Introduction: National Institute of Dental Research Shapes the Future of Dentistry

By David G. Jones

Article copyright 1998 Journal of the California Dental Association.
Photographs copyright of the authors.

In 1948, just three years after the end of World War II, the transistor was first demonstrated, and the World Health Organization was established. Baseball legend Babe Ruth died at the age of 53. The Berlin airlift began on June 24 in response to a Soviet blockade; and on that same day, halfway around the globe, a fledgling government agency was launched with a small $8 million budget, an investment that today is paying dividends in the oral health of the American people.

As it celebrates its 50th anniversary, the National Institute of Dental Research is a "learning organization." It is dedicated to shaping the future through research, training, evaluation, science transfer, and information programs designed to promote health, prevent disease, develop new and improved diagnostics and therapeutics, and invest in basic research that can power the engine of technology and patient-oriented health progress.

As NIDR nears the turn of the century, it has formulated a strategic plan with three initiatives that address research opportunities, research capacity, and health promotion. These initiatives will help NIDR chart a new course over the next three to five years, allowing the institute to investigate new possibilities for research and service to the NIDR community, which consists of academic, private and federal organizations; professional and patient groups; health care providers; the NIDR staff; and the domestic and global public at large.

The first of the three strategic plan initiatives is the research opportunity initiative, which involves identifying and setting priorities and implementing scientific opportunities to advance each of the six major areas of the NIDR research portfolio: inherited diseases; infectious diseases; neoplastic diseases; chronic disabling diseases and disorders; biomaterials, tissue engineering and biomimetics; and oral health promotion and disease prevention.

"This means that NIDR must be at the leading edge of scientific discovery if it's to be relevant," said Harold C. Slavkin, DDS, the institute's director. "So it's a never-ending undertaking to discover what are the best scientific opportunities. We're in the business of discovering knowledge."

The research capacity initiative encompasses the enhancement and innovative development of human, physical and technological resources essential to the realization of scientific opportunities. These resources provide the critical personnel and infrastructure for the creative conduct of research.

"We can't pursue science without people, so research capacity means do we have a pipeline filled with bright, innovative, and creative young men and women excited about pursuing either basic or translational or patient-oriented research?" Slavkin noted.

The third initiative, health promotion, involves NIDR serving as a national catalyst for promoting science-based activities that will accelerate improvements in craniofacial, oral and dental health.

"Promotion of health and prevention of diseases and disorders remains a major centerpiece of the institute," Slavkin emphasized. "So in the course of research, if we can learn what the determinants of health are and can communicate those to the profession and public at large, more people will stay healthy longer, and as a consequence the national health bill and the heath crisis in families will be lessened."

As the organization's sixth director, Slavkin has since July 1995 led a cadre of 450 highly trained people in the quest for new dental knowledge. With a multitude of responsibilities, Slavkin says his job's most important part is to be a cheerleader for dental science, dental education, and the practice of clinical dentistry.

"How to communicate that on all levels of society, whether with federal policy-makers; at the state level; or with various nonprofits, universities, and patient advocacy groups is extremely important. Being optimistic and seeing the possibilities and inspiring people is clearly the vast majority of my value," said the CDA member, who came to the institute after heading the Center for Craniofacial Molecular Biology at USC's School of Dentistry.

The fruits of NIDR's many programs affect every dentist's practice on a daily basis. It's a world far removed from that day in 1948 when President Harry Truman brought the institute to life.

"If you think of what was on the plate of a dentist in 1948, it was tooth extraction, silver amalgam, and building dentures," Slavkin said. "We have many dentists today who never think of a full-denture solution for patients because of science, patient-oriented research, and new dental industries springing up; and that's an unbelievable achievement in less than 50 years. Many of my brothers and sisters tend to take this for granted, and think that it's always been that way. This may remind them that the American people's investment in dental science has paid off for the public and the profession."

As Slavkin nears the completion of his third year on the job, he realizes what he cherishes the most.

"I love working and learning with highly creative people, and the Institutes of Health is loaded with people like that. I've always been around terrific people, but here there is such a density of them, it's constantly inspiring."

Author

David Jones is CDA's staff writer.

For printed copies of this article, please contact the CDA Publications Department at (916) 443-3382, Ext. 4640.