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To obtain improved information on craniofacial-oral-dental health promotion, disease prevention, diagnostics, therapeutics, and fundamental scientific research that fuels the engine of patient-oriented and community-based clinical or applied research. The research portfolio is divided into several over-lapping programs which support basic, clinical and transitional research from molecular biology to patient-oriented and community-based clinical investigations. 1. Inherited Diseases and Disorders Program supports research on etiology, pathogenesis, epidemiology, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of inherited craniofacial-oral-dental diseases and disorders (e.g., ectodermal dysplasia, cleft lip and palate, amelogenesis imperfecta, dentionogenesis imperfecta, osteogenesis imperfecta, and other inherited diseases that have craniofacial-oral-dental manifestations) as well as on normal craniofacial-oral-dental development. Developmentally related disorders such as occlusion defects and those acquired through trauma is included. 2. Infectious Diseases Program supports research on etiology, pathogenesis, epidemiology, prevention, diagnosis and treatment of oral infectious diseases (i.e., viral, bacterial, fungal and parasitic) such as dental caries, periodontitis, oral candidiasis, herpes, hepatitis, and HIV/AIDS. Included is research on immunity with special emphasis on mucosal and salivary immunity; and on the oral manifestations of systemic infectious diseases and the development of new diagnostics and therapeutics. 3. Neoplastic Diseases Program supports research on the etiology, pathogenesis and metastasis, epidemiology, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of oral and pharyngeal neoplastic diseases. 4. Chronic Disabling Diseases Program supports the full range of research involving such diseases associated with the craniofacial-oral-dental complex. These include osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, and related bone disorders, temporomandibular joint diseases and disorders, neuropathies and neurodegenerative diseases including those involving oral sensory and motor functions, and autoimmune diseases such as Sjogren's syndrome. Also included is research aimed at elucidating the relationship between chronic diseases of the craniofacial-oral-dental complex (e.g., periodontitis) and other systemic diseases (e.g., diabetes). 5. Biomaterials, Biomimetics and Tissue Engineering Program supports research to enhance the development of natural and synthetic therapeutics and biomaterials used for the repair, regeneration, restoration, and reconstruction of craniofacial-oral-dental molecules, cells, tissues, and organs. 6. Behavior, Health Promotion and Environment Program supports research aimed at assessing the interactive roles of sociological, behavioral, economic, environmental, genetic, and biomedical factors in craniofacial-oral-dental diseases and disorders. Included are studies aimed at examining the impact of oral health care delivery systems, clinical decision-making, and education on health outcomes. The Institute also supports Comprehensive Oral Research Centers of Discovery, each of which is organized around a unifying scientific theme pertinent to diseases and disorders of the craniofacial-oral-dental complex, integrates basic, clinical, applied and behavioral research, accelerated science-technology transfer, provides a vehicle for cross-disciplinary and collaborative research, and provides health professionals and the public with the latest information about craniofacial-oral-dental health. The Research Training and Career Program insures the future of craniofacial-oral-dental research by developing an outstanding and diverse scientific work force through programs designed for high school, undergraduate, graduate, and post-doctoral stages of education and for continued career development of scientists and retraining of mid-career scientists. The |
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