Oral and Craniofacial Sciences Health Research Training

PROJECT SUMMARY/ ABSTRACT: The goal of the UCSF Oral and Craniofacial Sciences (OCS) training program is to provide multidisciplinary education and training to address questions of biological relevance to dental, oral and craniofacial science, and clinical care. Our program faculty have outstanding scientific and mentoring skills, allowing us to train students from a broad range of scientific backgrounds. The trainees supported by this training grant, include those pursuing DDS/PhD, PhD, and postdoctoral fellowships. PhD program components include rigorous didactic courses and hands-on training courses; lab rotations; oral presentations of scientific information and hypotheses defense via tutorial training with faculty in a journal club setting; an intensive oral qualifying exam; individual thesis research and finally; a dissertation seminar. DDS/PhD trainees combine this training with a dental school education. Postdoctoral fellows focus on identifying and developing their own unique research directions. Integrated throughout this training program, from the first day to the last, are activities that train and encourage trainees to : i) develop skills in responsible conduct of research (RCR), rigor & reproducibility and chemical and biological safety; ii) openly receive and give feedback through evaluation and assessment tools; iii) foster career interests, including use of Individual Development Plans (IDPs); iv) enhance written and oral communication skills; and v) gain training in critical analysis via journal clubs, seminars and minicourses. The research in the OCS program is highly inter-disciplinary and includes bioinformatics, biomaterials and bioengineering, cell and cancer biology, craniofacial biology, microbiome/microbiology, immunology, regenerative medicine, and clinical and translational research. To enact this training program, the OCS program is not associated with a specific department; rather, we bring together faculty from throughout UCSF’s world-class research enterprise, currently representing ten different academic departments in the Schools of Dentistry, Medicine, and Pharmacy. Oversight of the OCS program is maintained by the OCS Steering Committee, along with an engaged Dean of the UCSF School of Dentistry and UCSF Graduate School, and an expert external advisory committee. Member faculty are rigorously and holistically evaluated by the OCS Steering Committee for excellence in research, mentoring and commitment to diversity, and these faculty are required to complete annual mentor training. Interdisciplinary research training is carried out within an intellectually integrated and well-equipped collection of member labs, and a uniquely collaborative, interactive and communicative research environment. Our graduates are highly sought-after in academia, industry and beyond, because of their training, creativity and passion for inter-disciplinary science.