dental informatics and dental research: making the connection basic research in dentistry

Dental Informatics and Dental Research: Making the ConnectionDental Informatics and Dental Research: Making the Connection

Basic Research in DentistryBasic Research in Dentistry

Areas of basic research that need informatics:

• Genomics• Transcriptional analysis• Proteomics• Tissue engineering• Biomaterials Linked to clinical research on patients

•GenomicsGenomics•Transcriptional analysisTranscriptional analysis•ProteomicsProteomics•Tissue engineeringTissue engineering•Biomaterials Biomaterials

•High throughputHigh throughput methods that methods that generate generate huge data setshuge data sets• Must be integrated via Must be integrated via INFORMATICSINFORMATICS





GenomicsGenomics• Human genome is the ‘raw material’Human genome is the ‘raw material’• Genome-wide scans, SNPs, haplotypes Genome-wide scans, SNPs, haplotypes

may:may:– Predict disease susceptibility (LJP, Predict disease susceptibility (LJP,

severe/refractory periodontitis, caries, severe/refractory periodontitis, caries, Sjogren’s, TMD, etc.)Sjogren’s, TMD, etc.)

– Pharmacogenomics- how individuals respond to Pharmacogenomics- how individuals respond to a given therapya given therapy

But must also be integrated with genomics of But must also be integrated with genomics of oral microorganisms!oral microorganisms!

Define bacterial virulence factors, etc.Define bacterial virulence factors, etc.



Transcriptional analysis—what Transcriptional analysis—what genes are actually expressed?genes are actually expressed?

• Gene arrays, SAGEGene arrays, SAGE• Normal vs diseased tissuesNormal vs diseased tissues• Subset patientsSubset patients

• As above, corresponding studies of As above, corresponding studies of genes that pathogens express in vivo genes that pathogens express in vivo (IVET)(IVET)



ProteomicsProteomics• Protein arrays, two-hybrid systems, mass Protein arrays, two-hybrid systems, mass

spectrometryspectrometry

If there are 30,000 genes, there may be If there are 30,000 genes, there may be 1,000,000 proteins!!1,000,000 proteins!!

• Alternative splicingAlternative splicing• Post-translational modifications---glycosylation, Post-translational modifications---glycosylation,

phosphorylation, myristylationphosphorylation, myristylation• What proteins interact?What proteins interact?• Which predict (early) disease? Response to Which predict (early) disease? Response to

therapy?therapy?



Tissue engineeringTissue engineeringWhat is the What is the time-dependenttime-dependent biochemical biochemical

and cellular and cellular cascadecascade that occurs that occurs as a as a function of:function of:– Implant MaterialImplant Material

– Surface TextureSurface Texture– MicroporosityMicroporosity– Pore size, density, connectivityPore size, density, connectivity– 3D dimensional configuration3D dimensional configuration



Tissue Engineering Tissue Engineering What is the What is the time-dependenttime-dependent biochemical biochemical

and cellular and cellular cascade …. cascade ….

• Measured in real time, in vivoMeasured in real time, in vivo

• How is it affected by “primordial How is it affected by “primordial soup”?soup”?– TimeTime– DosageDosage



Biomaterials/BioengineeringWhere along the spectrum of flat

polished materials to 10-year clinical in-vivo study accurately predicts clinical performance – especially of new materials?

????????



Biomaterials/BioengineeringHow can we capitalize on informatics How can we capitalize on informatics

methods/decision theory to improve methods/decision theory to improve quality and consistency in clinical quality and consistency in clinical procedures?procedures?– e.g., color matching of tooth-cement-crown e.g., color matching of tooth-cement-crown

(before the impression is taken and the (before the impression is taken and the crown is made)crown is made)



• We NEED to find some way to facilitate efficient communication across disciplines



What experiments – or experimental design do we need to facilitate:

• Establishing appropriate models

• Determining main and interactive effects of multiple variables



InformaticsInformatics is the integrative is the integrative function that interrelates and function that interrelates and explores these relationshipsexplores these relationships


Basic Research in DentistryBasic Research in DentistryInformatics- and Collaborative Research –Informatics- and Collaborative Research – NEED YOUR HELP!!NEED YOUR HELP!!Within school ….Within school ….• Multi-discipline effort needs multi-discipline Multi-discipline effort needs multi-discipline

recognitionrecognition– Multiple authors – many of which need Multiple authors – many of which need

recognition as major authors, despite the fact that recognition as major authors, despite the fact that they are not listed first or lastthey are not listed first or last

– Multiple investigators on major grants – all of Multiple investigators on major grants – all of whom contribute and are critical to successwhom contribute and are critical to success• e.g., Program project – both overall PI and project PI’s e.g., Program project – both overall PI and project PI’s

need recognitionneed recognition



Informatics- and Collaborative Research –Informatics- and Collaborative Research – NEED YOUR HELP!!NEED YOUR HELP!!Within grant review panels ….Within grant review panels ….• New teams are new teamsNew teams are new teams–Probably have not published togetherProbably have not published together–But can’t begin working on But can’t begin working on

interdisciplinary projects easily interdisciplinary projects easily without any funding without any funding

dental informatics and dental research: making the connection basic research in dentistry

Documents

dental research

connectionbasic research

clinical research

disciplinesdental informatics

patientsdental informatics

informaticsdental informatics

timedosagedental informatics

ivetdental informatics