Thegoalofthiscompetitiverenewalapplicationistoprovideavarietyofcomplementarytrainingopportunities indentalandcraniofacialresearchattheUniversityofIowa(UI)andtodevelopacohortofbasicresearchers anddentalscholarswhoseinvestigativeskillswillmeetthechallengesoforalhealthresearchforthe21st century.
The aims aretopreparetraineesformeaningfulcareersinoralhealthresearchandacademicsby providingoutstandinginterdisciplinarydidactictrainingandrigorousresearchmentoringexperiences emphasizingongoingreviewandcritique.Theproposedprogramcontinuation,buildingon30+yearsof researchtrainingsuccess,hasafocusondentalgraduates,butrecognizesthatbasicscientistsalsoplay importantrolesinoralhealthresearch;?thus,itwillalsooffertrainingopportunitiesfornon-dentists.TheR90 componentreflectstheincreasinglyimportantrolethatinternationaldentistshave,andwillcontinuetohave,in ouroralhealthresearchprograms.Thefivemajorresearchareasinwhichtrainingisoffered,1) Bioengineering,TissueEngineering,StemCells,Biomaterials,andMaterialsResearch2)Immunology, Inflammation,Microbiology,Caries,andMicrobiomeResearch3)Craniofacial,OralBiology,Genetics,and DentalDevelopmentResearch4)PublicHealth,EpidemiologyandBehavioralSciences,and5)OralHealth PolicyResearch,reflectthestrengthsoftheCollegeofDentistry,thehealthsciencecolleges,UIinstitutesand centersandrangeacrossthefulltranslationalspectrum.Specifically,weoffertrainingfordentistsandnon- dentiststopursueaPhDinOralSciences(orinoneofthesixotherPhDprogramsfromwhichwewillrecruit, asappropriate),ortopursuepost-doctoraltraining.Inaddition,therewillbeanopportunitytoobtaina CertificateinTranslationalandClinicalInvestigationundertheauspicesoftheUIInstituteforClinicaland TranslationalSciences(ourCTSA-fundedinstitute).Agroupof28experiencedandtalentedprogramfaculty fromavarietyofdisciplinesisavailabletomentortrainees.Trainingwillbesupervisedbyanexperienced DirectorandAssociateDirector,assistedbyaFacultyLeadershipteam.Theprogramwillhaveinternaland externaladvisorycommittees,anewly-establishedGrant-writingCommittee,anewly-establishedFaculty MentoringProgram,andaCommitteeonRecruitmentandDiversity.Insummary,theprogrambringstogether productive,well-fundedmentorswithpre-andpost-doctoraltraineesinanenvironmentwithastrong institutionalcommitmenttodevelopoutstandinginterdisciplinaryresearchtraining,astronginstitutionalrecord oftraininginrelevantdisciplines,andexcellenteducationalandresearchfacilities.Theoutcomewillcontinue tobethedevelopmentofacadreoforalhealthresearchersequippedtofunctionatthecuttingedgeoftheir disciplines.
The proposed continuation of our training program is designed to provide training opportunities at the PhD and post-doctoral levels for both dentist and non-dentist scientists, including training in translational and clinical research. This program is designed to allow trainees to develop the complex skills necessary to undertake independent and collaborative research, and thus to become dental scholars capable of meeting future opportunities and challenges in dental education and oral health research nationwide.
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