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Penn Dental: Bone Symposium at Penn Wharton China Center in Beijing

Penn Dental Medicine recently presented a research symposium at Penn Wharton China Center (PWCC) in Beijing, drawing researchers and practitioners from throughout China. A Symposium on Bone Biology and Its Impact on Periodontics and Implantology, the November 12 program was the first to be presented by Penn Dental Medicine through support from Penn’s China Research and Engagement Fund (CREF), awarded to the School last year. 

Penn Dental Medicine was among the inaugural recipients of the CREF awards, which were announced by Penn President Amy Gutmann in September 2015 in conjunction with a week-long series of events marking the first 100 days of the PWCC. The CREF program is designed to stimulate and support activity in China and engagement with the Penn Wharton China Center. 

Penn Dental Medicine’s CREF grant, Advancing Research and Clinical Practice, includes three research symposia – the recently presented bone symposium, one that will address biofilm and a third on stem cells. The CREF grant will also fund a conference on the delivery of dental care to China, where a variety of approaches to delivering dental care are evolving. 

Syngcuk Kim, associate dean for global affairs, is the principal investigator of the grant with co-principal investigators Songtao Shi, chair and professor, department of anatomy and cell biology; Dana Graves, interim chair and professor of periodontics and vice dean for scholarship and research; and Hyun Koo, professor of orthodontics and divisions of pediatric dentistry & community oral health. 

“The program was very well received by participants and our China partners,” said Dr. Graves, who led the development of the bone symposium. “I believe it can lead to more collaborative research in this area going forward.” 

The program included lectures by Dr. Graves on the mechanisms of diabetes-impaired fracture healing and one by Penn Dental Medicine’s Shuying Yang, associate professor, department of anatomy & cell biology, on bone formation, along with eight researchers from partnering schools throughout China addressing a variety of related topics. The participating lecturers represented Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology, Fourth Military Medical University School of Stomatology, Capital Medical University School of Stomatology, Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South, Wuhan University School of Stomatology, and Sichuan University West China School of Stomatology. A poster session featuring research of postdoctoral/junior faculty and students from schools throughout China was also part of the program followed by an awards dinner. 

The next CREF-award symposium to be presented at PWCC in 2017 is being organized by Dr. Koo on the topic of biofilm.

 
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