Research

Research, the generation of new knowledge, is an integral part of the mission of the UConn School of Dental Medicine.

Welcome Message

Welcome to the Research Office of the UConn School of Dental Medicine (SDM)! Our mission is to provide high-quality research support to all researchers in the SDM.

To help achieve this goal, our office has been substantially reorganized and expanded. We now provide comprehensive centralized pre-award and post-award grants management to investigators in the SDM. We also provide support for student research, for our DMD/PhD program, and for the PhD program in Skeletal Biology and Regeneration. In addition, the SDM Research Office facilitates support to SDM researchers in various areas including scientific editing and statistical support.

Over the last few years, the number of grant submissions from the SDM as well as the amount of extramural funding received has grown substantially. In FY2021, we submitted 94 grant proposals and received $13.4M in total new extramural funding. The growth and success of our research programs has contributed to us achieving our highest ever research ranking based on total NIH funding for FY2021.

The staff of the SDM Research Office are highly trained and experienced in grants administration. Recent faculty feedback on their services has been overwhelmingly positive. In May 2021, the SDM Research Office staff team was recognized with the UConn Health PAWS TEAM award, which recognizes outstanding performance by a team in support of the UConn Health mission. We look forward to maintaining and improving on these high standards in service of our research community.

Sincerely,

Rajesh V. Lalla, DDS, PhD
Associate Dean for Research
lalla@uchc.edu

Fast Facts

Research-intensive school with over $10M in extramural research funding per year

Ranked #8 of all US dental schools based on total NIH funding for NIH FY2021 (rankings from the Blue Ridge Institute for Medical Research, based on NIH data).

A broad spectrum of research activity and funding including laboratory and clinical research

Recently renovated laboratory facilities; dedicated Dental Clinical Research Center

Access to a wide range of core facilities that support research

Robust research training opportunities including Masters and PhD programs

Research Strengths

Faculty and trainees at the UConn School of Dental Medicine (SDM) are engaged in a broad spectrum of research activity ranging from basic science laboratory research to clinical research, including clinical trials. Although every unit of the SDM has research activity, the following 3 groups in the SDM are especially research-focused:

Behavioral Sciences and Community Health

Biomedical Engineering

Regenerative Medicine and Skeletal Development

Research Training Opportunities

The UConn School of Dental Medicine provides a variety of research training opportunities ranging from a short summer research experience to comprehensive PhD level research training and postdoctoral training. Please use the links below to explore our various research training opportunities.

UConn-NIDCR T90/R90 Research Training Program
(includes the DMD/PhD program, PhD program, and postdoctoral fellowships)

Master of Dental Science Program

Combined DMD/Masters Program
(includes training in Public Health or in Clinical and Translational Research)

Summer Research Programs

Research Resources

Students, residents, postdoctoral trainees and faculty at the UConn School of Dental Medicine (SDM) have access to a wide range of research resources through the School, UConn Health, and UConn Storrs campus.

Prospecting for Funding Opportunities

Pivot-RP is a comprehensive search engine and database for grant funding opportunities available through state, federal, corporate, non-profit and foundation sponsors. All current UConn faculty, trainees and staff have access to this database through an institutional subscription. This enables you to identify potential funding opportunities, including research grants, as well as fellowships and training grants. It can be especially useful to identify funding opportunites from scientific societies, foundations and other non-profits. You can also receive weekly alerts with relevant opportunities based on your profile. For additional information and to set up your account, please see this link: https://guides.lib.uconn.edu/grants/Pivot

If you would like SDM Research Office staff to help you look for funding opportunities, please contact Laura Didden at ldidden@uchc.edu

Internal Funding Opportunities

A variety of internal funding opportunities open to SDM faculty including the Research Excellence Program, Convergence Awards for Research in Interdisciplinary Centers (CARIC) and the SPARK Technology Commercialization Fund.

Find Collaborators using Lincus

Looking for collaborators at UConn? Try Lincus, which tells you which faculty at UConn are working on topics of interest to you. Log in with your UConn Net ID.

Grant Writing Training and Resources

Periodic training on grant writing for various types of grants is offered by the OVPR.

Learn More

Proposal Development Services

The SDM research community can access scientific editing and other proposal development services through arrangements at the School and University level. For scientific editing support, please contact Laura Didden at ldidden@uchc.edu. For proposal development services and proofreading services offered through the Office of the Vice-President for Research (OVPR).

UConn SDM Research Environment Statement

UConn School of Dental Medicine Research Environment Statement

 

Statistical Support

For statistical support for dental residents in Master’s degree programs, please contact Dr. Chia-Ling Kuo at kuo@uchc.edu

For all other statistical support needs for SDM students, residents, and faculty, assistance is available through the UConn Statistical Consulting Services, through one of the following options:

Free Walk-In (Virtual): For quick questions about statistical issues that can be handled in a 20 minute consulting session.

Free Ask Online: Alternatively, you can submit questions online using the submission form at the link below:
https://statsconsulting.uconn.edu/ask-online-sdm/

Fully Supported Project Engagement: If more in-depth assistance is needed, it will be supported by the SDM, if there is no funding available for the project. Complete the SDM project submission form to request assistance.

For any questions about support through UConn Statistical Consulting Services, please contact Dr. Timothy Moore at timothy.e.moore@uconn.edu

Core Facilities

Core Facilities are available to the SDM Research community. Resources are located at UConn Health, and the Storrs and Avery Point campuses.

Visit Core Facilities

Sample Language describing UCH Core Facilities

Pre-submission Grant Review Program

Support to obtain scientific reviews of grant applications prior to submission to an external funding agency. For details, please see this document. If interested, please contact Laura Didden at ldidden@uchc.edu

 

 

 

Clinical Research Support Program

Support for pilot clinical research studies led by SDM Faculty. For details, please see this document. If interested, please contact Dr. Lalla at lalla@uchc.edu

 

 

Technology Commercialization Services (TCS)

Technology Commercialization Services helps the UConn research community move their research towards practical application.

Health Center Research Advisory Council (HCRAC) programs

  • Research Equipment support (includes repair/replacement support and new capital equipment support)
  • Emergency Grant Program
  • Exploratory Project Transition Award
  • Travel Grants for Graduate Students and Postdoctoral Fellows

For information on the above programs, please see the HCRAC website

For more information and resources, visit the Office of the Vice President for Research


Contact Research Office Staff

Laura Didden, CRA
Manager, SDM Research Office
ldidden@uchc.edu
Phone: 860-679-3891


Annmarie Martin
amartin@uchc.edu
Phone: 860-679-2548


Brandon Mulcunry
bmulcunry@uchc.edu
Phone: 860-679-7652


Lisa Ramsdell
ramsdell@uchc.edu
Phone: 860-679-2552


Gina Saccone
saccone@uchc.edu
Phone: 860-679-3023


Kamal Sahoobah
sahoobah@uchc.edu
Phone: 860-679-6012


Caibin Zhang
czhang@uchc.edu
Phone: 860-679-4498