Pioneering Periodontal Disease Treatment Research Funded By Grant

The Australian Dental Industry Association (ADIA) has provided funding into pioneering research that seeks to develop an innovative treatment option for periodontal disease. ADIA awarded the grant via the Australian Dental Research Foundation (ADRF), the nation's peak dental research funding body.

The most recent ADIA Research Grant was provided to Dr Asha Mathew who is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Queensland University of Technology (QUT). The grant is supporting research into azithromycin surface-functionalized biodegradable membranes for guided tissue regeneration.

"The objective is to develop a calcium phosphate coated polycaprolactone electrospun membrane loaded with azithromycin for local and controlled antibiotic delivery. This will address the clinical challenge of membrane infection during guided bone regeneration and circumventing the limitations associated with the systemic administration of azithromycin," Dr Mathew said.

There are two broad aims of the project. The first is to design and reproducibly manufacture polymeric fibrous membranes loaded with azithromycin and assess its performance in-vitro. The second is to assess the immune-modulatory effects of azithromycin loaded fibrous membrane in-vivo, in a critical size rodent calvarial defect model and also to assess its bone regeneration potential.

"The importance of this research is underpinned by the fact that it is estimated that 30 to 40% of the total population is affected by periodontitis," Dr Mathew said.

ADIA's support for research in the dental and oral healthcare area is attributed to a long-standing support for the work of the ADRF, a body co-founded by ADIA.

"ADIA's support for research into areas such as this is underpinned by the understanding that it often translates into new and innovative patient treatment and diagnostic treatment options," said Troy Williams, ADIA Chief Executive Officer.

Beyond funding research into potential products, ADIA also supports research into initiatives that will encourage Australians to take greater responsibility for their oral health.

"The 2016-20 ADIA Strategic Plan signals the Association's ongoing commitment to supporting research. ADIA's vision is for an industry that empowers oral health professionals to advance the health and well-being of all Australians. This is something that is only possible as a result of the vital research funded through the ADRF and the funding provided by ADIA and others in the dental community," Mr Williams concluded.