Council on Scientific Affairs Report
Dr. Jeryl English
The Council on Scientific Affairs (COSA) met via videoconference on January 4, 2008, and chose recipients for the following AAO Research Awards:
Milo Hellman Research Award to Dr. Carmen Briceno from Baylor College of Dentistry for research titled Healing of the Root and Surrounding Structures Following Intentional Damage with a Miniscrew Implant.
Harry Sicher Research Award to Dr. Basma Fallah-Yamout from University of the Pacific for research titled Polymorphisms of the MTHFR Gene in Mothers of Children Affected with Cleft Lip and Palate.
Thomas M. Graber Awards of Special Merit to:
Dr. Zehra Pradhanfrom the University of Connecticutfor research titled Cytokine Regulation of Osteoclast Formation in a Murine Macrophage Cell Line, and
Dr. Zachary Mellion from Saint Louis University for research titled The Pattern of Facial Skeletal Growth and Its Relationship to Various Common Indices of Maturation.
COSA clarified the submission process for Hellman/Sicher/Graber applications. The Council agreed that orthodontic department chairs or program directors must submit Hellman/Sicher/Graber applications for residents and if an applicant has a two-part research application, the strongest part should be submitted for consideration, not both parts.
COSA accepted 28 applications for oral research presentations, 170 applications for posterboard presentation, and 25 applications for table clinic presentations for the 2008 AAO Annual Session. New at Annual Session this year was Electronic Posters (E-Posters). For details on E-Posters, please refer to continuing AAO publications and www.aaomembers.org.
COSA continues to be involved with evidence-based orthodontic research. Article citations are being added to the evidence-based orthodontic research web site every month, found at www.aaomembers.org.
In 2008, COSA will publish in the AJODO a summary statement of evidence-based research on Long-term Stability of Maxillary Expansion. Dr. Steve Marshall, from the University of Iowa, took the lead on the article with COSA members adding input.
COSA has been adding article citations to the bisphosphonate website. These citations focus on clinical studies, systematic reviews, and evidence-based guidelines. This information can be found at www.aaomembers.org.
COSA also reviewed the AAO Strategic Plan, concentrating on sections that are COSA’s responsibility. This input was sent to the Executive Director’s office. COSA also reviewed the work that the Council on Orthodontic Practice (COOP) has done on the House of Delegates’ Environmentally-Sound Recommendation (49-07H).
COSA’s next meeting will be on Friday, January 9, 2009.