Comprehensive Training in Inter-Disciplinary Oral Health Research

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

Abstract Making advances in oral health depends on training highly skilled scientists capable of conducting rigorous dental, oral and craniofacial research, and on preparing them to work in multi- and interdisciplinary teams to translate research findings into applications that improve the health of the public. The proposed training program at the University of Washington (UW) is a competing renewal of an existing T90/R90 training grant titled Comprehensive Training in Interdisciplinary Oral Health Research. By leveraging the breadth and strength of academic research programs available at the UW, we have successfully created and refined a comprehensive training program that offers a broad spectrum of interdisciplinary oral health research areas, including public health, behavioral, and clinical, as well as basic and translational sciences. Our previous NIDCR-funded training programs have been highly effective, with 85% of our former predoctoral and/or postdoctoral trainees from the prior 15 years going on to work in research-intensive or research-related positions. Research areas included are public health, behavioral, and clinical, as well as basic and translational sciences. The Department of Oral Health Sciences (OHS) in the School of Dentistry serves as the focal point for the program, providing core content for all trainees. Other participating departments include Biostatistics, Epidemiology, and Health Systems & Population Health in the School of Public Health. Areas of focus are in basic and translational sciences include molecular and genetic approaches to health and disease; craniofacial structure, function and development; and stem cell biology/tissue regeneration/engineering. Our objectives are to: 1) provide rigorous, discipline-based training in basic/translational or public health/behavioral/clinical oral health research (achieved through departmental graduate programs and mentored research); and, 2) provide experiences that develop trainees' skills for participating as strong contributing members of multi- and interdisciplinary research teams (achieved through core seminars and research presentations, as well as individualized career development opportunities, based on the trainee's Individual Development Plan). Pre- doctoral training (2 PhD positions) is offered through PhD programs in all four participating departments. The DDS/PhD program (3 positions) is offered through the Oral Health Sciences Graduate Program. Postdoctoral training (4 positions) is available to candidates with an eligible doctoral degree to work on oral health research topics, and this includes dentists seeking additional research training and experience. Included is 1 post- doctoral position designated for a non-citizen dentist interested in advanced research training to prepare for a research career, particularly in a US school of dentistry. The expected duration of appointments is 5 years for pre-doctoral and 2 or 3 years for postdoctoral trainees. We evaluate the program based not only on process measures (e.g., progress toward degree, near-term goals), but also on long-term outcomes, including positions taken by trainees, their authorship on scientific publications, and record of grants as PI or key personnel.