[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 605 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

<DOC>






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 National 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;
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;
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 Practice-Based 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 cutting-edge 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 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 NIDCR-sponsored 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, 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 approaches to improve the 
        dental, oral, craniofacial, and overall health of all people of the 
        United States: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) celebrates the 75th anniversary of the founding of the 
        National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research 
        (referred to in this resolution as ``NIDCR'') and the critical 
        role of NIDCR in advancing biomedical and behavioral research 
        and the mission of the National Institutes of Health, the 
        premier biomedical research agency in the world;
            (2) commends NIDCR for its work to address the COVID-19 
        pandemic by investigating the transmissibility of SARS-CoV-2 in 
        dental settings, studying oral viral entry and infection, 
        methods to prevent transmission, replication, and shedding, and 
        supporting the development of the most promising treatments and 
        vaccines; and
            (3) declares that NIDCR is a vital, venerable, and 
        essential component of the National Institutes of Health and 
        the overall public health and science strategy of the United 
        States.
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