The Dental Academic Research Training DART) Program at the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Dentistry (UAB SOD) is a comprehensive research-training program focused on the development of an innovative, integrated, multi-disciplinary approach to produce a cadre of well-trained, skilled, collaborative scientists and clinician scientists that are capable to address the critical dental, oral and craniofacial research issues of our nation. This submission although considered a new application, transitions our existing NIDCR T-32 training program Dental Academic Research Training (DART) (T-32 DE017607-05) to the new T90/R90 mechanism (PAR-10-170) under the same title allowing training of foreign dentists. This program is a culmination of our prior successful NIDCR T32 Research Training programs (Post- doctoral Training in Oral Health T32-DE14300 & Post-Doctoral Training in Caries Research T32-DE007026) and a Short-Term Research Training for Health Professional Students grant (T35DK07545) funded for over thirty five years. The experience gained through these training programs has lead to an innovative program designed to enhance the interest and knowledge of dentists, graduate students, dual degree (DMD/PhD) students, and postdoctoral fellows in basic and clinical research providing a pathway to productive, independent dental academic careers. Integrative core activities include the SOD's Scholars Day, Graduate School Research Day, DART Seminar Program, SOD Deans' and IOHR Seminar Series, the Dental Academic Career Club, an Dental and Skeletal Journal Club, Mentorship, Scientific and Grant Writing courses, a Laboratory Management course, Presentation Workshop and Leadership Training as well as instruction in responsible conduct of research. The DART Program offers four complementary training tracks: Track I- DMD/Ph.D; Track II- Pre-doctoral Ph.D.; Track III- Pre-doctoral Ph.D. for foreign trained dentists; and Track IV- Post-doctoral training with two emphasis lines 1) a traditional post-doctoral experience and 2) a Master's of Science degree in Public Health in Clinical Research program. The primary objective of the DART is to provide a broadened interdisciplinary research experience for exceptionally motivated trainees in a research-intensive collaborative academic university environment. The UAB SOD is uniquely position to provide research training for the next generation since we are the only dental school that has obtained NIDCR U-24 Research Infrastructure (DE016449), U-01 Practice-based Research Network (DE016747), R-25 Research Curriculum (DE015614) and P30 Oral Health Research Enhancement via Faculty Recruitment (P30DE20744) grants.

Public Health Relevance

Our nation is faced with a shortage of highly qualified, well-trained clinician scientists and scientists to address the growing needs of our population's related to dental, oral and craniofacial health. The Dental Academic Research Training (DART) Program is a comprehensive research-training program focused on the development of an innovative, integrated, multi-disciplinary approach to produce a cadre of well-trained, skilled, collaborative scientists and clinician scientists that are capable to address critical dental, oral and craniofacial research issues of our nation. The program is housed in the School of Dentistry at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, which sits within a vital major health science center.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Dental & Craniofacial Research (NIDCR)
Type
Interdisciplinary Research Training Award (T90)
Project #
3T90DE022736-05S1
Application #
9404673
Study Section
Program Officer
King, Lynn M
Project Start
2016-07-01
Project End
2017-06-30
Budget Start
2016-07-01
Budget End
2017-06-30
Support Year
5
Fiscal Year
2017
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Alabama Birmingham
Department
Dentistry
Type
Schools of Dentistry/Oral Hygn
DUNS #
063690705
City
Birmingham
State
AL
Country
United States
Zip Code
35294
Bae, Ji-Myung; Clarke, John C; Rashid, Harunur et al. (2018) Specificity Protein 7 Is Required for Proliferation and Differentiation of Ameloblasts and Odontoblasts. J Bone Miner Res 33:1126-1140
Momeni, Stephanie S; Whiddon, Jennifer; Moser, Stephen A et al. (2018) Transmission patterns of Streptococcus mutans demonstrated by a combined rep-PCR and MLST approach. Clin Oral Investig 22:2847-2858
Greene, Stephen L; Kau, Chung How; Sittitavornwong, Somsak et al. (2018) Surgical Management and Evaluation of the Craniofacial Growth and Morphology in Cleidocranial Dysplasia. J Craniofac Surg 29:959-965
Mieher, Joshua L; Larson, Matthew R; Schormann, Norbert et al. (2018) Glucan Binding Protein C of Streptococcus mutans Mediates both Sucrose-Independent and Sucrose-Dependent Adherence. Infect Immun 86:
Su, Lingkai; Xu, Qingan; Zhang, Ping et al. (2017) Phenotype and Function of Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells Induced by Porphyromonas gingivalis Infection. Infect Immun 85:
McCoy, Chelsea R; Jackson, Nateka L; Day, Jeremy et al. (2017) Genetic predisposition to high anxiety- and depression-like behavior coincides with diminished DNA methylation in the adult rat amygdala. Behav Brain Res 320:165-178
Chavez, R D; Coricor, G; Perez, J et al. (2017) SOX9 protein is stabilized by TGF-? and regulates PAPSS2 mRNA expression in chondrocytes. Osteoarthritis Cartilage 25:332-340
Rashid, Harunur; Chen, Haiyan; Hassan, Quamarul et al. (2017) Dwarfism in homozygous Agc1CreERT mice is associated with decreased expression of aggrecan. Genesis 55:
Garcia, S S; Blackledge, M S; Michalek, S et al. (2017) Targeting of Streptococcus mutans Biofilms by a Novel Small Molecule Prevents Dental Caries and Preserves the Oral Microbiome. J Dent Res 96:807-814
Childers, Noel K; Momeni, Stephanie S; Whiddon, Jennifer et al. (2017) Association Between Early Childhood Caries and Colonization withStreptococcus mutansGenotypes From Mothers. Pediatr Dent 39:130-135

Showing the most recent 10 out of 32 publications