Research Resources
Regional Clinical Dental Research Center
As dentistry moves into the twenty-first century, it is being reshaped and recharged by an
infusion of new information and exciting technological advances on both the diagnostic and
treatment fronts. Research progress is accelerating in areas as diverse as restorative
materials, diagnostic imaging, immunopathology, and illness behavior modification.
At the leading edge of this research explosion is the University of Washington's Regional
Clincial Dental Research Center (RCDRC). Supported in part by the University of Washington
Institute for Translational Health Sciences, the Center's mission is to advance patient
care by expanding knowledge on the pathogenesis, diagnosis, early detection, prevention,
control, and treatment of oral diseases, disorders, and dysfunctions. The Regional Clinical
Dental Research Center (RCDRC) provides facilities and resources for clinical research relevant to this mission. The goal is to improve significantly our capacity to deal with all aspects of these diseases and disorders and promote oral health by developing new ideas, concepts, treatment procedures, and diagnostic systems based on scientific knowledge rather than customary practice. We also seek to make maximum application of new knowledge and modern biotechnology, and to focus on the underserved, elderly, minority, disabled, and other special patient populations.
The RCDRC provides an environment and facilities
for controlled clinical research of normal and abnormal body function. The setting
promotes supervision and protection of the rights and welfare of human subjects,
encourages interdisciplinary collaboration between basic and clinical scientists,
and provides unique opportunities for the study not only of large populations of
patients with commonly encountered clinical disorders, but also of patients with
rare or unusual oral and dental diseases.
Specific objectives of the RCDRC program are:
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To enhance the quantity, diversity, and quality of clinical research.
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To encourage clinical research by clinical faculty not now involved in research
activities.
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To contribute to achieving the national oral health objectives expressed in Healthy
People 2010.
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To provide enhanced research opportunity to residents, postdoctoral fellows, and
graduate and predoctoral dental students.
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To encourage more clinical research based on and emanating from our ongoing funded
basic research programs.
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To focus on the assessment of Therapeutic Outcomes.
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To produce pilot data to serve as the basis for obtaining funding from federal,
state, and other sources.
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To enhance clinical research in high-priority areas such as assessment of risk for
oral disease and therapeutic outcomes, new diagnostics and therapies, pain, and
research into problems of special populations, including the elderly, disabled,
minority, and underserved.
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To take advantage of unexpected research opportunities.
Dr. Douglas S. Ramsay, DMD, PhD, MS
Dr. Ramsay is the Director of
the Regional Clinical Dental Research Center (RCDRC. In this apacity, Dr. Ramsay will work with the recently funded UW Institute
for Translational Health Science (ITHS).
The RCDRC will function as a component of the ITHS Clinical Research Center Network.
Dr. Ramsay received a B.A. in
psychology from Franklin Marshall College in 1979 and a D.M.D. from the University
of Pennsylvania in 1983. He came to the UW in 1983 as a senior fellow and in 1985
entered the UW's NIH-funded Dentist-Scientist Training Program, which supported
his doctoral studies in psychology and specialty training in orthodontics. He received
his Ph.D. in psychology in 1988, his MSD in orthodontics in 1990, and joined the
faculty in 1990. Dr. Ramsay has received
multiple research grants from the National Institutes of Health and he was the recipient
of a Research Career Development Award from the National Institute of Dental and
Craniofacial Research.He is also a
board-certified orthodontist.His research
interests include patient adherence to therapeutic regimens, as well as research
on regulatory behavior and how chronic drug use can lead to the development of drug
tolerance.Dr. Ramsay is currently
Chair of the Department of Dental Public Health Sciences.tion:
Douglas S Ramsay
Douglas S Ramsay
Director, Regional Clinical Dental Research Center
Professor
Chair, Dental Public Health Sciences
School of Dentistry
D-573 Health Sciences Building
Box 357475
Phone: (206) 616-5427, (206) 543-2034
FAX: 206 685-4258
Email: ramsay@u.washington.edu
Marilynn Rothen, RDH, BS
Marilynn Rothen is clinical manager of the Regional Clinical Dental Research Center.
She oversees the day to day coordination of the clinical facility, staff, equipment,
and approved research projects. As a dental hygienist, she has been involved with
studies on nitrous oxide, local anesthesia, and as a calibrated examiner, she has
participated in research studies on periodontal disease and TMD. She also sees patients
a day a week in the Dental Fears Research Clinic.
Marilynn graduated from the University of Washington
with a BS in dental hygiene. Her experience includes six years of practice in Switzerland,
teaching clinical dental hugiene at Pierce College, and providing dental hygiene
services in the hospital dental clinic of the Univeristy of Washington Medical Center.
Contact Information:
Marilynn L. Rothen
Clincal Manager, Regional Clinical Dental Research
Center
D-474 Health Sciences Building, Box 357480
Phone: (206) 685-8132
FAX: 206 685-9654
Email: rothen@u.washington.edu