Research

The Objective of the Research Division is to conduct advanced research in high priority areas of oral health disparities while promoting diverse biomedical workforce.  

Research Training Opportunities 

Training Opportunities on the HU campus:

• NIDCR funds the Howard University Summer Research Experience Program (SREP): The program aims to train students in conducting minority health care and oral health disparities research.

Training Opportunities on the NIH campus:

• NIDCR-Summer Research Fellow Program
• NIH-Medical Research Scholars Program

Research Laboratories

Molecular Biology Laboratory

Interdisciplinary Research Building, Room 405
This lab is fully equipped with the instruments required to conduct molecular cell biology and biochemistry research. The lab includes a main research laboratory, three cell culture rooms and a cold room.   
 

Biomaterial Materials Laboratory 

Interdisciplinary Research Building, Room 215

• Biomaterials Laboratory includes three components and is fully equipped for the synthesis of polymer and nanomaterials, fabrication and processing of polymer nanocomposites, and characterization and testing of materials.
• Synthetic Laboratory is equipped with a 6-foot chemistry hood, manifold vacuum line for water/oxygen sensitive reactions, Ar and nitrogen gas tank, water-free solvent distillation apparatus, vacuum pump, Labconco FreeZone lyophilizer, Buchi R-215 rotary evaporator, RETSCH ball milling PM 400, centrifuge, liquid nitrogen, Fisher scientific oven, IKA heating plate/stirrer, IKA mechanical stirrer, IKA 15-point stirring plate, IKA homogenizer, Branson sonicator, vortex, Thermo neslab water bath, and etc.
• Materials Processing Laboratory is equipped with a full set polymer composite processing system, which includes a Haake PolyLab OS16 composite workstation, a Haake OS 16 Twin Screw Extruder (large quantity), a Haake Process 11 Twin Screw Extruding Machine (middle quantity) including pelletizer, Haake MiniLab II Twin Screw Extruding Machine (mini quantity), and a Haake MiniJect injection molding. 
• Materials Characterization Laboratory is equipped with a Thermogravimetric Analysis (TA-Q50 TGA),  PL-50 plus Gel Permeation Chromatography (GPC), a TA-Q800 dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA), a Perkin Elmer Differential Scanning Calorimeter (DSC 8000) connected with an OmniCure® 2000 UV initiating system, a Buehler Isomet precision saw for hard materials sectioning, a Buehler Ecomet 250/Automet 250 polishing machine, a Metrohm 902 pH Stat/pH titrator, a Ramé-hart Model 290 Automated Goniometer/Tensiometer for contact angle measurement, and an Instron 5966 Materials Testing System. In addition, there is also a focused ion beam scanning electron microscope (Zeiss Auriga-40), several detectors (e.g. InLens, SE2, Backscattering), an Oxford EDX, and an Omni Nanomanipulator that is installed in the equipment l ab in the Downing Building.

Student Research Group 

The Student Research Group is a Howard University College of Dentistry student-run organization that aims to influence and engage students in research throughout their time at Howard University and beyond. The Student Research Group events include: 

• Providing a collaborative platform for students to share research with the Howard University community
• Hosting informational sessions about NIH research programs and providing mini-lecture series to learn about HUCD post-graduate resident research
• HUCD Student Research Application Form

Related Links:

• National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research

• American Association for Dental Research

• Office of Regulatory Research Compliance (IRB)