IADR Regional Development Program

Each year, the IADR RDP Committee requests proposals for grants to initiate research and development or otherwise strengthen the oral health research infrastructure in developing regions:

• Consideration will be given to supporting ongoing initiatives that have demonstrated an ability to promote research development.
• Each Division/Section can be the recipient of only one grant per year.
• Current Regional Board Members are available to assist with Regional Development proposals, but may not receive any financial support from funds granted.
• Funds cannot be used for honoraria or for consultancy fees to IADR members.

The purpose of the Intent to Apply is to identify projects, submitted in collaboration with IADR Divisions/Sections/Regions that will qualify for funding support.

Where appropriate, coalitions of Divisions/Sections/Regions are encouraged to join together to submit proposals and implement programs.

Wherever possible, the use of matching funds to enhance the effort is encouraged.

The highest priority will be placed on those proposals targeting support for:

• Researchers in low and middle income (LMIC) countries with the highest priority to researchers in low-to lower-middle-income countries.
• Projects that will initiate Research and Development and will be sustainable beyond the funds requested.
• Research capacity building and/or mentoring of developing scientists, e.g., travel for established scientists to work on site with students/developing researchers for various periods of time.
• Projects that support the global oral health strategy and action plan (WHO, 2024).

Special emphasis will be given to proposals that score highly on the extent to which the proposed project will:

• develop research capacity of local researchers
• develop sustainability of local researchers
• have an impact on regional oral health
• contribute to global strategy and action plan for oral health?
• involve collaboration with expert partners
• involve current IADR members at the local level
• have potential for recruitment and promotion of new members at the local level
• have a strategy to report results at any IADR meeting
• have matching funds committed by coalition partners
• include capacity building and/or mentoring developing scientists, e.g. travel for established scientists to work on site with students/developing researchers for various periods of time?

Application Process

Step 1: Online Application - Intent to Apply

Step 2: Committee Review of initial application

Step 3: Committee recommends applicants selected to receive a ‘Request for Supplemental Materials’

Step 4: Committee review of Applications submitted with Supplemental Materials

The RDP is competitive and IADR cannot fund all of the applications. The total budget for the RDP is US$60,000 per year and from this IADR usually funds 3-4 projects. Please note for submitting the proposed budget for your project. The total budget may not be distributed if the quality of submitted projects does not reach the required standard. No one grant will receive this total amount, nor will the total amount be distributed if the quality of submitted projects is substandard.

There is a two-stage application process – Intent to Apply and Invited Request for Supplemental Materials.

The online application includes the following information in a step by step process:

Contact information.

Collaborating Division/Section officer name/email.

What would you need for this project in addition to financial support?

What resources do you already have to assist with your proposal?

What do you believe are the most important oral health issues? 

Does this proposal support research in a low to middle-income country? 

Special emphasis will be given to proposals that score highly on the extent to which the proposed project will do the following. Does your project - 

develop research capacity of local researchers?

develop sustainability of local researchers?

have an impact on regional oral health?

contribute to global strategy and action plan for oral health?

involve collaboration with expert partners?

involve current IADR members at the local level?

have potential for recruitment and promotion of new members at the local level?

have a strategy to report results at any IADR meeting?

have matching funds committed by coalition partners?

include capacity building and/or mentoring developing scientists, e.g. travel for established scientists to work on site with students/developing researchers for various periods of time?

Provide a brief outline of your proposal. The following information should not exceed two pages and must include: 

Background – Provide context and relevant information about the project. This might include historical information, relevant theories, or an overview of the problem or situation. 

Purpose - Clearly state the objectives or goals of the project. What are you trying to achieve?

Strategy - Describe how the project will be conducted. This should outline the steps, methods, or approaches that will be used to reach the stated objectives.

Outcomes – Specify the expected results/benefits of the project. How will your objectives be measured?

Based on the review of the Intent to Apply, the Committee may request the following supplemental materials to be uploaded online. Instructions will be given in the invitation.

Program Description: Include a full description of the proposed program/project/infrastructure development, methodology, timeline, and how the targeted area would be affected. (2 pages maximum) 

Complete checklist of how it meets the review criteria (2 pages maximum)

Evaluation: Include a full description of the proposed plan to evaluate the effectiveness of the program, as well as measurable outcomes. (1 page maximum) (Document Upload)

Budget Form (downloadable form to complete)

Letter of Support: A signed letter of support is required from a Division/Section/Region officer. Additional letters from collaborating institutions, Divisions, or Sections can be uploaded. (1 letter minimum)

Deadline for supplemental material: February 1, 2026 - by Invitation of the RDP Committee only. 

The Regional Development Committee reviews the final proposals and makes a recommendation for final approval by the IADR Board of Directors.

Review Criteria

Does the proposal have clearly defined and achievable goals?

Would the proposal deliver measurable and operative research or research development outcomes?

Would the proposed activity assist the development of research in the Region?

Would the proposed activity develop the capacity of local researchers in the Region?

Would the proposed activity assist sustainability of local researchers in the Region?

Does the proposed activity have potential to impact on regional oral health?

Is the proposed activity in line with the global strategy for oral health and action plan?

Does the proposed activity include collaboration with expert partners?

Does the application adequately address Evaluation and Outcomes, including the requirement to submit a final report to Global Headquarters? 

Does the application address a strategy for reporting results to any IADR meeting?

Does the proposed activity have potential for the recruitment of new IADR members at the local level?

Is the timeline realistic for successful implementation of the activity suggested?

Are the resources to be used clearly identified and appropriate?

Is the budget realistic and justified?

Applicants are notified with a decision in May 2026.

Funding instructions are given in the formal notification letter to recipients.

2025
Australia/New Zealand Division
Mexican and Colombian Divisions

2024
Australia/New Zealand Division
South African Division

2023
Chilean Division
Egyptian Division

2022
No proposals funded.

2021
Australia & New Zealand Division
Chilean Division
Tunisian Section

2020
Colombian Division
Chilean Division
Mexican and Chilean Divisions

2019 
Australia & New Zealand Division
Argentinian and Peruvian Divisions
Southeast Asian Division

2018
Nigerian and East & Southern Africa Divisions
Brazilian Division

2017
Indian Division
Chilean Division
Latin American Region

2016
Latin American Region
Indian Division

2015
Israeli Division
Latin American Region
Southeast Asian Division

2014
Africa Middle East Region
Mexican Division
Latin American Region, Divisions and Sections

2013
Australia/New Zealand Division
Continental European Division

2012
Australia/New Zealand Division
Southeast Asian Division

2011
Israeli Division
Peruvian Division
Mongolian Section

2010
Southeast Asian Division
East & Southern Africa Division
Australia/New Zealand/Chilean Divisions
Syrian Section

2009
Southeast Asian Division
Continental European Division
Peruvian Division/Latin American Federation

2008
Continental European Division
Uruguayan Section
Sudanese Section

2007
Canadian Association for Dental Research
Australian & New Zealand Division
Peruvian Section

2006
Continental European Division
Venezuelan Division
Latin American Federation
East and Southern African Division
Australian & New Zealand Division
Colombian Section
Southeast Asian Division

2005
Kuwaiti Division
Latin American Federation
Nigerian Section
Peruvian Section
South African Division
Australian/ New Zealand Division
Chinese Division
East & Southern Africa Division

2004
Continental European
South African
Southeast Asian
Nigerian

2003
Continental European
Southeast Asian
Chinese
South African

2002
Chinese
East & Southern Africa
Southeast Asian

2001
Brazilian
Southeast Asian
Irish
South African
Argentine

2000
Irish
Brazilian
South African
Southeast Asian
CED/NOF

1996
Poland & Hungary

1995
Indonesia

1992
Sri Lanka