Wednesday, February 2 , 2005

Dental Branch receives $1.2 million grant

The Dental Branch has received a $1.2 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for "Gut-Derived Immune Effector Cells,” submitted by principal investigator John R. Klein, Ph.D., professor in the department of Diagnostic Sciences. The $1,220,850 from the NIH will fund the next five years of the project, which has been continuously funded since 1985.

The long-range goal of the project has been to study the development and function of intestinal lymphocytes in health and disease. In this phase of funding, Klein and his team will focus on defining factors that are involved in intestinal T- cell activation, particularly as they relate to the generation of immunity during infection, and in conditions of chronic intestinal infection. 

 

Congratulations to Dr. Klein for all his hard work!

 

DB tour turned huge success

The Dental Branch opened its doors to members of the Barry Margolis CPA Firm on Jan. 27 for a tour. The members saw a variety of presentations and demonstrations within the school and also enjoyed a tour of the mobile dental van.

 

According to UT Health Science Center Vice President for Development Jerre Iversen, the firm’s manager reported that it was their best field trip yet.

 

Dean Catherine Flaitz, D.D.S., sends special thanks to John A. Valenza, D.D.S., executive associate dean; Cynthia Trajtenberg, D.D.S., assistant professor in Restorative Dentistry and Biomaterials; Tracey Godwin, D.D.S., assistant professor of Community Dentistry; Suann Lloyd, director of development; and all others who contributed to making the day such a success.

 

DB student wins preventative dentistry scholarship

Dental Branch student Arti Gaur was recently named a recipient of the 2005 (American Dental Education Association) ADEA/Listerine Preventive Dentistry Scholarship. ADEA/Listerine Preventive Dentistry Scholarships support pre-doctoral dental students who have demonstrated academic excellence in preventive dentistry. Gaur was nominated by Dental Branch Dean Catherine Flaitz, D.D.S. Way to go Arti!

 

A smile for a child

In honor of Give Kids a Smile Day Friday the UT Dental Branch Mobile Van will be at the San Jose/Spring Branch Clinic in conjunction with the Greater Houston Dental Society. The mobile van will be staffed by Tracey Godwin, D.D.S., assistant professor of Community Dentistry, two pediatric dentistry residents and two fourth-year dental students. 

 

More information (including printable flyers) regarding National Children's Dental Health Month (February) and Give Kids a Smile Day is available through the American Dental Association Web site at: http://www.ada.org/prof/events/featured/ncdhm.asp and http://www.ada.org/prof/events/featured/gkas/index.asp

 

Donate for a good cause

The Texas Association of Women Dentists (TAWD) has placed a Goodwill Donation box in the Learning Resource Center on the third floor. Throughout February TAWD will accept donations of clothes, shoes and accessories for the local Goodwill store. What you need the least, others may appreciate the most.    

 

A marathon man among us

Jaime Gateno, D.D.S., M.D., associate professor in the department of Oral and Maxillofacioal Surgery, ran the Houston Marathon on Jan. 16 in three hours and 14 minutes (3:14), quite an accomplishment!  The Houston race was Gateno’s ninth marathon to run. He is proud of his time, which is four minutes faster than his last recorded time of 3:18, which he set in the Chicago Marathon several years ago.

 

Carry the TORCH!

The Dental Branch in collaboration with the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences has designed the UT-TORCH program — (Training Program in Craniofacial-Oral Biology Research that is Comprehensive and Integrated with the Health Science Center at Houston.) Today continues the UTDB eflash series that highlights faculty members who are TORCH success stories to illustrate the program’s benefits first-hand.

 

Today: Liliam Marie Pinzon, D.D.S., M.S., instructor in the department of Restorative Dentistry and Biomaterials.

 

Pinzon, who has worked at the Dental Branch since 2000, said UT-TORCH offered the opportunity to develop a research project that encouraged collaboration between the technologies and mentors at the dental branch and the technologies and mentors of the University of Missouri, Kansas City.

 

“The projects I developed during the training time will be presented at the IADR (International Association for Dental Research) 2005 meeting and will be published in scientific journals. Furthermore, I was exposed to two NIH (National Institutes of Health) T32 programs and was able to speak with nationally known scientists about fundamental problems that have really motivated me to continue my professional development as a dentist scientist.”

 

For information on registering as a trainee in the UT-TORCH program, directed by Rena D’Souza, D.D.S., Ph.D., call Denee.V.Haley@uth.tmc.edu, (713) 500-4354. Visit http://www.db.uth.tmc.edu/torch/ for detailed information.

 

The next UT-TORCH Core Seminar Series, “Critiquing a Grant Proposal,” will be presented by John Grabowski, Ph.D., 4-5:30 p.m., Thursday, Feb.10, Dental Branch Room 369A.

 

Never stop learning …

Enhance your knowledge of dentistry and increase your professional development with Dental Branch continuing education courses.

 

Upcoming courses are as follows:

 

·        “Infection Prevention Update – 2005” 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Friday, Feb. 4, presented by Nancy Andrews, R.D.H., B.S., will be at the Marriott Hotel & Conference Center Houston Hobby Airport. Registration is at 8:30 a.m.  

 

·        “A Simplified Approach to Non-surgical Periodontics: The Treatment Protocol for Success”, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Friday, Feb. 4, presented by Timothy Donley, D.D.S., will be at the Marriott Hotel & Conference Center Houston Hobby Airport. Registration is at 8:30 a.m.

 

Visit http://www.db.uth.tmc.edu/cont-ed/Schedule.htm for details on each session. Call (713) 943-7979 for hotel information.

UTDB eflash is an electronic newsletter produced by The University of Texas Dental Branch at Houston. Submit items for consideration to Erika.Durham@uth.tmc.edu by Tuesdays at noon. Items may be edited for length and style.