Erin Vollick

Thousands support campaign to create chair of Tamil studies at U of T Scarborough

Christopher.Sorensen — Mon, 03 May 2021 14:25:01 +0000

Thousands support campaign to create chair of Tamil studies at U of T Scarborough

Christopher.Sorensen Mon, 05/03/2021 - 10:25

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(Photo by Ken Jones)

Erin Vollick

Topic

Global Lens

Wisdom Tettey

Global

Tamil

U of T Scarborough

A campaign to establish a chair in Tamil studies at the University of Toronto Scarborough – the first of its kind in Canada – has reached its $3-million philanthropic goal.

More than 3,800 donors gave to the grassroots campaign, which was spearheaded by the Canadian Tamil Congress and Tamil Chair Inc. in 2018. Since then, individuals, businesses, governments and community organizations have pitched in with support. While most of the donors are local to Scarborough and the eastern Greater Toronto Area, the campaign also generated support from as far away as France, Australia and Malaysia.

For fourth year student Kanitha Uthayakuma, who has been actively involved in the Tamil Students Association at U of T Scarborough, establishing a Tamil chair represents a significant achievement.

“There are a large number of Tamil students at UTSC,” says Uthayakuma. “A lot of Tamil students want to learn their history. Having the opportunity to study Tamil at the university level would be great.”

Tamil is among the world’s seven classical languages, with a continuous linguistic and literary history stretching back more than 2,000 years. With 80 million-plus speakers, Tamil is one of the most frequently spoken languages in the world. And Canada – particularly eastern Toronto – is home to the largest Tamil community outside of the Indian subcontinent.

Welcomed by U of T Scarborough’s large and active Tamil-heritage student population, the chair in Tamil studies will help enable the preservation and memorialization of Tamil culture and language through scholarship, and establish a focal point for Tamil scholars from all over the world to collaborate or pursue higher Tamil studies.

For organizers and many campaign supporters, bringing the chair to U of T was a priority since it’s one of the top-ranked schools in the world – and a school that values inclusive excellence.

“We are proud to establish a Tamil Chair at Canada's most prestigious university – the University of Toronto – and in particular to its Scarborough Campus, a part of our great city that is home to a large Tamil population,” said Sivan Ilangko, head of the committee for the chair in Tamil studies, president of the Canadian Tamil Congress and a director of Tamil Chair Inc. “On behalf of the Canadian Tamil Congress and Tamil Chair Inc., we would like to thank each and every donor, volunteer and community group who contributed to this historical initiative,”

“I offer my heartfelt congratulations and gratitude to the campaign organizers, volunteers and the countless donors from around the world, whose commitment, determination, perseverance, passion, and belief in the cause enabled us to realize this goal,” said Wisdom Tettey, vice-president and principal of U of T Scarborough, in a statement. “They have brought to fruition the collective aspiration of the global Tamil community to preserve, grow, and sustain its cultural heritage for the enrichment of the common good.

“Together with our community partners, we proudly celebrate what has been accomplished through this truly unique exemplar of innovative, inclusive, and participatory university-community mobilization for common purpose.”

Green Shield Canada to transform Canadian public health with $6.15-million gift to Faculty of Dentistry

Christopher.Sorensen — Tue, 24 Nov 2020 15:11:01 +0000

Green Shield Canada to transform Canadian public health with $6.15-million gift to Faculty of Dentistry

Christopher.Sorensen Tue, 11/24/2020 - 10:11

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A gift by Green Shield Canada will fund a two-chair dental clinic housed within U of T's Faculty of Dentistry that will conduct research and deliver care to potentially thousands of lower-income patients (photo by Jeff Comber)

Topic

Research & Innovation

A $6.15 million gift made by Green Shield Canada (GSC) to the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Dentistry – the largest single donation to dental public health research in Canadian history – is poised to transform dental public health research and policy development in Canada.

Donated through GSC’s Green Door Project, which seeks to help Canadians secure access to health care, the gift will fund the establishment of a five-year research program that will offer no-cost oral health care to thousands of individuals and their families who could not otherwise afford it.

“Since our founding in 1957, Green Shield Canada has operated as a social enterprise focused on improving access to effective, evidence-based health care,” says GSC president and CEO Zahid Salman.

“Our collaboration with the University of Toronto on the Green Door Project is a continuation of this history. Together, we will provide oral health care to under-serviced populations and aim to start a conversation across the country about how to permanently increase access to dentistry for the uninsured and under-insured in our communities.”

GSC is the fourth-largest health and dental benefits provider in Canada.

The gift will fund a two-chair dental clinic housed within the Faculty of Dentistry, located in the heart of Canada’s most densely populated urban centre. The One Smile research program will simultaneously conduct the largest dental public health research program in Canadian history while delivering care to potentially thousands of patients in the clinic, which will be known as the Green Shield Canada Clinic.

“I would like to thank Green Shield Canada for this incredibly generous and creative gift,” says Meric Gertler, U of T’s president. “The Green Door Project and the Green Shield Canada Clinic will benefit so many disadvantaged individuals and communities, and help to build a healthy and inclusive society. This wonderful gift will also significantly advance U of T’s mission of national and global leadership in health care and public health policy.”

“As an organization, we have always tried to follow evidence in our advocacy for improvements in health care and, in this case, the evidence pointed us squarely in the direction of oral health as one of the most significant gaps Canadians face in accessing the care they need to live their healthiest lives,” says David Willows, an executive vice-president of digital, innovation and brand experience for GSC.

Removing barriers to oral health

“Oral health and access to oral health care are significant public health issues – not just dentistry-related issues – and need to be treated as such,” says Faculty of Dentistry Associate Professor Carlos Quiñonez, who will lead the One Smile research program.

Oral health care is an increasing concern for Canadians everywhere. Studies have shown the systemic effect that oral health can have on overall health, with poor oral health status intrinsically linked to complications from diabetes, heart disease and a host of other conditions. Yet, one in five Canadians does not have access to oral health care. Those from lower-income brackets are four times more likely to avoid seeing a dentist due to the cost and are far more likely to have worse oral health and dental treatment needs.

Canada’s oral health statistics were a major motivator for GSC’s philanthropy.

“We carefully considered how we could best move the current system forward, both in terms of actually helping a portion of Canadians get access to the care they need, but also looking longer-term at addressing the systemic barriers that have led us to this place,” Willow says. “That really sums up what the Green Door Project is here to do: working with community and academic partners like the University of Toronto to come up with smart, sustainable ways to move the needle forward on critical components of health.”

Quiñonez, who is also director of the graduate specialty program in dental public health at the Faculty of Dentistry, has assembled a multidisciplinary team of experts in health-care delivery, health economics, dental public health, public policy, immunology and periodontology. Individuals and their families admitted into the One Smile research program – an estimated 1,500-2,000 persons – will take part in a multi-layered study that will continuously assess their oral health, overall health, pain levels, as well as social factors such as life satisfaction, employability and more, over the course of five years.

Towards new public health policies

The goal of the program is to establish a unique body of evidence that can be used to inform public health policies regarding oral health and access to care.

Acknowledging past work in the area of dental public health and access to care, Quiñonez says this will be the first research program that will frame access to health care in terms of a return on investment – whether through improving human capital, social economic gains or lifting the burden on existing health-care structures. Those who cannot access oral health care often have to resort to hospital emergency room care, for instance, adding pressure to an already strained health-care system.

“We know that oral health is an integral part of overall health,” says Daniel Haas, dean of the Faculty of Dentistry. “This unique, multidisciplinary research program will create meaningful measures of the impact of oral health care on individuals, families, the health-care system and society, which will allow us to extrapolate that impact to the regional, provincial and national public health discourse.”

Quiñonez adds: “Our goal is not to convince governments about expanding coverage for dental care in Canada, but to create the knowledge that is needed to help make policy decisions based on evidence and good research. What I primarily want to see is that we’ve been able to inform existing policy debates and, most ideally, to help people who desperately need access to dental care.”

The One Smile research program will also continue the Faculty of Dentistry’s vibrant history as a leader in dental public health research. The program stands to attract top graduate student talent to tackle the wealth of studies that could be generated from the original program.

“On behalf of the Faculty of Dentistry, I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to our partners at Green Shield Canada for this generous donation,” says Haas. “With this investment in the One Smile research program, the Faculty of Dentistry has before it a truly remarkable opportunity to further strengthen our vision to improve health by advancing dentistry through inspired leadership, innovation and excellence in education, research and practice.”

The Faculty of Dentistry at U of T is Canada’s first and largest dental faculty, seeing over 90,000 patient visits in a typical year. The faculty is a leader in research and offers comprehensive training in undergraduate and graduate programs.

Breaking down barriers: U of T Faculty of Dentistry builds community with student 'houses'

Christopher.Sorensen — Tue, 10 Nov 2020 15:11:28 +0000

Breaking down barriers: U of T Faculty of Dentistry builds community with student 'houses'

Christopher.Sorensen Tue, 11/10/2020 - 10:11

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Beginning this month, students in the Faculty of Dentistry's Doctor of Dental Surgery program will be assigned to one of approximately 20 “houses” where they will connect with upper-year student and faculty mentors (photo courtesy of Faculty of Dentistry)

Topic

When the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Dentistry first closed its doors to all but essential emergency services, Ryan Schure wondered how the COVID-19 restrictions would affect students and faculty who were suddenly deprived of in-person connections.

Then he had an idea.

“I was thinking of my synagogue during quarantine,” says Schure, who is an assistant professor. “Everyone got a personal call just to check in, and I wondered how that could be translated here.”

His solution was the house initiative. Slated to roll out in its beta phase this month, students in the Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) program will each be assigned to one of approximately 20 “houses.”

The groups will serve an important function: each will host both a faculty mentor as well as upper-year mentors. The volunteer faculty mentors, approximately 20 in all, will connect with each student assigned to their house to offer support, information and advice. Students will also benefit from connections to others students. For its inaugural year, the program will incorporate only first- and second- year students; third- and fourth-year students will be assigned to houses next September.

“The ultimate vision here is to develop personal relationships between manageable groups of students and faculty members,” says Schure.

Schure knows first-hand just how vital connections between students and faculty members can be – and the difference they can make to students’ success. Appointed as a faculty member on July 1, Schure is a double graduate of the Faculty of Dentistry, having obtained his DDS degree in 2010, and his Master of Science in periodontics degree in 2013.

While Schure was very involved as a student – he was treasurer of the Dental Students’ Society and sat on a number of committees – he knows that’s not going to be the approach taken by every student.

“There are some students who may never speak to a faculty member outside of a classroom setting,” says Schure. “With this program, I want to break down some of those barriers.”

“We’re trying to develop a sense of belonging, well-being, community and friendship,” adds Assistant Professor Richard Rayman, the faculty’s director of student life who is also a co-lead of the program’s development and implementation. “We’d like the students to get to know each other better and interact. We’re not here to counsel. We’re just here to listen.”

The initiative will integrate the faculty’s two existing mentorship programs, both led by students.

That includes Big Sibs/Little Sibs, a one-on-one mentorship program that matches a second-year “big sibling” with a first year “little sibling,” with the aim of helping smooth incoming students’ transition into the professional program.

“In first year, things are really tough,” says David Dunbar, second-year class president and one of the students who helped Schure fine-tune the house concept. Dunbar felt the mentorship programs would be an important resource to continue within the house system. “Leaning on upper-years is very helpful. It’s especially helpful this year, which is so strange and isolating.”

The peer mentor program will also be folded into the new initiative. Also student-driven, the peer mentor program assigns first-year DDS students into groups, which are then assigned two upper-year mentors: one in third year and another in fourth. Typically, there are nine groups in total.

Madonna Rofaeel, a fourth-year student and one of the leads of the peer mentor program, says the programs are valuable. “We really reach out as often as we can,” she says. “We’re here to help them. I hope they’ve been finding it helpful for their transition.”

Peer mentors connect with mentees on a range of topics and offer students academic as well as social support. This year, for instance, the mentors held a virtual presentation on stress and time management during the demanding DDS program. They also recorded a video, offering first-year students advice.

“Mentorship is extremely important,” says Rofaeel. “I’m here today because of all the mentors I’ve had. I feel obligated to pay it forward, to share what I wish I knew [when I started].”

The house initiative will build upon and expand those existing mentorship relationships. “Your big sibling will be in your house,” says Schure. “An upper-year peer mentor or mentors will be in your house. We’re integrating all these programs a little more within the faculty.”

A compelling idea in a regular year, the house initiative takes on greater significance as 2020’s COVID-19 pandemic wears on.

“Should there be another lockdown this year, we want it in place,” Schure says.

While health and wellbeing is a priority for the faculty – a strategic working group was struck in 2019 to develop initiatives and programs to boost wellness awareness among students, staff and faculty – COVID-19 has made finding new ways of coping with the stresses of daily life and dental school of even more important.

“It’s crucial, especially now with COVID,” Rofaeel says.

With its focus on building resilience and support systems within the student community, the house initiative may be the silver lining to the cloud.

“My hope is that our school can continue to operate, at least to some degree, in person,” says Dunbar, adding that it’s also a way to check in on people’s mental health. “Either way, [the house system] may help some people feel more interconnected, and that their voice is heard in the right way.”

The feedback from faculty and students has been positive.

In fact, Rofaeel says her only regret is the house system wasn’t available throughout her time at the Faculty of Dentistry. “I wish I had this opportunity when I was going through the program,” she says. “It will be really exciting to see how it benefits first-years, upper-years and mentors.”

U of T researchers discover mechanism linking gum disease to heart disease, other conditions

Christopher.Sorensen — Thu, 22 Oct 2020 18:54:39 +0000

U of T researchers discover mechanism linking gum disease to heart disease, other conditions

Christopher.Sorensen Thu, 10/22/2020 - 14:54

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Researchers at U of T's Faculty of Dentistry say their work suggests that neutrophils (pictured) released to tackle gum disease could cause the immune system to overreact to other infections, possibly including COVID-19 (image courtesy of Noah Fine)

Erin Vollick

Topic

Breaking Research

Princess Margaret Cancer Centre

Faculty of Dentistry

Mount Sinai Hospital

Research & Innovation

University Health Network

Researchers at the University of Toronto have found evidence that neutrophil immune cell activity is the missing link connecting periodontal disease with heart disease, cancer and other inflammatory conditions – possibly including COVID-19.

The link between periodontal (gum) disease and other inflammatory conditions such as heart disease and diabetes has long been established, but the mechanism behind the association has, until now, remained a mystery.

Now, a team of scientists and clinicians led by U of T’s Faculty of Dentistry say they’ve found the reason why – and it’s related to the body’s own hyperactive immune response. The findings were recently published in the Journal of Dental Research.

“There are statistically significant correlations between periodontitis and systemic diseases ranging from diabetes to cardiovascular diseases,” says Howard Tenenbaum, a professor at the Faculty of Dentistry and chief dentist at Sinai Health Systems in Toronto who is one of the authors of the study.

To find what links those conditions, the researchers focused on the behaviours of cells primarily activated by gum disease: neutrophils, which are cells of the innate immune system. Through in vivo models, the researchers found that the immune system releases an abundance of these neutrophils to tackle the bacterial infections responsible for periodontitis, more commonly known as gum disease.

Activated to fight an oral infection, a systemic effect was noted: Once periodontal inflammation was present, an overabundance of neutrophils circulated that are primed for attack. The hyper-vigilant immune system then responds with an excess of force to any secondary infection.

“It’s almost as if these white blood cells are in second gear when they should be in first,” says Michael Glogauer, professor at the Faculty of Dentistry and dentist-in-chief at the University Health Network who is the study’s senior author.

That’s when the body becomes susceptible to damage from secondary inflammatory conditions. With the immune system already primed by the neutrophils, a secondary event causes those immune cells to destroy affected tissues and organs.

“The [neutrophils] are much more likely to release cytokines much more quickly, leading to negative outcomes,” says Glogauer, who is also head of dental oncology at Toronto’s Princess Margaret Cancer Centre.

Produced initially in in vivo models, the findings were confirmed through a controlled clinical experiment.

The study’s findings underscore the importance of oral health as a vital indicator of potential complications for other inflammatory conditions, as well as disease model outcomes.

“We believe this is the mechanism by which oral hygiene can impact vulnerability to unrelated secondary health challenges,” says lead author Noah Fine, a post-doctoral researcher at the Faculty of Dentistry. “Neutrophil (immune) priming throughout the body can connect these seemingly distinct conditions.”

The study also may have important ramifications for COVID-19, another inflammatory diesease.

“There is evidence out there that patients with periodontal disease may be much more likely to have negative outcomes with COVID-19,” says Glogauer, adding the recent study could provide some clues as to why.

“Neutrophils are the cells that are at prime risk of causing cytokine storms. That’s the exact cell we show is primed with people with periodontal disease.”

The researchers received support from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.

'Excited to move forward': U of T Faculty of Dentistry students, patients slowly return to campus clinics

Christopher.Sorensen — Tue, 15 Sep 2020 14:31:58 +0000

'Excited to move forward': U of T Faculty of Dentistry students, patients slowly return to campus clinics

Christopher.Sorensen Tue, 09/15/2020 - 10:31

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Rosemary Chu, a student at the University of Toronto's Faculty of Dentistry, speaks with patient. Dentistry's clinics are continuing a gradual reopening plan that began July 6 (photo by Jeff Comber)

Topic

After months of near total shutdown, students and their patients at the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Dentistry clinics are gradually returning to campus while observing a host of new COVID-19 safety protocols.

The school’s graduate specialty clinics began slowly reopening on July 6, while undergraduate Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) students who are transitioning from year three to year four resumed seeing a backlog of patients as of Aug. 4th. The staggered reopening has involved a number of important adjustments, including a reduction of patient capacity and the implementation of new health and safety protocols.

Susie Son, a fourth-year student who is the Dental Students’ Society president, says she and her fellow classmates are thankful they can return to clinics.

“We want to be able to train and practise as much as we can before we graduate,” she says.

So far, Son says, it’s been an “unexpected, thrilling” experience as she and her classmates perform many procedures for the first time. And while the class overall feels rusty, having been out of clinic for so long, Son says that both instructors and patients have been understanding and patient.

Starting in September, the faculty will be ramping up to 50 per cent of its former clinical capacity for the patients of the DDS students. This will involve even more changes to scheduling and student rotations in order to keep the entire community safe while still providing students the experience they need. Students will also have extended clinical hours on some days, allowing them to maximize the amount of clinical time they have over the school year and the number of patients they can treat.

Students heading back to clinics have undergone additional training, including an entire COVID-19 curriculum that was developed in conjunction with the other U of T health faculties. New infection control and personal protective equipment standards have also been put in place.

“The most important part is [donning and] doffing the PPEs,” says Son. “I want to ensure I don’t contaminate anything.”

The new safety protocols are helping patients feel safer, too. A few patients have expressed concerns during the pandemic, but Sonia Huang, a first-year resident in the graduate specialty program in periodontics, says the majority are “so, so grateful to be back.” In the Oral Reconstruction Clinic, where she has been since August, residents are busy restoring implant-supported crowns and adjusting and inserting dentures.

“Some have been missing teeth for four-plus months,” says Huang, adding that being back has led to very positive experiences for both patients and their caregivers. Huang will also work in the Graduate Periodontal Clinic next month.

There are continued limitations due to COVID-19. For instance, Son notes that she and her fellow students are restricted from gathering together at the clinics. But Son says her passion for the profession remains as strong as ever.

“I’ve always wanted to be a dentist,” says Son. “There will be many instances of uncertainty, but coming back to clinics is a challenge I'm willing to [under]take because I just love this profession so much.”

It’s a sentiment shared by Huang. “Being able to go back to clinic and see patients made me realize I am on the right path,” she says. “I’m very excited to move forward.”

Study by U of T and American researchers could lead to anti-inflammatory treatments, including for COVID-19

Christopher.Sorensen — Mon, 06 Jul 2020 15:27:58 +0000

Study by U of T and American researchers could lead to anti-inflammatory treatments, including for COVID-19

Christopher.Sorensen Mon, 07/06/2020 - 11:27

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Chris McCulloch (right), a professor at the Faculty of Dentistry, was a co-lead of a study that found the combination of two peptides can penetrate a cell’s membrane to dampen an acute inflammatory response (photo by Jeff Comber)

Topic

Research & Innovation

A collaboration between the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Dentistry and the National Jewish Hospital in Denver has yielded a new discovery that could be useful to combat inflammation and shows promise in fighting acute respiratory illnesses such as COVID-19.

Called TAT CARMIL1, the discovery is a combination of two naturally occurring peptides that work together to penetrate a cell’s membrane to dampen an acute inflammatory response. In the study, the peptide reduced collagen degradation by up to 43 per cent. If deployed early enough, the researchers say, the peptide could allay some of the worst damage caused by acute inflammatory responses such as cytokine storms – a natural defence response to an acute infection that is sometimes associated with COVID-19.

Cytokines are a type of immune response cell, but when the body becomes overwhelmed by infections such as those caused by influenza, H1N1 or COVID-19, it can release an unregulated flood of cytokines into the body. In those instances, infection-busting cytokines can cause severe damage in the body – everything from holes in the lung tissue to vascular damage and blot clots, with the most acute cases causing death.

Greg Downey, a pulmonologist and professor in the department of medicine at the National Jewish Hospital who co-authored the study, published recently in Cell Reports, says he was excited by the peptide discovery.

“There are a lot of people looking at these areas, but this study gives the first indication of how these CARMIL proteins are involved with this pathway,” Downey says.

Here’s how it works: the peptide combines a segment of a naturally occurring protein, CARMIL1, with a peptide “vehicle,” TAT, that brings the CARMIL1 directly into the cell. That enables the CARMIL1 to calm the inflammatory storm. The CARMIL peptide effectively blocks a family of cytokines, called interleukin-1 from signalling and reproducing in vast quantities.

What makes the discovery so unique is how precise it is. The TAT CARMIL1 peptide targets two receptors, sticking to both the cell’s surface and its cell substrate, where it adheres to other cells.

“The two receptors necessary for it to work supplies an unusual level of specificity,” explains Chris McCulloch, a professor at the Faculty of Dentistry and a co-lead of the study. “We think the unusual nature of this pathway might restrict its side effects.”

That could make the peptide an unusually strong candidate as a potential drug target. Drugs designed with this peptide would need to target cells at both receptors, narrowing the potential field of candidates from tens of thousands to hundreds.

“This is a precise pathway to deal with a precise issue,” says Downey.

Next, the team hope to track the peptide’s success in in vitro models. Given the broad applicability of the peptide, which can be combined with other drugs, such as cancer or arthritis drugs, the discovery could one day become a useful ally in the fight against all types of inflammation.

Still, Downey cautions, more work needs to be done. The initial study shows that the storm-stopping peptide is most effective when it is applied as an early intervention. That, says Downey, is impractical: “In the clinical world, the reality is that you don’t have that luxury.”

The research was supported by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, among others.

Researchers at U of T Faculty of Dentistry explore rapid, low-cost COVID-19 test

Christopher.Sorensen — Mon, 04 May 2020 16:42:11 +0000

Researchers at U of T Faculty of Dentistry explore rapid, low-cost COVID-19 test

Christopher.Sorensen Mon, 05/04/2020 - 12:42

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Researchers at U of T and local hospitals are looking to develop a mouth-based test for COVID-19 that would be quick and easy to administer to patients (photo by iStockphoto via Getty Images)

Topic

Princess Margaret Hospital

Research & Innovation

University Health Network

A simple mouth swab and rinse with testing technology adapted from a common viral detection method – the pap smear – could provide an easy, low cost and rapid diagnostic tool for COVID-19 infections, according to researchers at the University of Toronto.

Michael Glogauer, professor at the university’s Faculty of Dentistry and head of dental oncology at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, is working with partners at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, North York General Hospital, Sinai Health Systems and the University Health Network to research the viability of the platform.

The novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19 infections invades epithelial cells, such as those lining the lungs. But these epithelial cells are also prevalent in large numbers in the mouth, and especially on the tongue, where respiratory droplets are expelled. COVID-19 binds to the body’s epithelial cells through ACE-2 receptors – and, as Glogauer notes, “It just so happens that the tongue expresses extremely high levels of ACE-2 receptors.”

That makes the mouth, which is also one of the most easily accessible sites on the body – requiring no needles, and, unlike the nose, causing no pain when swabbed – an ideal place from which to cull samples.

“The tongue is a big net,” says Glogauer. “It will always be positive if an infection is present.”

Recently, Canada has launched a number of detection platforms to help with the fight against COVID-19. Some proposed detection methods require specialized technology or equipment. Others, like the common nasopharyngeal swab method, utilize certain chemicals for testing that are currently in short supply around the world.

But Glogauer says there’s a testing platform already in use which could make a significant difference in making COVID-19 testing more widely available: the pap smear.

“Pap smears show viral changes and inflammation in epithelial cells,” he says, adding that’s what technicians are on the hunt for with COVID-19.

The test is also routine and simple: epithelial cells are scraped, mounted onto slides, stained and viewed under a microscope. The cost? Approximately $30 per test.

Glogauer adds that laboratories across Canada could rapidly employ the platform.

“All labs are set up to do pap smears,” he says.

The process of adapting the test would be virtually painless, too. Samples could be easily collected by giving subjects an oral rinse and brushing their tongue. Results can be returned in a matter of hours. Importantly, the smear test could represent an easy ally for COVID-19 detection in developing nations, where lab technology is limited.

“If it works, it will be a real game changer for everyone,” Glogauer says.

While Glogauer cautions that the technology needs to be fine-tuned in order to prevent false positives, he says there’s significant potential to develop a fast and relatively inexpensive tool in the arsenal to find and detect COVID-19.

“Ideally, you want different testing modalities,” says Glogauer. “This could be one of them.”

'A mindset that needs to change': U of T researcher promotes gender equality on the global stage

Christopher.Sorensen — Wed, 04 Mar 2020 19:47:45 +0000

'A mindset that needs to change': U of T researcher promotes gender equality on the global stage

Christopher.Sorensen Wed, 03/04/2020 - 14:47

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U of T's Grace De Souza is the vice-president of the Women in Science Network, a subgroup of the International Association of Dental Research (IADR), a global academic research association with over 10,000 members worldwide (photo by Jeff Comber)

Topic

Grace De Souza, an associate professor in the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Dentistry, wants to raise awareness about the impact of gender-based discrimination on the careers of female scientists, which she says is ubiquitous.

Even the language used in reference letters can lead to bias against women, says De Souza, who adds that her eyes were opened when she attended a U of T workshop on anti-discrimination and unconscious bias in grant reviews.

That led De Souza to get involved with the Women in Science Network, a subgroup of the International Association of Dental Research (IADR), a global academic research association with over 10,000 members worldwide.

“There is a mindset that needs to change. The least we can do is open up a conversation,” says De Souza, who was elected vice-president of the network in January and is now holding those conversations on a world stage.

The Women in Science Network formed in 2011 after a review conducted by the IADR showed that, despite gains, women in science continue to face barriers to equal pay, tenure, and grant success. They also receive significantly fewer major recognitions. Now boasting over 300 active members from institutions across North America and internationally, the network organizes events throughout the year that bring greater awareness to gender barriers and propose strategies to dismantle them.

Leadership is one such barrier. “Historically, we may have seen an increase of women in dentistry, in academia, but not in leadership roles,” says De Souza, who adds that the situation may be starting to change in part due to network members’ efforts to improve equal gender representation.

Current and past presidents of the IADR are women, for instance, marking an important new trend in the organization’s 100-year history. Only 10 women have ever been elected to its leadership, with the first taking office in 1981 and the second being elected in 1999. At the upcoming centennial meeting of the IADR in March, the network will host a mentorship event, with the goal of helping more women step into leadership positions.

A large part of the network’s mandate is to organize events that prompt dialogue on issues of gender. They run a successful symposia series, for example, that deals with topics ranging from harassment in academic institutions to the importance of scientific rigour, and published a special issue of the IADR’s Advances in Dental Research this past November.

Recognition platforms are another means to improve gender equality, according to De Souza. Awards are handed out by the Women in Science Network at the IADR’s annual meetings, and they have developed a program to fund research projects that promote better representation of female scientists.

But while these interventions are important for dentistry’s largest academic research organization, they shouldn’t stop there, says De Souza. “We are always looking for initiatives to improve the conversation,” she says, and those conversations should continue at the members’ home institutions, as well.

At the end of her tenure as vice president in 2021, De Souza will step into the role of president of the Women in Science Network.

U of T's Faculty of Dentistry aims to make admissions process 'the most positive experience possible'

Christopher.Sorensen — Thu, 20 Feb 2020 15:42:10 +0000

U of T's Faculty of Dentistry aims to make admissions process 'the most positive experience possible'

Christopher.Sorensen Thu, 02/20/2020 - 10:42

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Wearing a lab coat, Daniel Haas, the dean of U of T's Faculty of Dentistry, meets with prospective candidates during this year's admission interviews while current students in green scrubs look on (photo by Jim Lai)

Topic

In an effort to improve the experience of prospective students, the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Dentistry is taking steps to make its competitive annual admissions process a fun and friendly affair.

For the past three admissions cycles, the faculty has made changes to the format of its admissions interview weekend to make it as welcoming and inclusive as possible for candidates and their families.

Of course, some nerves are to be expected – only about 180 applicants are invited to interview each winter and, of those, just 96 students will be selected for admission into U of T’s first-year Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) class.

“For me, the most stressful part of dental school was getting in,” says fourth-year DDS student Greg Pigeon, a student ambassador who volunteered for this year’s admissions weekend.

But while the admissions process is necessarily rigorous, it can also be warm, says Jim Lai, the faculty’s vice-dean, education.

For Lai, who also instituted changes to the interview format for the faculty’s admissions, setting the right tone for the day is crucial.

“We want to ensure that all the candidates who walk out of their interview had the most positive experience possible,” Lai says. “We really want to reinforce how great our school is.”

There were more than 80 students and a number of faculty and staff who volunteered for the most recent admissions interview weekend, held Feb. 8 and 9. The volunteers greeted candidates and their families, answered questions and took the candidates to meet Samantha Freeman-Attwood, registrar and manager in the faculty’s Office of Student Services, just prior to their interviews.

“We are working to make our faculty more responsive to the needs of students,” says Daniel Haas, dean of the Faculty of Dentistry. “Being present for the students, being there for them from day one, is an important part of that overall approach.”

But the welcome mat – which also involves refreshments and a student activities fair prior to the interview – doesn’t roll up once the interview is over. Afterward, DDS students take small groups on a tour of the faculty, allowing candidates to picture what their daily lives might be like.

The last stop on the tour is Clinic 1, one of the faculty’s largest patient clinics. There, candidates are greeted by the dean, who is joined by a handful of students.

“I tell the candidates that they are free to ask anything about the DDS program or about the profession that they are about to enter,” says Haas, adding, “I truly enjoy my experience during admissions weekend.”

Pigeon says most candidates want to know what dental school is like and how to navigate the degree’s demands. Having upper-year students there to share their experiences is helpful, says Pigeon. But it’s the dean’s presence that adds weight to the day.

“You have direct access to the dean. You could ask him anything. I think, from the candidates’ perspective, it was a pretty neat opportunity,” Pigeon says.

By making the dean available, the school also wants to send prospective candidates another message: Every candidate is valued.

“This is their first impression,” says Lai. “We’ve definitely created a much more open atmosphere and caring environment. We’re happy with what we’ve done, but we’re always looking at ways to improve.”

Recalling his experience on interview day, Pigeon agrees that efforts to make the process more enjoyable are working. “People are still tired and worn out. It’s still a long day,” he says. “But I think the changes make the experience more enjoyable. The candidates felt really welcomed.”

U of T oral and maxillofacial surgeons save lives while training future doctors in Ethiopia

geoff.vendeville — Wed, 08 Jan 2020 18:48:04 +0000

U of T oral and maxillofacial surgeons save lives while training future doctors in Ethiopia

geoff.vendeville Wed, 01/08/2020 - 13:48

Cutline

Drs. Karl Cuddy (left) and Marco Caminiti (right), both of U of T's Faculty of Dentistry, pictured with Dr. Demerew of Addis Ababa University (photo courtesy of Marco Caminiti)

Erin Vollick

Topic

Global Lens

Toronto Addis Ababa Academic Collaboration

Inside St. Peter's Specialized Hospital in Addis Ababa, patients lined the halls with ailments including head and neck tumours, kerosene burns, cleft lips and hyena bites.

They were waiting to be assessed by the first group of maxillofacial surgery residents at Addis Ababa University – and by a trio of oral and maxillofacial surgeons from the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Dentistry.

The U of T group took part in the first shared initiative between the Toronto Addis Ababa Academic Collaboration (TAAAC) and the surgical non-profit, Face the Future, which was founded by Canadian surgeon Dr. Peter Adamson. TAAAC is a partnership between U of T and Addis Ababa University that aims to promote academic training, teaching support and research collaboration in many different fields, including dentistry.

The universities and Face the Future had shared goals: to provide ongoing training for residents of the newly formed maxillofacial surgery program and to treat complex cases.

Faculty of Dentistry Assistant Professor Marco Caminiti gave lectures during the two-week stay while the AAU residents and attending surgeons received specialized hands-on training and worked alongside their U of T colleagues.

“The planning, surgeries and post-operative procedures were our way of training the residents in the essential practical skills they need,” said Caminiti, who is also the graduate specialty program director in oral and maxillofacial surgery at U of T.

Over the course of their visit, the team, which included U of T Assistant Professor Karl Cuddy and graduate resident Michael Laschuk, operated on dozens of patients and assessed many more.

The team faced challenges that included a lack of critical resources and surgical tools to language barriers.

Sometimes the surgeries were high-risk, complex procedures that lasted a full day. One such operation involved a total maxillectomy, requiring the removal of a patient's jaw, part of the nose and skin to cut out a large tumour.

Caminiti remains in touch with Dr. Demerew, his AAU colleague and director of the Addis Ababa University oral surgery program, via WhatsApp. “The relationships we forged there are very strong,” Caminiti says.

While the Addis Ababa maxillofacial surgery residents improved their core knowledge and surgical techniques, they weren’t the only ones to gain from the exchange.

“It was very humbling,” Cuddy says of his first trip to Addis Ababa. “I learned a lot about how to deal with resource limitations and challenges that we face on a completely different scale.”

Both Cuddy and Caminiti plan to return to Ethiopia for another teaching opportunity. Next time, though, they don’t want to arrive empty-handed. They want to put the word out that they’re looking for donations of specialized surgical equipment such as surgical drills, saws and facial plating systems.

“For every person we helped, there were five or six we wished we could have,” says Caminiti.

Next spring, when the first cohort of the maxillofacial surgery program graduates – only the second such program to be established in the country of 109 million people – their colleagues and friends in Canada will be cheering for them.

“It’s a wonderful collaboration between our two universities,” Cuddy says. “We have a lot to offer and we’ve really just scratched the surface.”