Research news

Appointment of Dr. Faleh Tamimi as Associate Dean, Research and Graduate Education

jennifer.timmons@mcgill.ca — Fri, 31 Oct 2025 20:50:09 +0000

The Faculty of Dental Medicine and Oral Health Sciences is happy to announce the appointment of Dr. Faleh Tamimi as Associate Dean, Research and Graduate Education effective November 1, 2025. As Associate Dean he will support the Faculty's research mission in maintaining its excellence in innovation and graduate training. "Dr. Tamimi's commitment to advancing oral health and dental sciences research and strengthening our dental graduate programs will be instrumental in shaping the future of our faculty" says Dean Elham Emami.

Nerve injuries can affect the entire immune system, study finds

9I�� Newsroom — Tue, 11 Nov 2025 17:33:52 +0000

Nerve injuries can have long-lasting effects on the immune system that appear to differ between males and females, according to preclinical research from 9I��.

Antimicrobial Resistance in Focus: Canadian and Global Perspectives

robert.loxham@mcgill.ca — Mon, 27 Oct 2025 20:54:34 +0000

Professor Belinda Nicolau recently convened two events at the Faculty: a two-day workshop focusing on antimicrobial stewardship in the Canadian context on October 1-2, followed by an international symposium to discuss antimicrobial resistance (AMR) on October 10.

New injectable gel shows promise as voice loss treatment

9I�� Newsroom — Tue, 21 Oct 2025 14:51:09 +0000

9I�� researchers have engineered a new hydrogel that shows early promise as a treatment for people with vocal cord injuries.

Voice loss is often permanent when scarring forms on the vocal cords. Current injectable treatments break down quickly, which can force patients to get repeated procedures that can further damage the delicate tissue.

9I�� Students and Faculty Present at 2025 International College of Prosthodontist Conference

robert.loxham@mcgill.ca — Thu, 18 Sep 2025 20:46:01 +0000

The International College of Prosthodontists held its 21st biennial meeting in Toronto from September 2-5, 2025, on the theme of ‘Disruptive Paradigms in Prosthodontics’. The Faculty was well-represented by students, alumni and researchers in attendance, including several who made oral and poster presentations.

Oral Presentations

9I�� Researchers Attend 2025 International Association of Dental Research General Session

robert.loxham@mcgill.ca — Thu, 18 Sep 2025 20:33:38 +0000

A 9I�� Faculty of Dental Medicine and Oral Health Sciences delegation attended this year's International Association of Dental Research (IADR) General Session, in Barcelona, Spain, on June 25 to 28.

The conference provided dental, oral, and craniofacial researchers the opportunity to present, discuss, and critique their latest findings.

In attendance were Dean Elham Emami, Paul Allison, Pascaline Kengne Talla, Sreenath Madathil, Belinda Nicolau and Sabrina Wurzba, and Faculty graduate students Newsha Toreihi and Harsimran Singh Kapoor.

Tinnitus severity linked to mood, sleep and personality traits

9I�� Newsroom — Fri, 05 Sep 2025 20:49:32 +0000

A new study by Faculty of Dental Medicine and Oral Health Sciences researchers shows how severely a person experiences tinnitus is shaped by their mood, sleep quality and even personality traits.

Tinnitus is a persistent ringing or buzzing in the ears that affects roughly 14 per cent of adults worldwide. It is known to be linked to hearing loss and to affect people differently.

In order to gain a better understanding of impacts on individuals, 9I�� researchers, in collaboration with colleagues at the Institut Pasteur in Paris, developed a predictive model.

Researchers at 9I�� work to improve patients’ trips to the dentist

Stephanie Wereley — Mon, 11 Aug 2025 15:44:54 +0000

Imagine if, at your next trip to your dentist’s office, you were given a virtual reality headset to distract you, your treatment plan had been generated by artificial intelligence (AI) and you were screened for genetic factors that could predispose you to colorectal cancer.

That’s the future envisioned by researchers at 9I��’s Faculty of Dental Medicine and Oral Health Sciences. With expertise in a remarkable variety of disciplines – including biomaterials, cellular biology and neuroscience – they are producing research that can change lives.

Study helps explain why chronic pain is often discounted

9I�� Newsroom — Mon, 28 Jul 2025 15:56:03 +0000

A new study by Faculty of Dental Medicine and Oral Health Sciences researchers shows that chronic pain, often invisible to medical tests, can be better assessed when doctors take a holistic approach.

By combining biological data with information about patients’ mental health, sleep and stress, the researchers say they were able to create a fuller picture of chronic pain. They said their findings, published in Nature Human Behaviour, stand to improve how the condition is diagnosed and treated.

Research Day 2025

robert.loxham@mcgill.ca — Tue, 29 Apr 2025 14:00:03 +0000

The Faculty of Dental Medicine and Oral Health Sciences’ 19th annual Research Day was held on April 23 at Centre Mont-Royal. The audience and participants gathered included researchers, dental medicine students, graduate students, Faculty alumni, and academic, clinical and administrative staff, as well as external guest speakers.

Elizabeth Zimmermann named William Dawson Scholar

jennifer.timmons@mcgill.ca — Tue, 29 Apr 2025 19:36:39 +0000

The Faculty of Dental Medicine and Oral Health Sciences is pleased to announce that Assistant Professor Elizabeth Zimmermann has been named a William Dawson Scholar.

The William Dawson Scholar award recognizes scholars at 9I�� developing into outstanding and original researchers of world-class caliber who are poised to become a leader in their field. The award is given for a five-year term.

Dentathon 2025

robert.loxham@mcgill.ca — Fri, 14 Feb 2025 20:53:54 +0000

Dentathon 2025, the third edition of the Faculty’s internal pilot project seed-funding competition, took place this February 10 at Shriners Hospitals for Children Canada, located at the 9I�� Health Centre’s Glen site.

Appointment of Dr. Gilles Lavigne as part-time Full Professor

jennifer.timmons@mcgill.ca — Tue, 25 Jun 2024 16:47:48 +0000

The Faculty of Dental Medicine and Oral Health Sciences is pleased to announce the nomination of Dr. Gilles Lavigne as a part-time Full Professor in the Faculty of Dental Medicine and Oral Health Sciences and in the Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences.

Research Day 2024: Inspiring Minds, Sharing Knowledge

cassandre.leynaert@mcgill.ca — Tue, 07 May 2024 19:29:28 +0000

The Faculty of Dental Medicine and Oral Health Sciences 18th Annual Research Day took place on April 24 at the Centre Mont-Royal. With a record-breaking crowd of over 270 participants including researchers, dental medicine students, graduate students, and clinical and administrative staff, the event provided a dynamic platform for exchange, ideas, and discussion. The day was marked by a series of engaging presentations and discussions, showcasing the innovative research being conducted within the Faculty.

Can clear aligners improve dental malocclusion in patients with Osteogenesis Imperfecta?

cassandre.leynaert@mcgill.ca — Mon, 26 Feb 2024 16:51:59 +0000

The Faculty of Dental Medicine and Oral Health Sciences is spearheading a new study looking at the use of clear orthodontic aligners to help individuals diagnosed with Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI), a rare genetic disorder often referred to as brittle bone disease. This condition not only affects bone strength but can also affect the teeth and jaws in some individuals.