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Dentistry

7 Mitacs Globalink (GRI) research projects for Summer 2027.

1. AI in dental education, access to care, reflective provider

This master (larger) project involves a number of built-in mini‑projects to be carried out by each student individually, while working within an active, collaborative, and synergistic group. One mini‑project focuses on the thematic and quantitative (descriptive) analyses of assignments submitted by undergraduate dental students on issues related to community water fluoridation, advocacy for universal access to care, and sugary beverage vending machines in elementary schools. Within this mini‑project, up to three separate studies could be developed, corresponding to each of the assignments mentioned. Another mini‑project examines the use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools that students may disclose having used in these three assignments, including the extent and purpose of such use (e.g., grammar checking, content development, or idea generation). An additional mini‑project involves the ongoing development, assessment, and refinement of teaching modules designed for practicing dentists, focusing on access to care for equity‑deserving populations and evaluating the impact of these modules on dental practice. A further mini‑project relates to the analysis of large datasets, including data from the Canadian Dental Care Plan (e.g., provider uptake, eligibility enrollment, and program utilization) as well as data from the Canadian Health Measures Survey concerning the oral health status of approximately 6,000 Canadians. Some of these mini‑projects may require data collection, which will be discussed with me as appropriate. Project assignments will be made in consultation with students, and Mitacs students will be paired with graduate students. For both qualitative and quantitative components, students will debrief regularly with me throughout the research process.

Research area, student roles & skills

Research area: My area of research involves an intercepting triad that includes dental education (AI tools, reflections, teaching methodologies) - dental geriatrics (dental pedagogies) - dental public health (equity research, access to care, reflective provider, epidemiological data). Within this triad, I conduct both qualitative (coding and thematic analysis) and quantitative (descriptive and inferential stats) inquiries, as well as mixed methods studies.

Student roles:
As per the above description, Mitacs students will play an active and integral role in the research projects, contributing meaningfully across multiple stages of the research process. Under supervision, the student will engage in scholarly discussions related to the research questions, theoretical framework, and methodological choices, and will participate in regular meetings to reflect on progress, challenges, and emerging findings. The student will assist with data gathering, as needed and appropriate to the project, which may include organizing existing datasets, extracting relevant variables from large databases, administering or managing surveys, or supporting qualitative data collection (e.g., preparing interview guides, assisting with transcription, or organizing textual data). All data collection activities will occur under guidance.
The undergraduate student will contribute to qualitative data analysis, including becoming familiar with the dataset, assisting with coding (manual), identifying themes or patterns, and participating in analytic discussions to refine interpretations - they will be trained on this. Where applicable, the student will also support quantitative data analysis, such as data cleaning, descriptive statistical analysis, preparation of tables or figures, and interpretation of findings, under appropriate supervision.
A key component of the student’s role will involve writing and summarization. The student will contribute to drafting sections of research outputs, such as background summaries, methods descriptions, results summaries, or reflective memos. The student may also assist in producing knowledge translation materials (e.g., summaries for presentations, reports, or educational resources), ensuring that data and findings are communicated clearly and responsibly.
Throughout the project, the undergraduate student is expected to demonstrate professionalism, confidentiality, attention to detail, and a willingness to learn research methods and analytical approaches. The role emphasizes skill development in research literacy, critical thinking, data interpretation, and academic writing, while contributing substantively to the overall research objectives.

Skills required:
Good communication skills, team and collaborative work, good knowledge of data analysis (either/both qualitative and/or qualitative - even of basic, but functional), and ability of conduct and summarize literature searches. Background in dentistry and medical field is ok, but not mandatory.

2. Comparative Evaluation of Different Imaging Modalities in the Diagnosis of Internal Root Resorption: An In Vitro Study.

This in vitro experimental study aims to compare the accuracy of a Complementary Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor (CMOS) direct conversion (DC) intraoral sensor, two CMOS sensors, and CBCT for detecting and staging simulated internal root resorption (IRR) lesions. 50 extracted single-rooted human teeth will be divided into two groups based on the presence or absence of IRR. Demineralization will be performed at two time points, and the lesion depth will be determined using micro-CT. Image acquisition will then be performed using four imaging modalities: intraoral radiographs with two CMOS sensors (Schick CDR, Sirona Dentisply, and DEXIS) and one CMOS-DC sensor (Xpect Vision XVD2530), and CBCT scans (Accuitomo, Morita). All images will be coded, saved, and stored in TIFF and DICOM formats for subsequent assessment, according to the image system. Two oral and maxillofacial radiologists will be trained and calibrated to independently assess intraoral radiographs and CBCT scans. The presence of resorption will be assessed using a 5-point scale. Accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, and AUC values will be obtained for each image modality and IRR condition and compared using ANOVA and Tukey’s tests at a significance level of p < 0.05.

Research area, student roles & skills

Research area: This study encompasses Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, specifically digital imaging and diagnosis, and their association with endodontics.

Student roles:
The student will assist during the literature review, sample preparation, image acquisition (intraoral radiographs and CBCT) and image assessment.

Skills required:
The student will be trained upon arrival at the University; however, knowledge of how to use the PubMed database and prior research experience will be helpful.

3. Immunohistochemical profile of odontogenic cysts and tumours

Analyse and compare different immunohistochemical and morphological profiles of odontogenic cysts and tumours.

Research area, student roles & skills

Research area: Oral Pathology and Oral Medicine.

Student roles:
Collect and analyse data, perform literature review, co-write scientific paper.

Skills required:
Dentistry preferable.

4. Injectable Metformin loaded hydrogel for enhanced antibacterial efficacy and osteogenic response in apical periodontitis under in vitro inflammatory and stress conditions.

Persistent apical infection and limited periapical healing remain key challenges in endodontic apical surgery. This project aims to develop a dual-functional injectable chitosan-based gel incorporating Metformin to simultaneously target bacterial reduction and osteoblastic responses to glucocorticoid-induced stress and LPS-triggered inflammation. The objective is to evaluate whether the combined formulation improves antibacterial activity against E. Faecalis while supporting osteogenic responses in pre-osteoblastic cells under induced stress and inflammation environment. Three groups will be assessed: chitosan alone, chitosan with metformin 1% and chitosan with metformin 0.1%. Material characterization will be performed following by antibacterial efficacy that will be quantified using an agar diffusion direct contact assay after 24 hours. Biocompatibility and osteogenic potential will be evaluated in MC3T3-E1 cells using viability assay, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and Alizarin Red stain. This quantitative in vitro study is expected to demonstrate reduced bacterial viability and enhanced osteogenic properties by protection of the pre-osteoblast cells, under inflammatory and stress simulation in the Metformin group, supporting its potential as a multifunctional biomaterial for improving clinical outcomes in apical periodontitis.

Research area, student roles & skills

Research area: My research focus on the development and optimization of dental materials with enhanced antimicrobial, bioactive, and mechanical properties for application in endodontics (root canal treatment) and oral rehabilitation of compromised teeth. This includes evaluating materials for their ability to promote tissue regeneration, prevent microbial colonization, and support long-term treatment success. Additionally, my work explores how systemic conditions such as diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, influence the healing response and clinical outcomes of endodontic therapies, aiming to tailor more effective and personalized treatment strategies.

Student roles:
Literature review; laboratory activities (biomaterial formulation; antibacterial assay; cell culture; viability and osteogenic assays).

Skills required:
The student is expected to possess skills and experience in biomaterial fabrication, cell culture techniques, and basic microbiological methods and assays.
A background in biochemistry, dentistry, or microbiology will be considered an asset for the successful development of the research.

5. Oral Frailty, Dysgeusia, and Weight Loss in Lung Cancer Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy: A Pilot Prospective Cohort Study

Weight loss is a common and clinically significant complication in patients with lung cancer undergoing chemotherapy. Even modest weight loss (≥5%) is associated with poorer treatment tolerance, reduced functional status, diminished quality of life, and worse overall outcomes. While cancer-related weight loss is often attributed to systemic inflammation and metabolic alterations, local oral factors remain underexplored contributors. Dysgeusia (taste alteration) is a frequent adverse effect of chemotherapy and is strongly associated with reduced appetite, food aversion, and decreased caloric intake. Elevated oral inflammation arising from oral mucositis, acute inflammation and ulceration of the lining of the mouth commonly caused by cancer treatments, contribute to both exacerbation of inflammatory processes during chemotherapy and oral dysfunction. Despite this, the relationship between oral inflammation, dysgeusia, and weight loss has not been systematically evaluated in patients with lung cancer. Understanding these relations is critical, as they represent modifiable targets within supportive cancer care. Identifying oral contributors to weight loss may inform early interventions aimed at improving nutritional status and quality of life during cancer treatment.

Research area, student roles & skills

Research area: Oral Medicine, Oral Inflammation, Cancer Research

Student roles:
The student will assist with collecting, compiling, and managing clinical data, including patient questionnaire information. Under the mentor guidance, the student will assess whether a relation between the presence and severity of oral mucositis may contribute to dysgeusia and weight loss in lung cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. They will support data entry and management and contribute to basic statistical analysis. The student will also be involved in preparing a manuscript based on the study results for submission to a peer-reviewed journal.

Skills required:
Strong organization, ethics, and comfort working with oncology teams, and a basic understanding of statistical analysis are essential. A suitable student should have foundational health‑science training, be dedicated, committed, and able to handle sensitive health data with confidentiality. The student should have good writing skills and be eager to learn.

6. Promoting evidence-informed research training in the biomedical field.

Promoting evidence-informed research training in the biomedical field. This internship will prepare the intern to evaluate the quality of evidence regarding methodological rigour and the risk of bias in studies available in literature databases. Participation in this internship will prepare future professionals and researchers in the biomedical field to use several evidence-informed research tools to 1) identify reliable databases for carrying out literature searches, 2) conduct an advanced search for scientific articles on the topic of interest, 3) extract, collate, and analyze information; 4) assess the risk of bias of the included studies; 5) grade the quality of evidence and the strength of recommendations in guidelines based on available information. As a result of this internship, the intern will have the opportunity and training to develop a systematic review on a topic of their interest and advance competencies in the synthesis of information and scientific writing. This research contributes to an identified gap, which is the difficulty of evidence-informed decision-making in an era of generative artificial intelligence and largely available misinformation. This internship will promote training for future professionals and researchers with critical thinking capacity, improving the quality of evidence-informed practice.

Research area, student roles & skills

Research area: Oral Medicine, Dentistry, Cancer Research, Oral Mucositis, Systematic Review

Student roles:
The student will be involved in all phases of the project: defining a focused research question, elaborating a systematic review protocol, preparing a search strategy, and identifying evidence in literature databases, extracting data from included studies, and preparing a systematic review on the topic chosen.

Skills required:
The student must be dedicated, committed, and hardworking. There will be frequent supervision and mentorship to help students conduct the project. Ideally, the student should have strong writing skills, attention to detail, a solid understanding of study designs, a basic understanding of health sciences, be comfortable working in a team, and be responsible for meeting all research milestones.

7. Use of low-temperature plasma for dental applications

Plasma is the fourth state of matter formed as a partially ionized gas following high-voltage electrical discharges or electromagnetic fields acting upon gases, or a combination of both. It can be categorized as either "thermal/hot" or "non-thermal/cold or low temperature – LTP," Low-temperature plasma has proven to effectively reduce microbial presence by oxidative stress, without causing harm to healthy tissues. This has led to its application in diverse biomedical fields, including bacterial sterilization, cancer treatment, and wound healing. In Dentistry, if the efficacy of low-temperature plasma in eliminating microorganisms can be established without causing inflammation or damage to dental tissues and while maintaining tooth surface quality, it could serve as a basis for novel clinical approaches. Our research aims to develop an innovative engineering LTP device for dental applicatoin, with the potential to significantly impact industry and various environments where microbiological control is essential, such as Dentistry and Medicine. Our proposal integrates biology, chemistry, and engineering, offering valuable insights into novel technologies and dentin characterization.

Research area, student roles & skills

Research area: My research area encompasses studies in dental materials and innovative techniques for their application in various dental procedures, particularly in Restorative Dentistry. Our goal is to achieve more durable and aesthetically pleasing restorations that contribute to the overall health of individuals. This work directly benefits the entire population, regardless of their geographic location. By improving materials and techniques and promoting better preventive and restorative dentistry, we are enhancing the health and well-being of individuals globally.

Student roles:
The student will actively participate in the experimental portion of the study, working in laboratory environments to conduct in vitro studies involving the use of low-temperature plasma for dental applications. The specific aim of the project will be determined once the student is selected, with preliminary virtual meetings scheduled before the official start date. The student will be required to complete two basic biosafety courses and participate in other research projects currently being developed by graduate students and post-doctoral researchers. Our goal is for the selected student to carry out comprehensive research, culminating in a final report and a manuscript prepared for publication. Periodic meetings with the entire team will be scheduled weekly or biweekly to ensure the student is fully involved with other experiments in the lab.

Skills required:
The student should be proactive and is recommended to have a background in basic chemistry, physics, and biology. Experience in health environments, particularly those involving biosafety requirements, is also desirable. Additionally, the student should be able to work effectively in a team and actively participate in scientific rounds and meetings.