Multidisciplinary Practice-Based Research Training in Meharry Medical College, School of Dentistry

Meharry Medical College of Dentistry (MMCSOD) provides dental education and clinical care to patients presenting with a wide range of medical and dental conditions. Students and residents at MMCSOD receive extensive hands-on training in a busy clinical environment, offering a unique opportunity to integrate patient care with research experiences. To date, a limited number of MMCSOD graduates have pursued careers as dentist-scientists. This may be due in part to the absence of structured research training within the clinical curriculum. To address this gap, we propose the implementation of a two-pronged approach: 1) research education focused on clinical research methods, and 2) integration of practice-based research into clinical training. The goal is to engage pre-doctoral students, post-doctoral residents, and faculty in a multidisciplinary research program that complements their clinical responsibilities and fosters evidence-based decision-making. Key components of the initiative include a) Development of clinical research courses and applied training in research methodology and evidence-based practices; b) Intra-college collaboration with Meharry’s Schools of Medicine, Graduate Studies, and Applied Computational Sciences; c) Inter-college collaboration with Vanderbilt University Medical Center; d) Structured mentoring by faculty involved in clinical and translational research. Trainees will also be introduced to omics technologies and their applications in identifying biomarkers associated with periodontal disease. They will learn to evaluate microbiological and immunological profiles and their relationship to disease severity and activity, including in patients with HIV. This initiative is designed to enhance clinical training through meaningful research experiences. It will strengthen critical thinking, deepen understanding of disease processes, and support the development of dental professionals with research expertise. The program ultimately aims to promote the integration of scientific evidence into clinical practice, improving health outcomes and advancing the academic mission of MMCSOD.