nnn News & Notes
Update: National Dental Practice Based Research Network To date, the Northeast region, run by EIOH and one of the six administrative nodes of the National Dental Practice-Based Research Network, has recruited 824 of the 4,630 members nationwide. Funded by a $67 million NIDCR grant awarded to the lead institution, the University of Alabama at Birmingham, the network is a consortium of practices and clinics devoted principally to conducting practice based research to improve the oral health care of patients, with members investigating research questions with practical impact that will improve the quality of dental care. Nationally, there are numerous studies in the pipeline in various stages of development. One study originating from the Northeast region is on dentine hypersensitivity, and has been approved by the network’s executive committee and NIDCR. The primary objective of the study, led by principal investigator and EIOH associate professor Dorota Kopycka-Kedzierawski,
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DDS, MPH, is to characterize methods of diagnosing dentin hypersensitivity in the practice setting and dentists’ selected treatment(s), and their respective effectiveness. Some 180 practitioners and 2,500 adult patients will be recruited from all six National Dental PBRN regions. You can play an important role The secondary objectives are to evaluate in improving dental care across the nation!
patient-, practitioner-, practice- and toothlevel characteristics that may contribute to practitioners’ decisions towards their approach to care and to assess patients’ satisfaction with the received treatment. Two Practitioner Advisory Committees have been established in the Northeast region. The Practitioner Core Advisory Group provides input into study development and comments on studies during their development. They assist with recruiting participants for the network and also for studies. Members also advise and assist with disseminating study The National Dental PBRN is a non-profit research network. Its major source of funding is from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), which is part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). OUR MISSION:
To improve oral health by conducting dental practice- based research and by serving dental professionals with education and collegiality
results, engaging and recognizing network participants, and help foster interaction with colleagues in other network regions. The Annual Meeting Advisory Committee advises the Northeast Administrative hub on the design and location of the annual meeting including associated logistics. “In addition to the annual meeting to be held early next year, we are also the host site for the ‘Face to Face’ meeting of the network next September,” added Cyril Meyerowitz, DDS, MS, EIOH professor and director of the Northeast region. “That meeting brings together the entire networks’ administrative staff, central administration, Westat, the coordinating center, and NIDCR representatives.” Interested in joining the network? Visit nationaldentalpbrn.org to learn more or enroll. If you have questions about the Northeast region, don’t hesitate to contact Kathy Bohn at 585-273-5272 or Kathy_ Bohn@urmc.rochester.edu
The National Dental Practice-Based Research Network (National Dental PBRN) is comprised of practitioners who are committed to advancing oral health knowledge by participating in research.
The Northeast Region encompasses Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, US Virgin Islands, and Vermont. Staff at Regional Centers across the nation will be your connection to the network. Central administration of the network is provided by the University of Alabama at Birmingham under the direction of Gregg Gilbert, DDS, MBA, FAAHD, FICD.
Visit the National Dental Practice Based Research Network website for more information: www.nationaldentalpbrn.org
Jacqueline Abranches, PhD has been
promoted to assistant professor of Microbiology & Immunology in the Center for Oral Biology. Abranches was educated in her native Brazil at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, obtaining her PhD in Environmental Microbiology.
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She came to Rochester in 2000 to work in the Dept. of Microbiology & Immunology and later relocated to the University of Florida. She was recruited back to Rochester in 2007 as a research assistant professor. Her research interests concern the virulence characteristics of the oral streptococci, with an emphasis on species able to colonize damaged heart valves. Abranches has won a number of awards during her training and is nationally and internationally known for her work. Her current work is funded by the National Institute for Dental and Craniofacial Research of the NIH. WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF JOINING?
Aliakbar Bahreman, DDS, MS (Ortho’ 67)
HOW DO I BECOME A MEMBER?
Conduct research in your practice
Expand your knowledge base for making clinical decisions Enhance the image of your practice
Engage staff in the excitement of discovery and quality improvement Achieve continuing education credits
Receive financial remuneration for the time spent doing studies
Enroll in the network by completing the enrollment questionnaire at: www.nationaldentalpbrn.org
Participation in the network is at one of three levels: Informational-receive newsletters and correspondence Limited-receive newsletters, correspondence, and participate in surveys Full-receive newsletters, correspondence, participate in surveys,
Meet and interact with other practitioners involved in the network Participate in the dissemination of study results
Contribute to the development of knowledge that improves oral health
eioh | university of rochester medical center
Aliakbar Bahreman
has been named an Honorary Fellow by the International College of Dentists for his ethical, positive, continuous contributions to the profession.
