What do you get when you cross a dentist with an engineer? That is not the start of a joke, but it could be the first step in finding innovative solutions for unmet challenges in oral health.
Unmet Needs, Uncommon Solutions
The Center for Innovation & Precision Dentistry combines unlikely disciplines to unleash lasting impact
Published: March 28, 2022
At the Center for Innovation & Precision Dentistry (CiPD), a joint initiative between Penn Dental Medicine and Penn Engineering, the ingenuity of engineers and the insights of dentists create a pioneering approach to basic and translational research.
“Our mission is twofold. First, to harness engineering expertise and tools to accelerate the discovery of solutions to neglected oral health issues,” says Michel Koo, Professor of Orthodontics and Pediatrics/Community Oral Health at Penn Dental Medicine and Founding Director of the CiPD. “Second, to train the new generation of researchers to take advantage of the opportunities created by this unique interdisciplinary paradigm.”
A new training program, supported by the National Institute for Dental and Craniofacial Research, will support postdoctoral dentists and engineers to study disease mechanisms, regenerate tissues, and develop low-cost approaches to prevent, diagnose, and treat oral infections and cancers. In addition, a fellowship established by the Colgate Palmolive Company will support young researchers to conduct research in early childhood tooth decay and mucosal infection. The emphasis on postdoctoral training is fitting for the CiPD, which can trace its conception to a collaboration sparked by Tagbo Niepa, who came to Penn Engineering in 2014 as part of Penn’s Postdoctoral Fellowship for Academic Diversity.
“We are adamant about early support for bright minds who are crossing the bounds of traditional knowledge,” says Kathleen Stebe, Co-Director of the CiPD and Richer & Elizabeth Goodwin Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at Penn Engineering. “The CiPD attracts agile thinkers with different strengths and different perspectives. But together, we are stronger.”
The Center for Innovative and Precision Dentistry has been awarded a grant from the National Institute for Dental and Craniofacial Research. The initial cohort (pictured with Morton Anderson Dean Mark Wolff [center], Kathleen Stebe [far left], and Michel Koo [far right]) will focus on the oral microbiome, host immunity, and tissue regeneration, which tie into different aspects of oral health, from tooth decay and gum disease to head and neck cancer
The CiPD is driven to find solutions that are accessible and affordable. “I grew up in a poor neighborhood in Brazil, where some people go years without being able to afford dental care,” says Koo. “Here in the U.S., there are also many areas where health care is not readily accessible. Also, many people with underlining health and physical conditions become more prone to oral diseases. We have an abundance of opportunities here at Penn to collaborate and make a difference. That’s part of the passion we had to bring this center together.”
Koo and Stebe envision a future where, with a dedicated hub space and increased support for groundbreaking research, the CiPD will generate inventive solutions for unmet challenges.
“More than 3.5 billion people have oral health disorders that are preventable, so the needs are enormous, says Koo. “One of many projects we are excited to bring forth is using nanorobots to assist people with disabilities in cleaning their teeth.
“There are many issues where dentists know the problem, but they don’t know the mechanics of solving them. And engineers are always looking for an exciting new challenge to apply their talents to help people and community. It’s a great match.”
Eugene Ko, Assistant Professor of Clinical Oral Medicine at Penn Dental, demonstrates models for a bottle specially designed for babies with cleft palate. The project earned the inaugural Advancing Oral and Craniofacial Health Award, under the umbrella of the Penn Health Tech Accelerator program.
Henry Daniell, Vice Chair of Basic and Translational Sciences and W.D. Miller Professor at Penn Dental, is leading a team to develop a chewing gum that can fight plaque buildup—or even diseases such as COVID-19. The project earned the inaugural Innovation in Dental Medicine and Engineering to Advance Oral Health (IDEA) Prize, an award developed between the Center for Innovation and Precision Dentistry and the Penn Center for Health, Devices, and Technology (Penn Health-Tech).
“This isn’t just about creating new products,” emphasizes Stebe. “It’s about the ingenuity, and identifying new ways to bring talent together. One of the things that makes Penn so powerful is the collaborative spirit across the University. The CiPD is 100% aligned with that ethos.”
The CiPD is spreading the word about its efforts to drive innovation in oral health. Learn more and register for a special installment of the Inspiring Impact Faculty Series featuring Michel Koo on Tuesday, April 5 at 12 pm ET, and follow Penn Dental Medicine to stay informed about the CiPD’s inaugural symposium on June 2, 2022.
