This event is part of the NC TraCS ISP Seminar series. 

The talk will revolve around the development of an NIH-funded community-based pediatric oral health research program in North Carolina. Between 2016-2019, the ZOE 2.0 investigators enrolled over 8,000 preschool-age children in genetic epidemiologic studies of childhood oral health/disease. Questionnaires, clinical, and biological data were collected during a 30-month period from participants attending 260 public preschool centers in 84 NC counties.

The rich resulting information from this multiethnic cohort of 3-5-year-old children has been used to answer epidemiologic, behavioral, and biological research questions. It has also stimulated new research including qualitative studies and developed program planning. A major component of this endeavor has been intentional and lasting community-engaged work with participants and stakeholders that augmented the research team's cultural literacy and understanding of local needs.

Presenter: 
Kimon Divaris, PhD, DDS is an Adams Distinguished Professor in the Division of Pediatric and Public Health at the UNC Adams School of Dentistry. A board-certified pediatric dentist, he is actively involved in teaching at all levels, clinical practice, and research. He is an oral and genetic epidemiologist, and his NIH-funded research program lies in the intersection of clinical, biological, and public health research in pediatric oral health. He is the recipient of several major awards and has had substantial scholarly and editorial activity.

If you have any questions regarding this event, please contact Laura Villa-Torres at laura_villatorres@med.unc.edu.