Oral Health

Scientists use art like comics to share dental findings amid ‘intersectoral’ push to improve Quebecers’ health


A screenshot of a section of a comic from the research network.

From probing a societal problem to sharing new scientific findings, a Quebec institute is another proof that the future of research is multidisciplinary and collaborative, especially amid a provincial government push for across-sectors work.

Not only that, but the Quebec-based Intersectoral Network for Oral and Bone Sustainable Health Research (Réseau de recherche intersectorielle en santé buccodentaire et osseuse durable, RiSBOd) is creatively bridging the gap between scientists, decision makers and overall society. One standout example is their Art and Science Committee, which uses comics to translate complex research into accessible and digestible formats. “One of our comics was even published in Quebec’s Journal of Dental Hygienists,” says Dr. Christophe Bedos, RiSBOd co-director and Professor with the Faculty of Dental Medicine and Oral Health Sciences of McGill University.

“Scientists must share their findings in ways the public, including clinicians, can understand,” Bedos. “We use various mediums—podcasts, videos, even poetry—to communicate research outcomes more effectively.”

“Transforming society means research that involves people beyond researchers.”

Another sample of their comics.

The network doubled its funding

To date, the 30-year-old institute has doubled its 2024 funding from the Government of Quebec, securing $900,000. Like other provinces in Canada, Quebec’s academic research is primarily—but not exclusively—supported by publicly funded agencies.

“The government is interested in seeing improved health outcomes, including dental health, which necessitates research,” says Dr. Florina Moldovan, RiSBOd co-director and a professor at the Faculty of Dental Medicine at the University of Montreal. “Our goal is to bring together people from various networks to foster this intersectoral collaboration,” she adds.

“We want to make a real impact and transform society,” added Bedos, explaining that the goal is to deepen RiSBOd’s impact on oral health by addressing various health determinants, including diet, healthcare accessibility, climate change, and emerging technology.

“Transforming society means research that involves people beyond researchers. We need to integrate decision-makers and citizens into our projects,” he explained.

The network was asked to reinvent itself

In the 1990s, the network was one of the first established in Quebec. Since then, many others have been created. This year, however, RiSBOd is one of 15 research networks, all funded by the Quebec government, collaborating across fields to address pressing public health challenges—a reduction from more than 20 networks in total.

In 2020, the Quebec government asked all networks to reinvent themselves and reimagine their governance systems, programs, and strategic priorities. The co-directors described this process as “challenging,” but noted that it forced the network to better address major societal issues. “Some networks, unfortunately, did not succeed in this transformative process,” Bedos said.

This is why, following the change, the network moved away from its previous name, RSBO, which stood for Réseau de recherche en santé buccodentaire et osseuse, or Network for Oral and Bone Health Research in English.

While RiSBOd consists of over 100 researchers and approximately 300 students, mainly from three major Quebec universities, these different researchers also belong to different networks to further diffuse knowledge exchange.

The two co-directors: Dr. Florina Moldovan and Dr. Christophe Bedos.

Different fields of research

Moldovan and Bedos too have different research focus.

Moldovan, who is also director of the molecular biology laboratory (LBMO) at the CHU Sainte Justine research center, her research is focused on bone diseases (osteoarthritis. Scoliosis, osteosarcomas and rare diseases with oral manifestations) for which she develops new therapeutic strategies.

Her lab, for instance, has established a tissue bank to collect data on rare diseases with oral symptoms, an intersectoral initiative that will help address gaps in diagnosis and care.

Bedos on the other hand, his research is focused on access to care for the underprivileged and the development of person-centred and social dentistry.

In October, announced a McGill project that he is leading, where the university is calculating the carbon footprint of its entire operation, including several clinics that serve the public. The goal is to become one of the first fully sustainable dental faculties in the world.

To further explain intersectoral collaboration, Bedos noted there has been a “natural alliance” between the RiSBOd and other networks, including those focused on autism.

“For example, if we develop initiatives to support people with autism spectrum disorder, it’s crucial to consult patients and their family who have firsthand knowledge,” he said. “Dealing with this condition brings challenges in every aspect of life and across all areas of society. Exclusion and significant hurdles are common, and dentistry is no exception.”

With an estimate of about 1 in 100 children worldwide are affected by autism spectrum disorder (ASD), research has shown that it is common in patients with autism spectrum disorder to experience a negative impact when it comes to overall oral hygiene quality.

“How can we mobilize knowledge and translate it into action? Once we have useful information, how do we ensure that it leads to transformation or change?”

Changing healthcare realities

RiSBOd’s doubled funding comes amid changing health care realities.

So far Quebec is considering health system changes, including revising the Guichet d’accès à la première ligne (GAP), which helps residents without family doctors find appointments. A report by the Institut national d’excellence en santé et en services sociaux (INESSS) found that around 500,000 Quebecers in poor health lack a family doctor and recommended redirecting up to 1.5 million yearly appointments from those with doctors to those without.

Additionally, with the Canadian population growing older, Moldovan described that there are concerns surrounding geriatrics. “Another problem is now they are thinking about how to manage the rare diseases,” she explained, hence her tissue bank initiative to identify rare diseases.

Figures from Statistics Canada show that life expectancy in Quebec rose by 0.3 years to 82.5 but remains below the 2019 level of 82.8 years. With degenerative aging processes playing a significant role in the underlying causes of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including rare diseases, amid rising global life expectancy, research is more crucial than ever.

“It’s very natural for dental research to focus on both bone and teeth because they are both calcified tissues.”

Time to change research status quo

Historically, researchers’ contributions were measured by academic output rather than societal impact.

“We were not evaluated by the way we would change society, and now it must change. We need to evaluate the way we can have impact on society,” said Bedos.

Bedos is also planning a summer school to help graduate students and teachers engage in intersectoral research and knowledge mobilization, and teach them soft skills such as how to talk to journalists or manage a YouTube channel

“How can we mobilize knowledge and translate it into action? Once we have useful information, how do we ensure that it leads to transformation or change?” he said.

“I am regularly contacted by journalists about my research—how do I share that information effectively? With my colleagues, we debated whether to invite people from across Canada, but that decision is still pending. I believe all researchers, especially young ones, should undergo this learning process.

“We’re trained to be experts in narrow fields, often unaware of how our work fits into the broader picture. It’s essential for younger generations to understand this because they will face the challenges of tomorrow.”

With similar sentiments, Moldovan urged students in dentistry and bone diseases to connect to accelerate intersectoral collaboration.

“It’s very natural for dental research to focus on both bone and teeth because they are both calcified tissues. We want to maintain the focus on both bone and dental health, as this connection is inherent,” she said. “Additionally, the pain research group is closely related to dental research, as pain is a key aspect in both fields.”





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