Comprehensive Training Program in Oral Biology

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In response to PAR-20-056 from the NIDCR to develop and enhance the Dental, Oral and Craniofacial Research Workforce, a T90/R90 Comprehensive Training Program in Oral Biology is proposed. The proposal builds on 29 years of experience with highly productive T32 and T90/R90 Training Programs at the University of Florida College of Dentistry (UFCD) and will provide extensive breadth and depth in training to basic and clinician scientists in multiple areas that are designated as high priority by the NIDCR. The scientific areas encompassed in this Comprehensive Training Program in Oral Biology include, but are not limited to, the Human Microbiome, Oral Infectious Diseases, Mechanistic Connections between Oral and Systemic Health, Virology, Salivary Gland Biology, Autoimmunity, Bone Biology, Head and Neck Cancers, Computational Biology, Biomedical Engineering, and Stem Cell Biology. To accomplish our goals, a team of accomplished basic and clinical researchers has been assembled to provide an extensive set of training experiences in the biomedical sciences that are directly relevant to oral health and diseases. Well-established interdisciplinary research training programs in the UFCD and the UF College of Medicine will be utilized, with particular emphasis on the Interdisciplinary PhD Program in Biomedical Sciences and the UF Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI). Trainees will include i) 3 traditional PhD students conducting oral health-related research, ii) 4 dual-degree candidates in our DMD-PhD program, iii) 2 post-doctoral scientists (T90; PhD, DMD/DDS-PhD, DMD/DDS), and iv) 1 non-citizen, non-permanent resident DMD-PhD holders seeking advanced post-doctoral training (R90) to prepare them for careers in academic dentistry. In most cases, PhD and postdoctoral trainees will receive an initial commitment for appointments of three or two years, respectively, whereas dual-degree students will be supported for the duration of their training. Additional formal training in Clinical Investigation, Implementation Science or Biomedical Informatics will be available to individuals supported by the program. The use of combinations of our extensive educational, scientific, and clinical resources has allowed us to develop highly integrated yet sufficiently flexible training options to meet the needs of a very diverse group of trainees. Collectively, these programs will produce highly skilled and interactive scientists who can engage in team science to generate new knowledge and translate discoveries to tangible advances in the detection, prevention, treatment and cures of diseases and abnormalities of the oral and craniofacial complex.