The University of the Pacific Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry is collaborating with Stanford University on an ambitious program aimed at bridging the gap between biomedical research and clinical practice.
A $3.8 million grant was recently awarded by the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research of the National Institutes of Health to fund the Pacific-Stanford PRIMED Program.
New knowledge on oral disease prevention and clinical care is constantly emerging, but much of it does not make it into clinical practices. The five-year grant will allow Pacific to train the next generation of clinical oral health researchers who are equipped to translate research into practice.
There is also a growing need for more clinician-scientists in the workforce.
The program will transform dental education at the Dugoni School by making clinical research training mandatory for all first-year students and residents.
“Our students will be in a different league compared to dental graduates around the country,” said Rebecca Moazzez, professor and chair of the Dept. of Preventive and Restorative Dentistry and director of the Center for Innovation and Translation at Pacific. “Not only will they have their excellent dental training, but they will now also receive excellent clinical research training, together with a certificate from Stanford University, which will equip them for practice-based research here at the dental school, and in the future, in their private practices.”
Research studies conducted as part of the training will focus on three areas: oral cancer, sleep medicine and developing a Pacific-Stanford biobank.
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