FDA Awards $1.5 Million Grant to ADA Science and Research Institute

CHICAGO, August 28, 2020 — The American Dental Association (ADA) announced today that the U.S. Food & Drug Administration has awarded a three-year, $1.5 million grant to the ADA Science & Research Institute, LLC (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, D.D.S., M.S., Ph.D., chief executive officer, ADA Science & Research Institute. “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.”

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, D.D.S., M.Sc., Ph.D., senior director of ADASRI Evidence Synthesis & Translation Research, and Deborah Polk, Ph.D., assistant professor of dental public health in the School of Dental Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh, 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,” said 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 ADASRI’s Evidence Synthesis & Translation Research team since the official launch of ADASRI in January 2020. This award adds to the growing list of ADASRI grant awards for 2020, which also includes three National Institutes of Health (NIH) grants awarded to the ADASRI Innovation & Technology Research team.

For more information on how the ADA is working to combat opioid abuse, while continuing to help patients manage dental pain, visit ADA.org/opioids. For more information on ADASRI, visit ADA.org/SRI. 

Editor’s Note: Reporters are invited to follow the ADA on Twitter @AmerDentalAssn