and the are partnering together through a dental grant aimed at serving people in underserved rural areas.
The is a five-year, $3.7 million grant from the . DOOR stands for Development of Opportunities for Research. Students who are a part of the dental program will conduct two types of research projects, said David Paquette, professor and department chair of surgical Sciences at ECU鈥檚 School of Dental Medicine
鈥淥ne is focused on the detection of pre-diabetes and diabetes in the dental setting,鈥� Paquette said. 鈥淭he other project focuses on pain perception, following dental procedures in patients with chronic pain syndromes.鈥�
Paquette added that the projects will give researchers a deeper understanding of some of the health care issues in rural parts of North Carolina.
鈥淲e are here to really improve the oral and general health of North Carolinians reducing disparities in health and also alleviating access to care barriers,鈥� he said.
ECU is one of three dental schools in the state, along with and . High Point held a groundbreaking in September for the . According to a release, the dental school will welcome its first cohort of students in fall of 2024.
