# UCLA Dental Specialty and Ph.D. Program

> **NIH NIH K12** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES · 2020 · $218,258

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
 This career development K12 application is a new proposal to establish a Dental Specialty and PhD
program (DSPP) at the UCLA School of Dentistry. The primary objective of the UCLA DSPP is to generate a
small but highly effective group of future dentist-scientist scholars capable of addressing the grand challenges
facing our profession in the next several decades. We envision that such dentist-scientist scholars will [1] lead
the scientific research addressing our patient-oriented dental and craniofacial challenges; [2] inspire young
dentists to pursue academic and scientific careers; and [3] develop a critical mass of dentist-scientists with
diverse backgrounds, who will assure dentistry remains a learned profession steeped in scientific excellence.
 UCLA School of Dentistry has established outstanding postgraduate dental training programs that
include 7 Graduate Medical Education (GME)-supported dental specialty residency programs. In the revised
application, we propose three consecutive years of full time supervised research training supported by K12
followed by advanced clinical training in a selected dental specialty including concentrated patient care
supported by GME. Our DSPP program proposes extensive integrations between PhD research and Specialty
trainings through creative programing. The K12 research training includes both PhD research and patient and
clinical specialty oriented research projects mentored by research mentor and specialty mentor, respectively. A
critical authentic task is designed integrating research and specialty clinical training.
 The PD/PI, Specialty Mentor and Research Mentor will form a cohesive alliance to support research
training and personal/professional development of each DSPP Scholar. The Specialty mentor-Research
mentor alliance with DSPP Scholar will create a new network to impact the patient-oriented research
collaboration. DSPP Scholars with underrepresented minority (URM) backgrounds will be actively recruited.
UCLA School of Dentistry and Texas A&M University College of Dentistry will provide the URM candidate pool.
UCLA DSPP will organize the evidence-based effective pedagogy providing all DSPP Scholars an equitable
and inclusive learning experience.
 Finally, Scholars will enter the transition year supported by UCLA School of Dentistry to conduct
postdoctoral research and to prepare independent research career. UCLA DSPP aims to achieve our long-
term goals to increase the critical mass of dental school faculty, who contribute to both clinical and scientific
excellence; to develop faculty diversity; and to construct collaborative networks involving clinician-scientists
suitable for addressing patient-oriented challenges facing the current and future of dentistry.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9975804
- **Project number:** 5K12DE027830-03
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES
- **Principal Investigator:** ICHIRO NISHIMURA
- **Activity code:** K12 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $218,258
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-09-01 → 2023-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9975804

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9975804, UCLA Dental Specialty and Ph.D. Program (5K12DE027830-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9975804. Licensed CC0.

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