Research Center for Caries Prevention
| About the Center |
The Research Center for Caries Prevention (RCCP) at Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS) was established with the primary goal of improving oral health, enhancing the quality of life, and advancing dental science in the fields of prevention and care. The center was licensed on July 9, 2013. As a key research entity in the field of oral health in Iran, our center strives to offer effective solutions for preventing oral diseases, specifically dental caries, through cutting-edge scientific findings and international research collaborations. Our efforts extend beyond research, encompassing public education and professional training aimed at both specialists and the general public. The RCCP is located within the Dentistry Research Institute of TUMS and is open to inquiries from researchers, specialists, and interested individuals via email at rccp@sina.tums.ac.ir.
| Research Focus Area |
Research Priorities of the Center:
1. **Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) Domain** - Interventions and strategies for the prevention and control of dental caries - Laboratory and clinical studies on dental caries - Analysis of the burden of oral diseases and influencing factors using a common risk factor approach
2. **Health System Domain** - Evaluation of strategies to integrate oral health into the general health system - Assessment and monitoring of preventive and therapeutic services for dental caries - Designing monitoring and care systems for dental caries from birth
3. **Health Sciences Domain, Social Determinants of Health** - Examining the role of social determinants on oral health in Iran - Feasibility studies and implementation of interventions to promote social determinants impacting oral health
4. **Dentistry Domain** - Epidemiological studies on systemic diseases associated with dental caries - Exploration of strategies to enhance dental education with a preventive approach
| Expertise, Facilities & Research Services |
- Community-Based Oral Health Research Unit – Design and implementation of national and regional oral health surveys and epidemiological studies.
- Oral Health Policy & Health Systems Research – Development, evaluation, and implementation of evidence-based oral health policies and service packages.
- Clinical Epidemiology & Biostatistics Support – Study design, advanced statistical analysis, systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and evidence synthesis.
- National Oral Health Survey Coordination Unit – Expertise in large-scale population sampling, field implementation, examiner calibration, and quality assurance.
- Health Economics & Decision Analysis – Cost-effectiveness analysis, burden of disease assessment, Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA), and priority setting.
- Implementation Science & Knowledge Translation – Translation of research findings into clinical practice, public health programs, and national guidelines.
- Oral Health Promotion & Prevention Research – Research on preventive interventions, behavioral sciences, health education, and community-based prevention strategies.
- Research Capacity Building & Training – Workshops, researcher mentoring, examiner calibration, methodology training, and collaborative research supervision.
- National & International Research Collaboration Platform – Coordination of multidisciplinary and multi-institutional research projects with governmental and international partners.
- Data Management & Research Quality Assurance – Development of electronic data collection systems, quality control protocols, and secure management of research databases.
| Collaboration Opportunities |
To expand the activities of the Caries Prevention Research Center, the center seeks collaboration with other scientific associations and students interested in research. Interested individuals can join as associate members, gaining hands-on experience in dental research and enhancing their skills in executive tasks. All associate members who participate in the center’s activities will receive a certificate of collaboration detailing the type of activity (research, executive, etc.) and its duration.
The planned activities for students are categorized into three areas: research, executive, and public relations, with participation in each being optional.
Members can also engage in executive programs such as website design and updates, poster and announcement design, as well as coordinating the organization of workshops and journal clubs.
Public relations activities include establishing connections between the center and other research institutions within the university and planning related to this domain.
If you are interested in collaborating with the Dental Caries Prevention Research Center, please visit the center’s office (First floor of the Research Institute, end of the corridor).
| Director & Key Researchers |
Director
- Dr. Mohammad Reza Khami
Principal Faculty Members
- Dr. Hossein Hessari
- Dr. Reza Yazdani
- Dr. Ahmad Reza Shamshiri
- Dr. Ahmad Jafari Ghavam Abad
- Dr. Shervan Shoaee
- Dr. Simin Zahra Movahedi
- Dr. Afsaneh Pakdaman
- Dr. Katayoun Sargaran
- Dr. Samaneh Razaghi
- Dr. Mahdia Gholami
- Dr. Ebrahim Jafari Pouyan
- Dr. Solmaz Akbari
- Dr. Ahmad Esmaillzadeh
- Dr. Shima Younespour
- Dr. Zahra Pouraskari
| Selected Achievements |
- Published two book chapters in a Springer international volume on multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary approaches in health.
- Led the development of Iran's evidence-based Basic Oral and Dental Health Services Package, a major national health policy initiative.
- Established international collaborations with leading academic institutions, including Sapienza University of Rome, and presented the center's work at the M8 Alliance Expert Meeting.
- Represented the center at the WHO First Global Oral Health Conference in Bangkok, contributing to international scientific dialogue on oral health.
- Successfully attracted competitive external research funding from national funding agencies, including NIMAD and the Iranian Academy of Medical Sciences.
| Why Collaborate with Us? |
The Dental Caries Prevention Research Center at Tehran University of Medical Sciences is a leading national center for community oral health research and evidence generation. We specialize in preventive dentistry, social dentistry, health policy, and implementation research, translating scientific evidence into national oral health programs and clinical guidelines. Our multidisciplinary team collaborates with national and international partners on population-based studies, systematic reviews, and health services research. With strong expertise in capacity building, evidence-based policymaking, and large-scale community research, we offer an excellent platform for impactful international collaboration.
| Contact Information |
Research Center for Caries Prevention