University of the Pacific’s Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry has launched a center to support innovation, drive clinical research partnerships and put research into practice to improve the oral health of people around the world.

The new Center for Innovation and Translation is located on Pacific’s San Francisco Campus, surrounded by innovations taking place in many fields, including biotechnology, big data, artificial intelligence and emerging technologies.

Center plans include engaging current faculty in research projects, expanding commercial collaborations and launching multicenter clinical studies.

It also will host the dental school’s “Biobank” to facilitate a new era of patient sampling and clinical assessment and investigation for global academic and commercial access. Work will include analysis to find links between oral and general health and improving the diagnosis and treatment of oral and systemic conditions.

“I am very excited about the launch of the Center for Innovation and Translation and honored to have the opportunity to lead the center,” said Rebecca Moazzez, center director and chair of the school’s Department of Preventive and Restorative Dentistry.

“I am looking forward to many internal and external collaborations in the coming months and years. The center is dedicated to supporting innovations and carrying out clinical studies with the aim of helping people lead a healthy life,” she said.

Moazzez joined Dugoni in 2021 after serving as professor at King’s College London School of Dentistry in England. She also was the college’s founding director of the Oral Clinical Research Unit.

“I am proud of our school’s 125-year history of innovation and excellence,” said Nader Nadershahi, dean of the Dugoni School. “With a world-class leader like Dr. Moazzez, I am excited about the creative solutions this center will bring to improving oral health as an important part of overall health and well-being.”

A center advisory board is being formed and will include school leaders, representatives of research organizations, commercial companies, a patient or public member and others.

Companies and individuals interested in getting involved with the center’s clinical research activities or advisory board are invited to contact Moazzez at rmoazzez@pacific.edu or 415.780.2068.

To learn more, visit the Center for Innovation and Translation website.