The inaugural cohort of the Pacific-Stanford PRIMED Comprehensive Clinical Research Program, including 20 alumni, 20 faculty and 15 students from University of the Pacific, Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry, gathered on June 7 for the final in-person session of the 2024-2025 training cycle. 

The cohort was selected through a competitive process that drew over 140 applicants from across the Dugoni School community. Participants were chosen for their interest in advancing clinical research and their potential to translate scientific evidence into dental practice.  

Over the past nine months, program participants worked in eight interdisciplinary teams to design and develop full clinical research protocols addressing real-world challenges in dentistry. Final presentations showcased projects in areas including AI/ technology, biomarkers/pathology, biomaterials, growth/regeneration/craniofacial disorders, medical-dental integrations (including special needs and social determinants of health), the oral microbiome, patient care/health, orthodontics and sleep medicine. 

At the culminating sessions, teams presented their study proposals and engaged in live Q&A sessions with principal investigators and clinical research mentors from University of the Pacific and Stanford.  

The Comprehensive Clinical Research Training Program is open to dental students, residents, alumni and faculty and included virtual and in-person sessions totaling 40 hours, held from September through June. Participants received a certificate from Stanford upon completion of the program, recognizing their advanced training in clinical research methodology and study design. 

Several teams are planning to continue their work beyond the program, either through faculty-guided implementation, manuscript preparation or pilot studies to take place at the Dugoni School of Dentistry and in dental practices across the country. 

"Participating in the Pacific-Stanford PRIMED program was a defining moment in my dental education. Being part of history as we took the world's first Dentist-Scientist Oath was profoundly meaningful—it represented our commitment to revolutionizing oral healthcare through research,” said Dr. Neekita Saudagar ’25. “This program didn't just enhance my research skills, it fundamentally transformed how I approach patient care. The rigorous training and mentorship from both Stanford and UOP faculty equipped me with the tools to translate cutting-edge research into real-world clinical solutions. PRIMED bridges the critical gap between what we discover in the lab and what we deliver to patients, preparing us to be the clinician-researchers our profession desperately needs. This experience has shaped my identity as a dentist who won't just treat patients, but will actively contribute to advancing the science that improves lives." 

“The PRIMED program enabled me to comprehend the feasibility aspect of conducting a study,” added alumnus Dr. Anirudha Agnihotry ’18. “Coming from the background of evidence-based research, I had been quite critical of methods, but it made me cognizant on how feasibility affects the course of study. Collaboration exercises gave a good perspective on working with consensus and moving in the same direction as a group. The self-paced modules added some flexibility.” 

The training is being supported by a $3.8 million, five-year grant by the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research of the National Institutes of Health to fund the Pacific-Stanford PRIMED Program. PRIMED’s goal is to train the next generation of clinical oral health researchers to be equipped to translate research into practice. The program also aims to grow more clinician-scientists in the workforce.   

“The quality and diversity of projects were a testament to the students' effort and the expert mentorship they received throughout the program,” said Dr. Rebecca Moazzez, professor and chair of the Dugoni School’s Department of Preventive and Restorative Dentistry and director of the Center for Innovation and Translation, which is administering the PRIMED program activities. 

In a separate gathering on campus on June 7, first-year dental students affirmed their commitment to the highest ideals of ethics and professionalism in research by taking the Dental-Clinician Scientist Oath. 

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