Griffith welcomes support from Pfizer

Griffith University's School of Dentistry and Oral Health has signed a ground breaking agreement with Pfizer to support its teaching and research in periodontal diseases.

Dean and Head of School Professor Newell Johnson said this is the first time Pfizer has entered into such an agreement with dental academia anywhere in Australasia.

"It is a tribute to Griffith and its enthusiastic professionals in the dental area that our new School of Dentistry and Oral Health has been singled out in this way."

He said the agreement with Pfizer will allow the School, now in its third year of operation, to equip its newest research labs in the Centre for Medicine and Oral Health at Southport.

As part of the agreement, Prof. Saso Ivanovski has been appointed as Griffith's inaugural Listerine Chair of Periodontology.

Professor Ivanovski will join Griffith from the University of Queensland and lead research including cutting edge cell biology and tissue engineering to prevent the loss of bone and attachment of teeth to the jaws; repair damaged tooth support; and improve the replacement of missing teeth with new generation dental implants.

"Prof. Ivanovski's expertise will contribute enormously to this field of research and facilitate collaborations with our colleagues at the University of Queensland," Professor Johnson said.

The School is also building large epidemiological studies in southeast Queensland in order to better understand the extent of periodontal diseases and the major risk factors operating at individual and community levels.

"Our ultimate goal is to prevent and improve treatment of periodontal disease. This collaboration with Pfizer will help drive that forward."

Mr Glenn Cochran, category manager - Oral Care at Pfizer Australia, said the company was attracted by Griffith's commitment to teaching and research.

He said such an interdisciplinary approach was significant given the probable links between oral disease and systemic conditions such as cardiovascular disease.

"We are excited to partner with the first new dental school established in Australia in almost 60 years and were very impressed by Griffith's innovative approach to program delivery and integrated team approach to patient care."