For more than 100 years, Forsyth has been a world leader in oral health research and care. Today, our Center for Clinical and Translational Research (CCTR) offers the ideal space, personnel, and expertise to conduct clinical trials in the field of oral health and beyond.

“The mission of the CCTR is to translate innovative and significant research questions into clinical use. We can test basic science ideas or new discoveries chair-side in a clinical setting, or explore human disease pathways bench-side in the lab.” – Hatice Hasturk, Director, Center for Clinical and Translational Research

Hatice Hasturk, Director, Center for Clinical and Translational Research

Interested in learning more about the CCTR or partnering with our team? Contact Hatice Hasturk at hhasturk@forsyth.org with any questions.

The CCTR has extensive experience recruiting targeted patient populations and has developed a range of techniques and protocols that can be used and modified to fit specific research goals. Over the past several years, we have completed successful research investigations in areas including:

  • Microbiology
  • Immunology
  • Tissue biology
  • Molecular biology

One example of the CCTR’s expertise is a recent clinical trial and study published in the journal Science Advances, in which researchers found that plaque in gums may be linked to the development of Alzheimer’s disease.

The CCTR offers a comprehensive team of study coordinators, a director of clinical trials, principal investigators, and an Institutional Review Board that can provide a thorough and efficient review process. This team is solely devoted to the administration of patient-oriented research projects.

View current research studies or sign up for a study

The CCTR has led clinical trials and research projects focused on periodontal disease, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and several other local and systemic diseases. Ongoing projects include single or multi-center clinical trials in these research areas:

  • Understanding the link between periodontal disease and systemic inflammatory conditions, including diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and cardiovascular disease
  • Elucidating the mechanisms involved in periodontal disease
  • Identifying uncultivable oral pathogens that may play important roles in health and disease
  • Testing novel products on periodontal health, tissue, and bone regeneration
  • Developing and testing saliva-based novel diagnostics for disease initiation, progression, and management in periodontal and systemic diseases
  • The center’s clinic offers a cutting-edge research environment that includes:
  • A private, six chair clinical facility that can accommodate all types of study procedures
  • A large patient database with varied subject populations
  • Professional staff, including an administrative team, dental assistants, dental hygienists, dentists, immunologists, laboratory technicians, microbiologists, orthodontists, periodontists, statisticians, and subject recruitment specialists