GSDM Establishes Center for Oral Diseases

The Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine recently established the Center for Oral Diseases (COD), a clinical center focused on patient care as well as the study and treatment of oral disease. It is anticipated that the COD will play a significant role in the Oral Cancer Research Initiative (OCRI) by facilitating collaborations between basic scientists and clinicians in the fight against oral cancer.

This facility, under the direction of Dr. Andrew Salama, will study and treat a wide variety of mucosal diseases of the oral cavity including oral epithelial dysplasia, oral cancer, salivary gland disorders and mucosal fragility disorders. As an established center of excellence, a primary goal of the COD is to eliminate silos of clinical care by creating synchronous multi-disciplinary appointments for patients. A multispecialty surgical team of OCRI members enhances the COD’s clinical focus. Dr. Alessandro Villa, an Oral Medicine specialist, will lead the care of patients with oral manifestations from systemic/non-head and neck cancers including patients being treated with chemotherapy, stem cell transplants and bone marrow transplants. Dr. Vikki Noonan, an Oral and Maxillofacial Pathologist, brings her translational expertise in diagnostic histopathology.

The COD will be a critical component of the OCRI as it will facilitate collaborations between scientists and clinicians and provide access to staged, pre-malignant oral tissues for the identification of mechanisms and subpopulations of cells that drive progression from oral dysplasia to cancer.

The Center for Oral Diseases clinic will be housed in the newly-renovated faculty practice within the Oral Surgery Group Practice on the 4th floor of 100 East Newton Street.