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
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.
On April 14, the SIU School of Dental Medicine hosted its annual Research Day on the Alton Campus. Research Day traditionally features the Student Table Clinic Competition and a nationally, often internationally, renowned Guest Speaker. The 2009 SIU SDM Research Day followed tradition in fine form.
Eleven students competed in the Table Clinic Competition this year. Congratulations to all the students who presented. Kudos to Renee Doyle (Year III), who earned First Place Overall and won the Illinois State Dental Society Foundation Award for Best Clinical Research.
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Ms. Doyle’s table clinic research was entitled, “Self-adhesive Cements in Orthodontic Bonding.” Her faculty sponsors were Drs. Gregory Stewart and Charles Thornton.
In addition to a recognition plaque and monetary award, Ms. Doyle will represent the SIU dental school at the ADA/Dentsply Student Clinician Program at the ADA Annual Session, which will be held in Honolulu, Hawaii this year. Ms. Doyle will also present her table clinic at the Illinois State Dental Society (ISDS) and Chicago Dental Society (CDS) meetings.
Ms. Sarah Ade (Year III) earned second place overall for her table clinic research entitled, “Bonding of Self-Etching Cements to Dentin.” As second place overall winner, Ms. Ade will also attend the CDS meeting. Additionally, she will present her table clinic at the Hinman Student Research Symposium in Memphis, TN.
Ms. Nicole Grawey (Year II) earned third place overall for her table clinic research entitled, “Influence of Pretreatment Procedural and Coping Information on Post Treatment Pain Assessment.” As third place overall winner, Ms. Grawey will join Ms. Doyle and Ms. Ade at the CDS Midwinter Meeting in February 2010.
In addition to the Clinical Research Award earned by Ms. Doyle, the ISDS Foundation also presented awards for Best Basic Science Research and Best Literature Review/Dental Education. Mr. Eric Haas (Year II) earned the Basic Science Award and Ms. Krista Weimerskirch (Year I) and Janet Sutter (Year I) jointly earned the Literature Review/Dental Education Award.
The judges of the Table Clinic Competition deserve our special thanks. Judges from the Illinois State Dental Society Foundation included Drs. Sue Bishop, LuAnne McClean, Larry Tschopp and Darryll Beard. From the SIU School of Dental Medicine faculty, Drs. Sue Rieken and William Whitson served as judges.
The SIU dental school was honored to host George T. J. Huang, D.D.S., M.S.D., D.Sc., Associate Professor and Director of the Division of Endodontics at Columbia University College of Dental Medicine, as the guest speaker at our 2009 Research Day. Dr. Huang received his D.D.S. from Taipei University in 1983. He then attended Boston University where he earned a Certificate in Endodontics in 1988, M. ScD. in Endodontics in 1989, and a Doctor of Science in Oral Biology in 1992.
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Dr. Huang is a leading researcher in what he has described as “a new era in the future of endodontics – the regeneration of endodontic tissues with modern tissue engineering technologies.” Prior to his appointment at Columbia, Dr. Huang was a faculty member and Director of Endodontics first at UCLA and then the University of Maryland College of Dental Surgery. He was a Research Scholar in the NIH/NIDCR Intramural Branches of Oral Infection and Immunity and Cartilage Biology and Orthopedics. He has published over ninety research papers, abstracts and book chapters, and he has presented over seventy guest lectures in his area of expertise.
Dr. Huang is the recipient of numerous research grants including three from the NIDCR. He currently holds a grant for 1.6 million dollars to study stem cell based therapies for endodontics. He is a member of the Scientific Advisory/Editorial Board for the Journal of Endodontics and the Open Dentistry Journal. He is an Ad Hoc reviewer for numerous journals, including Oral Diseases and OOOE. He has been honored with many awards during his career, including the 1994 National Research Service Award from the NIH/NIDDK.
Dr. Huang shared two presentations with the SDM community. In the morning, he offered a presentation entitled, “Stem Cell Based Therapy for Dental Tissue Regeneration.” In the afternoon, he offered a second presentation entitled, “Stem Cells and Their Clinical Applications.”
Local Student Research Group (SRG) Start Up Kit Presented By The American Association of Dental Research (AADR) National Student Research Group (NSRG)
To view the presentation, click here:
2009 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 2009 Farewell Dinner, Ms. Anushka Refai 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 2009 Farewell Dinner, Mr. Michael Rozny was presented this award.
Advanced Investigation Award Application Forms
Other Office of Research Forms