Ann Arbor, MI — October 9, 2012 — Dean Peter Polverini has announced the appointment of Dr. Robert Bagramian, professor in the Department of Periodontics and Oral Medicine, as interim director of the Michigan Center for Oral Health Research (MCOHR).  The appointment is for two years.

Established in 2005, MCOHR takes knowledge discovered in research laboratories and applies it to new clinical therapies that are designed to improve the oral, dental, and craniofacial health of patients. MCOHR is part of the Michigan Institute for Clinical and Health Research (MICHR), which provides a comprehensive institutional source of support for researchers across U-M who are working to improve public health.

Bagramian will oversee day-to-day operations of MCOHR and staff, will collaborate with the School of Dentistry’s Office of Research to ensure regulatory compliance, oversee student-related activities at MCOHR including the clinical research rotation, and will work with MICHR.

A professor of dentistry and dental public health since 1970, Bagramian has chaired the Department of Community Dentistry, directed the Community Dental Center in Ann Arbor, established the summer migrant dental clinic program in the Traverse City area, and has conducted extensive quality of life research on health disparities collaborating with faculty and researchers from medicine, public health, social work, nursing, sociology, and engineering.