Southern Dental Schools Create a Collaborative Research Network

East Carolina University School of Dental Medicine and the University of Florida College of Dentistry have received a $3,692,175 grant from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) to establish a collaborative research network. Over 5 years, the institutions will create an academic multidisciplinary practice-based research network within and between their dental schools. The initiative, known as Development of Opportunities for Research, will focus on developing and testing an integrated program that includes training in clinical research skills, team-based science, mentoring, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Two clinical research studies will be conducted: one on diabetes detection and the other on acute/chronic pain. Professors and department chairs from both schools will also collaborate on the NIDCR’s Practice-Based Research Integrating Multidisciplinary Experiences in Dental Schools (PRIMED) initiative. PRIMED aims to prepare current and future dentists to engage in practice-based clinical research. Click here to read more.