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RESEARCH
Overview
Excellent research is an additional hallmark of UCSF.
The UCSF campus as a whole receives more National
Institutes for Health (NIH) research funding than
any other health sciences campus in the world. Additionally,
our dental school is also ranked first amongst all
US dental schools for NIH research funding. These
resources provide our students an optimal and rewarding
environment in which to pursue independent cutting-edge
projects in various areas of importance to orthodontics.
The students can choose to pursue either a Master
of Science or PhD in Oral Biology, which require an
original research project and thesis. The project
is developed in consultation with a research mentor,
and should be significant and feasible in the time
frame of the program. Although residents are encouraged
to work with faculty within the Department, diverse
research opportunities exist across the School. Students
are required to complete their thesis prior to graduation.
The following is a partial list of areas of research
emphasis that residents can use to select their projects
from.
Treatment Outcomes
· Clinical decision-making in orthodontic treatment
· Treatment outcomes of combined orthodontic
treatment and orthognathic surgery
· Effects of orthodontic or orthopedic treatment
on adaptation of neuromuscular and skeletal components
Biology of Bone and Tooth Movement
· Cellular and molecular mechanisms in skeletal
growth, remodeling and wound healing
· Biochemical basis of orthodontic tooth movement
· Systemic and local biologic and physical
factors associated with orthodontic root resorption
Temporomandibular Disorders
· Clinical studies on etiopathogenic factors
in temporomandibular joint dysfunction
· Molecular and cellular basis of temporomandibular
joint disorders
· Association between 3-dimensional TMJ morphology
and asymmetric mandibular growth
Developmental Biology and Craniofacial Anomalies
· Assessing abnormal dental and skeletal development
in patients with craniofacial anomalies
· Extracellular factors in early migration
of undifferentiated cells in the mouse embryo
· Cellular and molecular mechanisms of craniofacial
anomalies and normal craniofacial development
· Systematic evaluation of craniofacial structures
that contribute to growth disturbances in specific
craniofacial anomalies
Biomaterials and Bioengineering
· Biomechanical properties of orthodontic appliances
and materials
· Determining the applicability of lasers in
inhibiting demineralization during orthodontic treatment
· Bioengineering a mature TMJ disc
Applications of 3-dimensional imaging in orthodontic
diagnosis and treatment planning
· Validation of 3-D imaging capture technology
· Implementation of 3-D concepts in orthodontic diagnosis
· Development of software tools for orthognathic surgical simulation
PhD training for post-DDS or post-baccalaureate students
Four options for PhD training are
available for this program: Oral Biology, Epidemiology,
Bioengineering, and Bioinformatics. These tracks are
described briefly in the linked pages below. Traditionally
most PhD students have followed the training track
in Oral Biology, but students are free to take courses
in the other tracks, and may choose the other tracks
from the outset, or change their track choice if they
so desire (subject to the approval of the appropriate
Program Directors).
Bioinformatics
Bioengineering
Epidemiology
Oral Biology
As a result of the phase-out of the Institutional
Dentist Scientist Award, the MCSDA will be the main
path for dentists interested in combining advanced
specialty training with a PhD program in craniofacial
and oral health research. Our institutional DSA program
provided a 7 year plan in which the first two years
of Oral Biology study were supported through the PhD
program followed by 5 years of integrated specialty
training and completion of the PhD training supported
by the DSA. The new MCSDA program will be similar
in structure. Those individuals receiving MCSDA support
will not be eligible for GME funding through the Orthodontic
division.
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