Honors and Recognition
Dental School to Participate in NIH Grant
The School of Dentistry is a participant in a $55 million grant that has been awarded to the University of Michigan by the National Institutes of Health. The NIH grant is the third largest it has ever awarded to U-M.
The Clinical and Translational Service Award (CTSA) is a national health research initiative that is designed to encourage collaboration and interdisciplinary research to improve human health. Much of this collaboration will occur at our School's Michigan Center for Oral Health Research which will work with scientists and researchers from other units across campus (medicine, public health, Life Sciences Institute, etc.) in developing novel therapies that enhance oral health. U-M joins 23 other institutions around the country who are members of the expanding CTSA consortium.
Robinson Takes 1st Place at SNDA
Photo courtesy of Dr. Kenneth May
Third-year dental student Allen Robinson (right) won first place during the National Dental Association/Student National Dental Association Table Clinic for his research that focused on children's oral and general health. With him Robinson are Dr. Kenneth May (center) and Dennis Lopatin, senior associate dean.
Third-year dental student Allen Robinson won first place for his research and a research presentation he delivered at a national meeting.
During the National Dental Association/Student National Dental Association Table Clinic last summer, Robinson took top honors for his work: Are children's oral health and general health related?
The answer appears to be "yes," based on his research conducted during the summer of 2006 at pediatric dental clinics in Ann Arbor and Flint.
Eighty-two parents, whose children ranged in age from 4 to 12, answered questionnaires about a child's oral health, general health, and quality of life. Also analyzed were the medical history and dental visits of the 82 children.
Conducted at Mott Children's Health Center in Flint and the U-M School of Dentistry in Ann Arbor, Robinson's research results showed both children and their parents observed a significant correlation between oral and general health.
One of the recommendations from the study is that dentists and dental hygienists provide more information to parents. Another is that pediatricians and dentists should strengthen their collaborative efforts.
Crosby Research Award to Member of Dentistry Team
A member of the School of Dentistry's Diabetes Education and Health Literacy Team has received the Crosby Research Award from the National Science Foundation's Advance Program.
Melissa Valerio, an assistant professor at the School of Public Health, received the award for her work on functional health literacy research. Together with dental school researchers Dr. Tilly Peters, Dr. Preetha Kanjirath, and Christine Klausner, Valerio is investigating the understanding, processing, and use of diabetes and oral health information among minority and underserved patients with diabetes. The team plans to use the information to enhance their diabetes and oral health education module.
The Crosby Research Award is given to tenure-track faculty members in science, engineering, and related disciplines to help them meet their career goals. Recipients can use the funds to develop and support research, purchase needed laboratory equipment, or for travel to conferences.
Peters received the award in 2004. Dr. Nisha D'Silva, a professor in the Department of Pathology and Oral Medicine, received the award in 2005.
