The SIU School of Dental Medicine is actively engaged in clinical and basic science research.
Areas of clinical science research include testing of new bonding agents; a study of tooth shade matching; a comparison of light sources used to cure dental resins; tissue allografts; and implant treatment for special patients and implant design.
Areas of basic science research include bacterial pathogenesis of periodontal disease and apical human root dentin; reparative dentin formation; gene microarray analysis of adult human bone cells; neural mechanisms underlying the detection of temperature and pain in the oral cavity; and the effects of diabetes on several metabolites of connective tissue and blood cells.
These studies support research projects for undergraduate dental students, biology student Master's thesis projects, and Master's thesis projects for both endodontic and periodontic residents in a joint program we share with St. Louis University.
Current Clinical Research Topics:
Current Biomedical Research Topics:
The structure/function of the lipopolysaccharide, of the periodontitis pathogen C. rectus
The purification of a 104 kDa cytotoxin of C. rectus
The hydrogenase enzymes of C. rectus
The potential role of E. faecalis virulence factors in adhesion to medicated root canals
The co-colonization of E. faecalis and F. nucleatum in medicated roots
A study of neural mechanisms underlying the detection of temperature and pain in the oral cavity
A study of the role of glutathione in diabetes
The effects of inositolphosphoglycans on the proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis of fibroplasts
Gene expression of adult human bone cells in culture under different hormonal and growth factor conditions
Cellular mechanisms of reparative dentin formation in cultured human pulp cells
Angiogenesis in mineralizing tissues
Drs. Gillespie and Hatton Earn Root Canal Research
Grant
Dr. Jane Gillespie, Professor of
Microbiology in the Department of Applied Dental Medicine and
Director of Research for the SIU School of Dental Medicine, and
Dr. John Hatton, Director of the Saint Louis University
Graduate Endodontics Program and Clinical Professor in the
Department of Applied Dental Medicine for the SIU School of
Dental Medicine, have recently completed a study of a new
antimicrobial that is intended to eliminate contaminating
bacteria from the root canal system of teeth undergoing root
canal treatment. The $21,143 study, funded by KeyBay
Pharma Inc. of Pittsburgh, PA, tested the ability of the
antimicrobial to kill Enterococcus faecalis. This bacterium,
which is the most common cause of root canal treatment failure,
is also a dangerous medical pathogen, because many antibiotic
resistant strains of E. faecalis cause life threatening
infections in hospitalized patients. The results of the
study are currently being evaluated.
Dr. Rowland Earns Dental Pain Research
Grant
Drs. Rowland and Gautam Earn Equipment
Grant
Dr. Kevin Rowland, Assistant Professor and Section Head of Physiology in the Department of Applied Dental Medicine for the SIU School of Dental Medicine, recently earned a grant award in the amount of $15,730 from the American Association of Endodontists Foundation for his research grant, entitled “The Role of Cold-Sensitive TRP Channels in Generating Dental Pain.” His research proposes to investigate the anatomical and physiological roles that two cold-sensitive ion channels play in the production of painful sensations from the oral cavity to the central nervous system.
“We are particularly interested in a class of sensory channels, called transient receptor potential (TRP, pronounced “trip”) channels. TRP channels potentially represent the underlying pathology in various thermal pain-related conditions associated with acute/chronic pulpitis. The proposed experiments are clinically important because results from these studies will provide novel information that could be used to develop non-narcotic analgesics to better treat and reduce patient pain,” said Dr. Rowland.
Dr. Medha Gautam, Assistant Professor and Section Head of Pharmacology in the Department of Applied Dental Medicine for the SIU School of Dental Medicine, will also be participating in the dental pain research. Her experience in the field of pharmacology will be beneficial, especially with regard to the proposed practical applications of the research.
In addition, Drs. Rowland and Gautam were recently awarded $7,825 from the SIUE Equipment and Tools competitive grant program to purchase an anesthesia chamber. The competitive grant program is only offered every three years. The Graduate School anticipated making approximately 8 to 10 awards for a total of $100,000 to $150,000 for the purchase of research equipment and research tools. The anesthesia chamber will support the dental pain research that Drs. Rowland and Gautam are conducting.
Research Day and Table Clinic
Competition
On April 22, the SIU School of Dental Medicine invited Dr.
Margaret R. Byers to be the 
Guest Speaker for
our Annual Research Day. Dr. Byers serves the University
of Washington at Seattle as a Research Professor in
Anesthesiology and Biological Structure and as a Research
Affiliate, at the Center on Human Development and
Disability.
Since receiving her PhD from Harvard in 1969, Dr. Byers has earned an international reputation as an expert on the neurobiology of peripheral nerve fibers that cause pain. She has over eighty research publications and reviews that describe their functions in normal tissues, interactions with inflammation, contributions to wound healing and reactions to anesthetics and other clinical treatments.
In addition, she has authored familiar textbook chapters such as, “Nerve Supply of the Pulpodentin Complex and Responses to Injury” in Seltzer and Bender’s Dental Pulp. Her expertise has been recognized by the scientific community on numerous occasions, including but not limited to the prestigious “Distinguished Scientist Award” from the International Association for Dental Research.
Dr. Byers shared two presentations with the SDM community. In the morning, she offered her first presentation entitled, “Responses of Tooth Pulp Cells and Dental Innervation to Chronic Corticosteroid (Dexamethasone) Treatment.” In the afternoon, following the judging of the Student Table Clinic Competition, Dr. Byers offered a second presentation entitled, “Dental Innervation and Pain: New Ideas, Cellular Actors and Questions.”
Immediately following the afternoon lecture of Dr. Byers, the winners of the Student Table Clinic Competition were announced. New to the competition were collaborative posters presented by as many as eight student authors. This new element to the Student Table Clinic Competition was due in large part to accommodate the participation of the entire Year I class. In total, 17 posters were presented during the competition, representing the efforts of 60 students.
As always, we are grateful for the judges who participate in the Table Clinic Competition. Judges from the Illinois State Dental Society Foundation included Drs. Sue Bishop, LuAnne McClean, and Larry Tschopp. From the SIU School of Dental Medicine faculty, Drs. Medha Gautam and Doug Miley served as judges.
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Congratulations to Ms. Kathryn Kosten (Year III) who earned first place overall and won the “ISDS Foundation Clinical Award” for her table clinic research entitled, “Snap, Crackle, Pop: Interpreting the Sounds of the TMJ.” Ms. Kosten was assisted in her research by Drs. Robert Froemling and Eric Langenwalter.
In addition to a recognition plaque and monetary award, Ms. Kosten will represent the SIU dental school at the 2008 ADA/Dentsply Student Clinician Program at the ADA Annual Session, which will be held in San Antonio this year. Ms. Kosten will also present her table clinic at the Illinois State Dental Society and Chicago Dental Society meetings.
Mr. Mark Stephens (Year II) earned second place overall and won the “ISDS Foundation Basic Science Award” for his table clinic research entitled, “Human Pulp Stem Cells and Dentin Formation.” Mr. Joe Cutrona (Year III) earned third place overall for his table clinic research entitled, “Clinically Simulated Testing of Bracketed Bioforce Wires.” Also, in a newly established table clinic research category, Ms. Anushka Refai (Year III) won the “ISDS Foundation Literature Review/Dental Education Award” for her table clinic research entitled, “TMD Splint Therapy Research: Where’s the Design?”
Congratulations to all the students who participated in the 2008 Table Clinic Competition. The Table Clinics for all the students were on display in the afternoon in the gymnasium on the Alton Campus.
2008 Dean's Summer Student Research Program
Each year, funding is made available for student participation in summer research, sponsored by SDM faculty. Up to five (5) research fellowships are awarded on a competitive basis as determined by merit of a submitted research proposal. This program is designed to introduce a student to research; funding for a second year student is approved only in rare cases. Details of the research program and how to apply are given below.
Outline and Checklist 
| Prospectus | Application Cover Sheet and Budget
Request
American Association of Oral Biologists
Award
Each year, one student earns the American Association of Oral Biologists Award. The award recognizes a worthy senior dental student who has displayed achievement in original research in the biology of the oral cavity or related structures; demonstrates high academic achievement in basic science courses and displays an interest or appreciation for teaching in oral biology and public understanding of research and education in oral biology. At the Class of 2008 Farewell Dinner, Ms. Hillarie Hudson received this award.
Quintessence Award for Research
Achievement
Each year, one student earns the Quintessence Award for Research Achievement. The award recognizes outstanding achievement in research. During the Class of 2008 Farewell Dinner, Mr. Matthew Bell was presented this award.
Pilot Project Application Forms
Advanced Investigation Award Application
Forms
Other Office of Research Forms
