A new centre dedicated to improving dental care and our understanding of oral disease through world-class research is being opened at the Newcastle Dental Hospital and School of Dental Sciences at Newcastle University.
The new director of the Dental Clinical Research Facility, Professor Philip Preshaw said: ‘These new specialised facilities have the latest equipment including operating microscopes for advanced surgical procedures and will allow us to run cutting-edge research and clinical trials.’
Based within the Newcastle School of Dental Sciences and Dental Hospital, a collaboration between Newcastle University and The Newcastle upon Tyne NHS Foundation Hospitals Trust, the facility has four new dental surgeries and is supported by three research laboratories.
It will be opened by Sir Leonard Fenwick, chief executive of the Newcastle Hospitals, who explained: ‘There is every confidence we shall see translation into improved dental care and treatments that will benefit the population at large. This is very much a vote of confidence in the North East’s track record in dental research.’
These facilities mean a full range of clinical dental research can be undertaken, including restorative dentistry, endodontics, periodontics, implant research, dental materials research, paediatric dentistry, local anaesthetic studies, fluoride therapy, nutritional research, and surgical procedures.
In addition, two of the surgeries are equipped with operating microscopes for advanced surgical and restorative procedures.
The development has been funded by the Trust and University with staff supported by the Northumberland and Tyne and Wear Comprehensive Local Research Network, grant income and commercial research projects.
Newcastle University is already recognised as a Science City and a leading centre for dentistry and this new facility will ensure further benefits to the region and further afield.
‘We can offer industry a responsive, high-quality facility and support research and clinical trials,’ said Professor Preshaw. ‘The developments we will be making in this new centre will directly feed into the way patients are treated here and across the UK.’
