The mission of the Center for Craniofacial and Related Research (CCTCR) is to promote clinical and translational research with relevance to craniofacial and oral health; to provide a dedicated environment conducive to collaborative and interdisciplinary clinical/translational research where discovery may happen within the Augusta University Dental College of Georgia.
The CCTCR is intended to be a venue for clinical and translational research providing resources, personnel, support and training. Depending on the research project the CCTCR may provide different levels of support including protocol development, infrastructure, logistics, data entry/processing and auxiliary personnel.
Clinical & Translational Craniofacial Research
The Center for Clinical & Translational Craniofacial Research has the goal of bridging basic science research and clinical applications. Its main component is the Clinical Research Clinic with approximately 3,500 square feet and composed of six clinical and surgical operatories, laboratory space for biological sampling and storage, recovery room and interview/data collection room. The Translational/Clinical Research cluster provides the ideal environment for investigators to perform hypothesis generating clinical studies and randomized clinical trials testing new therapies.
Regenerative Medicine
One of the laboratories that works on regenerative medicine is LAPCR, Laboratory for Applied Periodontal & Craniofacial Regeneration, focuses on regeneration of the periodontium and treatments.
Disease Related Biology
The Disease Related Biology cluster emphasizes basic and clinical studies of the mechanisms of development, diagnosis, progression, prevention and treatment of oral diseases such as oral cancer, salivary dysfunction and periodontal diseases as well systemic diseases such are cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Particular emphasis is placed on molecular basis of these conditions and the study of biomarkers and treatments for the conditions.
Biomedical Materials and Devices
The Biomedical Materials and Devices Research cluster investigates how materials and devices simulate physiological environments, improve treatments for disease conditions, and help regenerate normal physiology. This fully horizontally and vertically integrated laboratory/basic science research supports and explains the clinical and translational oral health research advancing current paradigms and therapeutic concepts. The Biomedical Materials and Devices Research cluster includes investigations in polarizing light stability, phototherapy, mechanobiology, dentin bonding,and biomineralization.