Ann Arbor, MI —December 8, 2004 —Taking the knowledge discovered in research laboratories and applying it to help patients in clinics. That's the goal of the School of Dentistry's new Michigan Center for Oral Health Research (MCOHR). Led by Dr. William Giannobile, the Center will begin seeing patients at its facility at Domino's Farms beginning next month.

The Center will provide patient services related to clinical research including oral exams, some oral surgeries, and major restorative procedures to patients, Giannobile said. Those services will be provided from a 3,500 square foot facility the School of Dentistry is sharing with the Medical Health System's Department of Internal Medicine and the School of Medicine's Center for the Advancement of Clinical Research. In the 2,000 square feet occupied by MCOHR are four operatories, a radiological (x-ray) facility, patient consultation area, and six offices.

Each operatory has a dental chair and a computer monitor that will allow a clinician to display a patient's digital radiographs and intraoral images. Educational demonstrations, such as how to brush and floss, may also be demonstrated on the monitors.

"This facility is a service unit of the School of Dentistry," Giannobile said during an open house yesterday at the facility located at Domino's Farms. "It's in a great environment that will foster multidisciplinary research and partnerships with others involved in research and clinical care."

Giannobile said MCOHR will be able to handle as many as 7,800 patient visits and 15 to 20 clinical studies annually.

The cost to create and run the Center will total about $2.5 million over five years. Future funding plans include seeking U-M start-up funds, research grants, corporate sponsorships, endowments, and eventually, clinic practice revenues. The Center is expected to be revenue neutral (revenues and expenses in balance) by 2008.

"This has been one of our major goals, to see a clinical research program grow and blossom," said Dr. Peter Polverini, dean of the School of Dentistry.

The University of Michigan School of Dentistry is one of the nation's leading dental schools engaged in oral health care education, research, patient care, and community service. General dental care clinics and specialty clinics providing advanced treatment enable the School to offer dental services and programs to patients throughout Michigan. Classroom and clinic instruction prepare future dentists, dental specialists, and dental hygienists for practice in private offices, hospitals, academia, and public agencies. Research seeks to discover and apply new knowledge that can help patients worldwide. For more information about the School of Dentistry, visit the Web at: www.dent.umich.edu.

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