In 2017 UCL Eastman Dental Hospital and Institute were awarded £2million in funding from the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) in order to support a ground-breaking biomedical research programme in the field of Oral Health and Disease. The funding is part a £111.5 million award won by the UCLH Biomedical Research Centre (BRC), whose mission is to accelerate the translation of world-leading biomedical research into new treatments for patients. This is the first time that UCLH BRC funding has been allocated specifically to an Oral Health & Disease Theme.
The programme is focussed on oral cancer and precancer, facial pain, chronic oral infections and inflammation, salivary gland and jaw bone disorders and dental caries. Projects fall under four different categories:
- Oral infection/inflammation and systemic health & disease;
- Oral cancer and oral diseases in cancer patients and survivors;
- Oral and facial pain;
- Dental tissue defects and loss;
For information about the BRC oral health programme please contact Professor Stefano Fedele
Gum disease and its relationship to diabetes
Our research suggests that intensively treating gum disease can help patients with diabetes control the condition. In a recent trial, patients with poorly-controlled Type -2 diabetes who received int
Tackling fibrosis of the neck and mouth
A new investigation into the treatment of fibrosis - a common, permanent and adverse effect of radiotherapy. The ‘PIT-STOP’ trial will specifically look at the effect of combining two medications, Pen
Sjogren's medical device study (SALRISE)
Sjogren’s syndrome, the UK’s second most common rheumatic disease, is a debilitating, chronic autoimmune disorder causing persistent dry mouth, dry eyes fatigue and joint pain. We will test a novel
Epigenetic therapy for high risk dysplasia
Up to 25% of individuals with severe oral dysplasia will progress to developing invasive oral cancer. Treatment has the potential to alter the natural course of the disease and prevent this; which in
Novel non invasive diagnostic device for oral cancer
Oral cancer is often diagnosed at an advanced stage, when the disease has spread and curative treatment becomes difficult and complex. A number of strategies to diagnose oral cancer earlier have been
The environment and the oral microbiome
Our environment and immediate family significantly influence our oral microbiome, where as our own genes play almost no role. We currently know that adults have a relatively stable oral microbiome. W
Treating patients with Oral Lichen Planus
Creams and ointments to treat Oral Lichen Planus can be difficult to apply and there remains no topical corticosteroid formulation that is formally approved for intra-oral use. This study will investi
The Use of Imaging in Trigeminal Neuralgia
Using new ways of MRI imaging to learn more about the causes of trigeminal neuralgia, a rare form of severe facial pain. Diffusion weighted imaging can be applied to assess the microstructural integri
Novel fillings materials trial
With the phase out of amalgam fillings, there is a growing need for more effective fillings for caries affected teeth in children. This study is part of on-going work to optimise formulations that wil
Unravelling the mouth-gut axis and its association with IBD
Previous studies have found that patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) are 4-6 times more likely to co-present with periodontitis (gum disease) than the general population. We plan to study p
Preventive Interventions in primary dental care settings
Further developing UCL Dental Public Health's translational research on preventive interventions. To include a look at the potential role of the dental team in addressing oral health inequalities amon
Light-activated antimicrobial therapy and systemic health
Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a promising new strategy for the treatment of periodontitis. Light-activated antimicrobial agents can inactivate microbial virulence factors in addition to killing the pa
Latest papers
A Multi-scale Biophysical Approach to Develop Structure-Property Relationships in Oral Biofilms
J. Pattem, M. Davrandi, S. Aguayo, E. Allan, D. Spratt, L. Bozec
Nature
Characteristics of novel, reactive calcium phosphate and polylysine containing dental composites
Kanokrat Kangwankai, Sarah Sani, Piyaphong Panpisut, Wendy Xia, Paul Ashley, Haralampos Petridis, Anne Margaret Young
Plos One
The Human Salivary Microbiome Is Shaped by Shared Environment Rather than Genetics: Evidence from a Large Family of Closely Related Individuals
Liam Shaw, Andre L. R. Ribeiro, Adam P. Levine, Nikolas Pontikos, Francois Balloux, Anthony W. Segal, Adam P. Roberts, Andrew M. Smith
mBio
