Experimental Odontology

Experimental Odontology is the academic division that is synonymous with the University of the Witwatersrand Dental Research Institute , a research entity with a long and illustrious history. It was formed in 1954 as the Dental Research Unit through a partnership between the University and the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) that lasted until 1968. In 1969 the unit was transferred to the Medical Research Council (MRC) when that body was established and remained a joint MRC / Wits unit until the end of 2004 when it rotated out of the MRC in accordance with current MRC policy. From 1969 to 2004 it was the only dental unit of the 27 collaborative research units between the MRC and universities in South Africa and in 2004 was the only one of the 23 units originally formed in 1969 still in existence. Directors have been James Irving 1954-1960, Jan Dreyer 1960-1970, Hugo Retief 1970-1976 and Peter Cleaton-Jones 1977-2006. In 1978 the name was changed by the MRC to the Dental Research Institute and it reverted back to the Division of Experimental Odontology in 2005. To date research output consists of 702 peer-reviewed publications, 31 other publications (books, book chapters, editorials etc) and 116 higher degrees. Joint research and supervision is also undertaken with other university departments locally and abroad. Previous staff and postgraduates hold, or have held, senior positions around the world including two MRC research unit directors - Prof Tony Melcher (Canadian MRC Periodontal Research Group, University of Toronto) and Prof Ugo Ripamonti (MRC / Wits Bone Research Laboratory). The Division is housed in the medical school in the Faculty of Health Sciences complex at the Johannesburg Hospital some 4 km north-east of the main university campus.

The Division may be contacted at:

Telephone: 27-11-717-2137

Fax: 27-11-717-2121

Snail mail: Private Bag 3, WITS, 2050 South Africa.

Physical address: room 3E14 Medical School, University of the Witwatersrand, 7 York Road, Parktown, 2193

Email: elly.grossman@wits.ac.za

An important mandate concerns postgraduate research. A 50-hour training course on research methodology is offered each year for any postgraduate of any faculty or institution or to any potential or established researcher: 1 770 individuals have now completed this fun and informative course. Recently a two day novice supervisor course was initiated to assist those requiring training in postgraduate research supervision. This has proved popular and is open to all wishing to improve their supervision skills.

Research Techniques Courses

The 50 hour University accredited Research Techniques course (EXPD7000) has been held once or twice a year since 1978 and can boast 1 770 attendees to date. Courses are usually held in February and August each year. Contact person for all courses is Mrs Melody Maddocks in the Academic Advance Division of the Wits Health Consortium, 8 Blackwood Avenue, 274-9256 or fax 274-9257; Email: mmaddocks@witshealth.co.za

Research techniques [EXPD7000 University of the Witwatersrand], 16-20 March 2009; 50 hours - lecturers Profs P Cleaton-Jones, ES Grossman and 3 invited speakers.

Attendance statistics:

Total 47; female 30, male 17; black 18, Chinese 1, Indian 16, white 12.

Disciplines: Chemical Pathology 3, Dentistry 13, Emergency Medicine 2, Family medicine 1, Haematology 2, Insurance medicine 1, Medical Genetics 4, Medical Physics 2, Microbiology 7, Occupational therapy 3, Paediatrics 5, Psychiatry 1, Surgery 3. EXPD7000 running total 1,770. [Centre for Learning, Teaching and Development course score 8.95 against the university score of 7.30]

Staff and Postgraduates
 

Head Experimental Odontology

Dr Julitha Molepo, 

Tel:011 717 2229,

email Julitha.molepo@wits.ac.za

The Division of Experimental Odontology has offices and laboratories well equipped for clinical investigations, dental materials studies, histology and microbiology including PCR work. Other University facilities are close at hand such as workshops, an expansive Faculty library, good computer facilities and backup and an electron microscope and imaging unit.

Staff - Honorary Part-time:

• Alf Volchansky BDS, PhD - Honorary Professor
• L Paul Fatti BSc(Hons), MSc, PhD, DIC - Emeritus Professor of Statistics and Actuarial Science and Honorary Professorial Research Fellow

Postgraduate activity - staff of the Division supervise research for the following degrees of the Faculty of Health Sciences:

• Master of Science by research dissertation only

• Master of Science by course-work and a research report in various disciplines

• Master of Dentistry and Master of Medicine by course-work plus research report in various clinical specialities

• Doctor of Philosophy by research thesis only.

Current postgraduates:

• One MSc dissertation, is currently with examiners