Overview

Goals of the Program (Background/Aims)

In viability of graduate school curricula in Japan, the government is implementing various measurements to assure the international standard. Thus, each graduate school in Japan has to actualize their reorganizing education proposal by delineating their human resource establishment and development.

The Course for Oral Life Science at the Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata University has no exception. We are underway in promoting interdisciplinary instruction providing more comprehensive knowledge and skill to the graduate student by assigning multiple advisors to the student’s projects. This has been implemented in the Graduate Clinical Dentistry Course. The Academic Course aiming to provide additional training to the graduate in becoming educators or researchers will be soon implemented.

Currently, the regenerative medicine/clinical research specialists and global oral health science specialists are two most limited in Japan. Therefore, the Dental Tissue Engineering & Regeneration and Global Oral Health Science are pioneer for the development. They aim to establish and implement a unique program for human resource development for and serving at international and domestic institutes.

Overview of the Program

The Human Resource Development Program Towards International Initiative has two schemes, education and research. The Education and Research Center for Global Oral Health Science will be established to take responsibilities in implementing of those two schemes.

For educational scheme, there are two courses which is implementing. These are "Course in Human Resource Development for Regenerative Medicine/Clinical Research" and the "Course in Human Resource Development for Global Oral Health Science". Both curricula will include basic general studies, specialized coursework, electives, and externship.

Four Major Research Projects

  1. Research in Structural and Functional Evaluation and Clinical Approaches to Masticatory and Swallowing Disorders
  2. Research in Health, Diseases and Reconstruction of Oral-Craniofacial Tissues for Maintaining and Restoring Oral Functions
  3. Dental Tissue Engineering & Regeneration and Exploratory Research Leading to Innovative Dental Medicines for Improvement of Quality of Life (QOL)
  4. Research in the Promotion of Global and Regional Oral Health Science and Welfare

Challenges in Current Oral Health Sciences

  • Insufficient quality assurance process of Japanese professional to meet international standards.
  • Shortage of research leader in regenerative medicine/clinical research and management of clinical trials
  • Shortage of medical ethic experts acquainted with knowledge, techniques, and medical ethics for regenerative medicine/clinical research
  • Insufficient number of experts in Oral Health Sciences at national and international organizations
  • Insufficient application of higher education methods in curriculum development
  • Needs and Expectations for Japan to take action of leadership

Solution to the Challenges

Establishment and improvement of Educational Programs utilizing our existing education and research systems and global networks in developing professionals capable to accomplish translational research in regenerative medicine/clinical trial and play key roles in Global Oral Health Science

Global Networks/Domestic Associated Organizations

Expected Outcomes

  • Development of human resources as leaders
  • Upgrading of education and research in graduate school
  • Translational research (development of new health care)
  • International initiative, international contributions

Strategies

  • Administrative operation by establishment of Educational and Research Center for Global Oral Health Science
  • Establishment of two specific instructional courses (clarification of goals for human resource development)
  • Design and implementation of the coursework programs
  • Improvement of international communication skills
  • Implementation of overseas externships

Previous achievements for restructuring education and overseas exchange activities

Framework for Implementation

In addition to the faculty of the Education and Research Center for Global Oral Health Science established in the Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, the faculty from both the Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences (Course for Oral Life Science, Course for Oral Health and Welfare) and the Niigata University Medical and Dental Hospital will also collaborate and assist this program.

Furthermore, a program manager will be newly appointed as a faculty member to administer and develop the curriculum at the Education and Research Center for Global Oral Health Science.

Currently existing global networks will be enhanced by collaborating with the University of Michigan, USA, and Yang-Ming University in Taiwan, as international affiliates to this program. These ties include participation in the Education and Research Network for Regenerative Medicine and Clinical Research professionals.

In addition, the Course in Human Resource Development for Global Oral Health Science will include the headquarters of the World Health Organization, and the University of Michigan, along with Newcastle University and the University of London in the UK, Otago University in New Zealand, and others as overseas affiliates.

Domestically, the program will affiliate with National Institute of Public Health and Niigata University of Health and Welfare.

Organizational Chart

Education and Research Center for Global Oral Health Science

Head of the Center

Reviewing Board Program (Administrating Committee)
  • Human resource development for meeting current demands in global oral health sciences
  • Development and promotion in utilizing existing platforms of education and research resources as well as global networks
Course in Human Resource Development for Regenerative Medicine/Clinical Research
  • Full time faculty
  • Mentoring faculty in conducting clinical research projects
Course in Human Resource Development for Global Oral Health Science
  • Full time faculty
  • Mentoring faculty in conducting international projects
  • Curriculum Development
  • Overseeing of Course in Regenerative Medicine/Clinical Research
  • Improvement of international communication skills
  • Overseeing of Course in Global Oral Health Science
  • Implementation of externship program

Expected Outcomes

The program will be accomplished not only promotion of the instruction in oral health care but the actualization of an instructional platform interrelating with undergraduate education, graduate school education, and capability improvement of the professional faculties by organizing the system to utilize the outcomes of this program and training human resources for undergraduate education, graduate school education, and others.

Implementing regenerative medicine in the field of dentistry should lead to the improvement of the QOL of the general public, which will contribute not only to the promotion of oral health but also prevailing oral health services in Asia as well as preparing and expanding the international framework for promoting oral health service through cooperation with the WHO.

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