Oral and Craniofacial Sciences (OR CRA FAC)

Instructor(s): Mark Ryder, Brian Bast, Caroline Shiboski, Gary Armitage, Sharon Youmans

The basic concepts in clinical applications of the major classes of pharmacological agents used in both general and specialty dental practices will be presented. Faculty from the school of pharmacy and dentistry will first present basic principles in the application of antimicrobials, anti inflammatories, analgesics, bisphosphonates, drugs for major systemic conditions, and major drug interactions, followed by direct clinical correlations and applications.

Instructor(s): Staff

A laboratory rotation course to familiarize first-year graduate students with various approaches to research in Oral & Craniofacial Sciences (OCS). Rotations are six weeks each, with three rotations in total. Students can select the laboratory of any faculty member within the OCS Program.

Instructor(s): Nathan Young

A seminar series to introduce information, resources, and skills for students to successfully engage in independent MS-level research in the OCS program. Sessions consist of faculty and guest speaker-led interactive lectures covering a range of topics related to current best practice in oral biology research, including basic, clinical, and translational research.

Instructor(s): Ralph Marcucio, Yukiko Nakano

Students will develop a working knowledge of oral and craniofacial organogenesis, growth, and metabolism and understand the pathogenesis and treatment of heritable and acquired disorders of oral and craniofacial tissues and organs. Students will identify areas of interest within the field of oral and craniofacial science that may serve as a focus for future research activity leading to the Ph.D. and develop strategies for addressing outstanding critical questions in the field.

Instructor(s): Yukiko Nakano, Ralph Marcucio

This is a project-based discussion course designed to develop advanced skills in research, analysis, and scientific communication. Students investigate a topic of broad scientific relevance, examining its context, evidence, and methods, and synthesize their findings into a presentation that evaluates current knowledge and explores future directions. Throughout the course, class meetings provide opportunities for students to share their progress, ask questions, and participate in open discussion.

Instructor(s): Ralph Marcucio, Yukiko Nakano

OR CRA FAC 221C is a workshop-based capstone course that builds upon OR CRA FAC 221A and OR CRA FAC 221B to develop practical skills in NIH grant writing. Through interactive lectures, writing sessions, and peer discussions, students learn to formulate Specific Aims, construct hypotheses, and design research plans, culminating in an NIH-style fellowship proposal.

Instructor(s): Ralph Marcucio

OCS DDS/PhD and PhD students registered for this course will be required to attend a total of 10 scientific seminars during the academic year and submit a signed log of all of those attended. Additionally, each student is required to submit a review of 3 of the 10 seminars to the Course Instructor by the last day of the Spring Quarter.

Instructor(s): Mark Ryder

Components of the immune system, survey of the various immunologic mechanisms in host responses, and current working concepts of the immune system. Overview of consequences that failure, exaggeration, or inability to distinguish self from non-self, may have for the host.

Instructor(s): Staff

M.S. thesis or Ph.D. dissertation research under the mentorship of Oral & Craniofacial Sciences (OCS) faculty

Instructor(s): Ralph Marcucio

Critical review of current journal articles pertinent to oral biology. Instruction and feedback in the choice of topic, style and effectiveness of presentations are provided, as well as critical discussion of articles and relevance to current research.

Instructor(s): Alfa Yansane

This is an introductory level course in biostatistical methods. There will be 9 modules discussing descriptive statistics, probability application and theory, epidemiological study design, hypothesis testing and regression based methods. Each lecture will have both written statistical and computing components. Stata 13 will be taught and used.

Instructor(s): Nathan Young

Critical review of current journal articles pertinent to craniofacial research and oral biology. Faculty in OCS program will assist in the selection of papers for review in the MS Journal Club.

Instructor(s): Nathan Young

Masters students in oral and craniofacial sciences shall establish their thesis committee; prepare, present, and modify as necessary the thesis project proposal. Students can take OR CRA FAC 296 for either 1 or 2 consecutive quarters. The grade will be assigned after completion of the course. If the students do not complete the course after two quarters and incomplete will be given for the course.