{"id":1179,"date":"2022-03-04T00:51:18","date_gmt":"2022-03-04T00:51:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stagewp.westernu.edu\/dentistry\/?page_id=1179"},"modified":"2022-09-29T14:26:06","modified_gmt":"2022-09-29T14:26:06","slug":"research","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/stagewp.westernu.edu\/dentistry\/research\/","title":{"rendered":"Research"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Welcome to the Exciting World of Research!<\/h2>\n

WesternU CDM faculty members are conducting a wide variety of research, ranging from assessment of curricular and community outreach programs to biomedical studies on disease processes and treatments. CDM faculty members also collaborate with colleagues from other WesternU colleges, as well as other national and international researchers. Faculty work side-by-side with students in state-of-the-art research facilities to advance knowledge that will improve the lives of patients in our community and around the world.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

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\n\t\t\t\t\tArea of Research <\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFocus<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t
Inflammation and Disease and
\r\nOral Manifestations of Adverse Drug Reactions
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Inflammation and Disease<\/h4>\n

Inflammation is a major contributor to many oral and systemic disease processes. Periodontitis, diabetes mellitus and even head and neck cancer have been linked to inflammation. Western U CDM researchers explore molecular mechanisms that regulate inflammation and look for innovative and non-invasive ways to mediate those processes using two different approaches. The first explores the effects of plant or fungal derived components on growth, metabolism and cell signaling of oral tumor cells in culture. The second uses light energy to activate anti-inflammatory responses in tumor cells in culture, wound healing models and tumor xenografts.<\/p>\n

Oral Manifestations of Adverse Drug Reactions<\/h4>\n

Three research areas on this topic are currently under investigation by CDM researchers.<\/p>\n

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  1. First, medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ) is a rare but serious adverse reaction to drugs that primarily target the reduction of bone resorption or blood vessel growth.\u00a0 Patients with MRONJ have regions of necrotic bone that cause significant morbidity and are difficult to treat. WesternU CDM researchers are studying the molecular mechanisms responsible for the development of MRONJ as well as biomarkers that may predict which patients are at risk.<\/li>\n
  2. A second area of investigation concerns the chemotherapy drugs used commonly in the treatment of basal cell carcinoma which can often cause loss of taste. Growth factor signaling pathways that are integral to taste bud development are inhibited by those chemotherapeutic agents. WesternU CDM researchers are testing supplements that can help improve taste bud development and alleviate taste dysfunction in an animal model.<\/li>\n
  3. A third area of investigation concerns oral candidiasis, a common side effect of many antibiotics and anti-inflammatory treatments. WesternU CDM researchers are exploring non-toxic agents that can inhibit growth and viability of candida.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

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    \n\t\t\t\t\tBenefits<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tfor Students<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t
    Improvements in the curriculum, whether it be in the classroom, clinic or community, have immediate benefits for our students which translate into better patient care during their professional careers. Biomedical science research helps our students advance their critical thinking and problem-solving skills while providing them with experiences that they can build on in post-graduate programs. Research of any type requires students to organize and analyze their data and provides them with opportunities to present their findings at professional meetings and in peer-reviewed publications. <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
    \n\t\t\t\n Learn More About Research & Biotechnology<\/polygon><\/svg>\n<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n
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    Benefits for Society<\/h2>\n

    Research advances knowledge and provides evidence for the development of clinical treatments and best practices. Research opportunities for our dental students contribute to the development of future clinician scientists.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

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    \n\t\t\t\t\tWesternU<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSummer Research Program<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t
    The Office of Research & Biotechnology partners with WesternU Colleges to allow students from all disciplines to participate in an annual Summer Research Program. Students learn valuable research techniques and gain experience in Bench Research, Translational Research, Clinical Research, or Behavioral and Social Science Research. No prior research experience is necessary to apply, and students learn there is no limit to what they might learn and accomplish.<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
    \n\t\t\t\n Summer Research<\/polygon><\/svg>\n<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/section>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":80,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"class_list":["post-1179","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/stagewp.westernu.edu\/dentistry\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1179","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/stagewp.westernu.edu\/dentistry\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/stagewp.westernu.edu\/dentistry\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stagewp.westernu.edu\/dentistry\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/80"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stagewp.westernu.edu\/dentistry\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1179"}],"version-history":[{"count":20,"href":"https:\/\/stagewp.westernu.edu\/dentistry\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1179\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3057,"href":"https:\/\/stagewp.westernu.edu\/dentistry\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1179\/revisions\/3057"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/stagewp.westernu.edu\/dentistry\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1179"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}