 

define the genetics underlying developmental disorders 

such as cleft lip and palate; 

Whereas NIDCR— 

(1) opened the first multidisciplinary pain clinic devoted exclusively to research; 

(2) established major initiatives to support cuttingedge research on temporomandibular disorders (referred 

to in this preamble as ‘‘TMDs’’); 

(3) sponsored a technology assessment conference on 

the management of TMDs; 

(4) launched the Orofacial Pain: Prospective Evaluation and Risk Assessment clinical study to examine risk 

factors that contribute to the development of TMDs; 

(5) cosponsored the consensus study entitled 

‘‘Temporomandibular Disorders: Priorities for Research 

and Care’’ to help inform approaches to advancing TMDs 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
5 

•SRES 605 ATS 

research and guide the development of evidence-based 

treatment and clinical management of patients with 

TMDs; 

(6) established a TMD Multi-Council Working 

Group to develop a roadmap to strengthen the understanding of TMDs; and 

(7) launched the national TMD Collaborative for 

Improving Patient-Centered Translational Research to 

advance research, training, and improved clinical care; 

Whereas NIDCR sponsored a variety of scientific conferences, including Face of a Child, the first national, 

multidisciplinary meeting on children and oral health, 

and a consensus development conference, Dental Implants—Benefit and Risk, to examine available data, suggest future research, and draft guidelines for implant 

therapy; 

Whereas NIDCR has made strategic investments in all areas 

of dental, oral, and craniofacial research, which has led 

to many scientific advances, including development of 

novel nanocomposites and self-healing dental restorative 

materials, the Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Tissue Regenerative Consortium, which was launched to develop 

methods for regenerating functional tissues of the human 

dental, oral, and craniofacial complex, and a NIDCRsponsored symposium focusing on the Science and Development of Autotherapies; 

Whereas, in 1999, NIDCR introduced its Strategic Plan to 

Reduce Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities, supporting 

research to end oral health disparities and increase research and clinical workforce diversity, then funded 5 

Centers for Research to Reduce Oral Health Disparities, 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
6 

•SRES 605 ATS 

which were among the first NIH centers focused on reducing health disparities; 

Whereas, in collaboration with the Office of the Surgeon General, NIDCR supported the 2000 Oral Health In America: A Report of the Surgeon General, the first Surgeon 

General report dedicated solely to oral health, and, in 

2021, released the Oral Health in America: Advances and 

Challenges report, examining progress on the oral health 

of the United States and serving as a national call to action; 

Whereas NIDCR released the NIDCR Strategic Plan: 2021– 

2026, which— 

(1) articulates the vision of the NIH and identifies 

investments designed to diminish disparities and yield the 

greatest impact for those with dental and oral diseases; 

(2) expanded collaborations and partnerships to accelerate new discoveries, including examining the nerves 

in the jaw and temporomandibular joint as part of the 

Restoring Joint Health and Function to Reduce Pain 

Consortium; 

(3) launched the Practice-based Research Integrating Multidisciplinary Experiences in Dental Schools, 

to expand research training into dental school clinics 

equipping future oral health practitioners with the knowledge to carry out research; and 

(4) released the Advancement of Head and Neck 

Cancer Early Detection Research initiative to develop 

biomarkers and novel technologies for early detection of 

malignant cells in order to halt oral cancer progression; 

and 

Whereas NIDCR looks to the future of biomedical science by 

continuing to support, discover, and develop cutting-edge 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
7 

•SRES 605 ATS 

approaches to improve the dental, oral, craniofacial, and 

overall health of all people of the United States: Now, 

therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) celebrates the 75th anniversary of the 

3 founding of the National Institute of Dental and 

4 Craniofacial Research (referred to in this resolution 

5 as ‘‘NIDCR’’) and the critical role of NIDCR in ad6 vancing biomedical and behavioral research and the 

7 mission of the National Institutes of Health, the 

8 premier biomedical research agency in the world; 

9 (2) commends NIDCR for its work to address 

10 the COVID–19 pandemic by investigating the trans11 missibility of SARS–CoV–2 in dental settings, study12 ing oral viral entry and infection, methods to pre13 vent transmission, replication, and shedding, and 

14 supporting the development of the most promising 

15 treatments and vaccines; and 

16 (3) declares that NIDCR is a vital, venerable, 

17 and essential component of the National Institutes 

18 of Health and the overall public health and science 

19 strategy of the United States. 

Æ 


ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS