About

The Integrative Biosciences Department is an interdisciplinary department. It is responsible for basic science instruction in anatomy, biochemistry, immunology, microbiology, neuroscience, nutrition, pharmacology, and physiology to predoctoral dental students and advanced students in dental graduate or certificate programs. A number of faculty members participate in the University’s Ph.D. graduate training programs and collaborate in research projects with faculty in the School of Medicine and OHSU research institutes. Faculty members in this department also serve on university, dental school, departmental, and graduate training program committees.

The Department has active basic and applied research programs in the areas of cell and developmental biology, neurological science, protein biochemistry, and microbiology. In the 2002-2003 academic year, department faculty published 92 papers in scientific journals, with total grant support of $5.14 million mainly from outside agencies.

Department faculty participate in research training on several levels: through the Master of Science degree awarded by the Department; through the Ph.D. program of the School of Medicine; and through accepting and supporting postdoctoral fellows to participate in department research activities.

The Integrative Biosciences Department has three major goals. The Educational Goal of the department is to provide contemporary information in specific areas of expertise to students in the School of Dentistry. The Department also strives to attract well-qualified visiting scientists, postdoctoral fellows, graduate students, and dental students to study and work in the various faculty research laboratories. The Research Goal of the department is to increase knowledge and understanding of structure and function, particularly as it relates to orofacial region. An essential part of our research goal is to publish new information and to obtain extramural funding to support meritorious research projects. The Service Goal is to provide an environment that encourages the transfer of research findings to the clinic, supports the teaching responsibilities of our School and University, and assists in the programmatic development of new scientific knowledge.

 

Chair: Thomas Shearer, Ph.D.