Dental Informatics and Dental Research: Making the Connection Basic 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 BiomaterialsBiomaterials High throughput methods that generate huge data setsHigh throughput methods that generate huge data sets Must be integrated via INFORMATICS Must be integrated via INFORMATICS Dental Informatics and Dental Research: Making the Connection Basic Research in Dentistry

Genomics Human genome is the ‘raw material’Human genome is the ‘raw material’ Genome-wide scans, SNPs, haplotypes may:Genome-wide scans, SNPs, haplotypes may: –Predict disease susceptibility (LJP, severe/refractory periodontitis, caries, Sjogren’s, TMD, etc.) –Pharmacogenomics- how individuals respond to a given therapy But must also be integrated with genomics of oral microorganisms! Define bacterial virulence factors, etc.

Dental Informatics and Dental Research: Making the Connection Basic Research in Dentistry Transcriptional analysis—what genes are actually expressed? Gene arrays, SAGEGene arrays, SAGE Normal vs diseased tissuesNormal vs diseased tissues Subset patientsSubset patients As above, corresponding studies of genes that pathogens express in vivo (IVET)As above, corresponding studies of genes that pathogens express in vivo (IVET)

Dental Informatics and Dental Research: Making the Connection Basic Research in Dentistry Proteomics Protein arrays, two-hybrid systems, mass spectrometryProtein arrays, two-hybrid systems, mass spectrometry If there are 30,000 genes, there may be 1,000,000 proteins!! Alternative splicingAlternative splicing Post-translational modifications--- glycosylation, phosphorylation, myristylationPost-translational modifications--- glycosylation, phosphorylation, myristylation What proteins interact?What proteins interact? Which predict (early) disease? Response to therapy?Which predict (early) disease? Response to therapy?

Dental Informatics and Dental Research: Making the Connection Basic Research in Dentistry Tissue engineering What is the time-dependent biochemical and cellular cascade that occurs as a function of: – Implant Material – Surface Texture – Microporosity – Pore size, density, connectivity – 3D dimensional configuration

Dental Informatics and Dental Research: Making the Connection Basic Research in Dentistry Tissue Engineering What is the time-dependent biochemical and cellular cascade …. Measured in real time, in vivoMeasured in real time, in vivo How is it affected by “primordial soup”?How is it affected by “primordial soup”? –Time –Dosage

Dental Informatics and Dental Research: Making the Connection Basic Research in Dentistry Biomaterials/Bioengineering Where along the spectrum of flat polished materials to 10-year clinical in- vivo study accurately predicts clinical performance – especially of new materials? ????

Dental Informatics and Dental Research: Making the Connection Basic Research in Dentistry Biomaterials/Bioengineering How can we capitalize on informatics methods/decision theory to improve quality and consistency in clinical procedures? –e.g., color matching of tooth-cement- crown (before the impression is taken and the crown is made)

Dental Informatics and Dental Research: Making the Connection Basic Research in Dentistry We NEED to find some way to facilitate efficient communication across disciplines

Dental Informatics and Dental Research: Making the Connection Basic Research in Dentistry What experiments – or experimental design do we need to facilitate: Establishing appropriate models Determining main and interactive effects of multiple variables

Dental Informatics and Dental Research: Making the Connection Basic Research in Dentistry Informatics is the integrative function that interrelates and explores these relationships

Dental Informatics and Dental Research: Making the Connection Basic Research in Dentistry Informatics- and Collaborative Research – NEED YOUR HELP!! NEED YOUR HELP!! Within school …. Multi-discipline effort needs multi-discipline recognitionMulti-discipline effort needs multi-discipline recognition –Multiple authors – many of which need recognition as major authors, despite the fact that they are not listed first or last –Multiple investigators on major grants – all of whom contribute and are critical to success e.g., Program project – both overall PI and project PI’s need recognitione.g., Program project – both overall PI and project PI’s need recognition

Dental Informatics and Dental Research: Making the Connection Basic Research in Dentistry Informatics- and Collaborative Research – NEED YOUR HELP!! NEED YOUR HELP!! Within grant review panels …. New teams are new teamsNew teams are new teams –Probably have not published together –But can’t begin working on interdisciplinary projects easily without any funding