Ann Arbor, MI — January 18, 2007 — New figures released by the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research show the School is now ranked #1 among the nation's dental schools in the dollar amount of research grants awarded by NIDCR.

Grants totaling more than $10.6 million were awarded during federal government's fiscal year 2006 that began October 1, 2005 and ended September 30, 2006. In the two previous federal fiscal years, the School ranked second in research grants from NIDCR with awards of $11 million in 2005 and $11.4 million in 2004.

"It's gratifying to be ranked at the top and speaks volumes about this School," said Dr. Peter Polverini, Dean of the School of Dentistry. "It demonstrates what many of us have been proud to say for a long time, namely, that throughout our history the University of Michigan School of Dentistry continues to be one of the nation's premier research institutions."

For over a decade, Polverini noted, the U-M School of Dentistry has consistently been among the top five or six dental schools in terms of the dollar amount of research grants received from NIDCR.

Polverini said the School's research is designed to achieve two objectives - developing new knowledge in oral health sciences and applying that knowledge to improve the health and well being of patients.

Faculty with NIDCR funding focus research in areas that include development of oral mucosal grafts, genetics of enamel and dentin, oral cancer prevention in underserved communities, gene therapy for reconstructing oral tissues, cell death pathways in oral tissues and oral cancer, molecular regulation of mineralized tissue regeneration, scaffolds for bone tissue engineering, molecular regulation of dental stem cells, and oral health disparities.

Dr. Charlotte Mistretta, Associate Dean for Research, notes that faculty research strength in the School also garners support from the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, the National Cancer Institute, the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, and the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. This funding, in addition to NIDCR grants, brings the School of Dentistry's total NIH research expenditures to over $14 million for fiscal year 2006.

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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