FDA awards $1.5M grant to ADA Science & Research Institute

The ADA announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has awarded a three-year, $1.5 million grant to the ADA Science & Research Institute (ADASRI) in collaboration with the University of Pittsburgh to develop a clinical practice guideline for the management of acute pain in dentistry, with a focus on the role of opioids.

"The ADA has long been committed to providing the best possible information about managing acute pain for patients, including focusing on further defining the role of opioids in dentistry," said Marcelo Araujo, DDS, PhD, chief executive officer of the ADA Science & Research Institute, in a statement. "This project will improve clinician and patient access to the evidence and recommendations for all dental specialties, and will serve key stakeholder groups throughout guideline development."

The ADASRI will work with the University of Pittsburgh to develop, disseminate, implement, and evaluate a national clinical practice guideline for the management of acute pain in dentistry. Alonso Carrasco-Labra, DDS, PhD, senior director of ADASRI Evidence Synthesis & Translation Research, and Deborah Polk, PhD, assistant professor of dental public health at the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine, will serve as the project's co-principal investigators.

"As a part of the recently founded ADA Science & Research Institute, I believe that this project reflects the strong commitment of ADASRI to conduct research on topics of great importance for the public and the dental profession," offered Dr. Carrasco-Labra. "This award aligns with ADA's strong commitment toward optimal, evidence-based management of acute pain in dentistry, including the use of opioids."

This is the first grant awarded to the ADASRI's Evidence Synthesis & Translation Research team since the official launch of the ADASRI in January 2020, according to the ADA. This award adds to the growing list of ADASRI grant awards for 2020, which also includes three U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) grants given to the ADASRI Innovation & Technology Research group.