Relationship between biomarkers of periimplantitis and cardiovascular disease risk.
Project details:
First supervisor: Dr Sadia Niazi
Second supervisor: Dr David Moyes
Third supervisor:Dr Emily Lu
Funding available: Self-funded
Duration of award: 3 years
Mode of study: Full-time
Eligibility: Home/EU,overseas
Start date: Open until September 2022
Application deadline: Open until September 2022
Reference number: 2021/DOCS/11
Project description:
Dental implants are used for treating either partial or complete edentulous patients. Despite their good survival rate, there is a still high prevalence of peri-implant diseases. This is classified as peri-implant mucositis which is reversible inflammation of the soft tissues around an implant and peri-implantitis which involves inflammation leading to loss of supporting bone around an implant. Due to chronic inflammation, the serum levels of inflammatory biomarkers can rise. This systemic inflammation can have an adverse impact on systemic health and can lead to an increased risk of condition like cardiovascular disease (CVD) – a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Coronary Heart Disease due to atherosclerosis is the most common type of CVD. Inflammation plays a key role in the initiation and development of atherosclerotic plaque and its systemic complications. Studies have identified raised levels of certain inflammatory biomarkers levels in salivary and peri-implant crevicular fluid (PICF) in peri-implantitis patients compared to implant patients with no peri-implant disease. Recently the relationship between risk markers for cardiovascular disease and the development of peri-implant diseases were also investigated. It is imperative to elucidate the impact of chronic inflammation related to periimplantitis on systemic health. This project will provide novel insights into the role of host responses related to peri-implantitis in predisposing to CVD risk. The project is aimed:
1) to compare the salivary, serum and peri-implant crevicular fluid levels of certain biomarkers which can potentiate CVD risk development in peri-implantitis patients with or without metabolic syndrome.
2) to investigate whether history of periodontitis or existing periodontitis in these implant patients would potentiate levels of these biomarkers which can lead to CVD risk.
3) Compare these with the biomarker levels in implant patients with no peri-implant disease and healthy controls (no implants or no periodontitis and no PA disease).
4) Associate changes in these biomarker levels during treatment course with the treatment outcome.
Person specification:
Dentist
Research commitment
Research training:
To commence this project, the student will be trained on “Good Clinical Practice for Research for carrying out non-CTIMP studies” and “Human Tissue Act & Consent training” by attending courses provided by KCL and King’s Health Partners. This will enable him to collect/handle samples from study participants from Periodontics and Prosthodontics Department attending Guy’s Hospital. While working in the Host Microbiome laboratory, the student will learn a range of molecular techniques including Elisa, Multiplex Luminex etc. He/She will also develop the analytical skill using different software including “SPSS”, “R” etc. This research training will enhance the Scientific writing and presentation skills. During the PhD he will also have access to enrol for numerous courses available for development of post graduate students.
Next steps
Please apply online at apply.kcl.ac.uk following these steps:
- Register a new account/login
- Once logged in, select Create a new application
- Enter ‘Dental and Health Sciences Research MPhil/PhD (Full-time)/(Part-time)' under Choose a programme. Please ensure you select the correct mode of study
- Select the start date
- Please note: Applicants must include the project reference number (2021/DOCS/11) in the 'Research proposal' and 'Funding (point 5)' sections of the application.
Applications must be received by the deadline specified in this listing.
Applicants are strongly encouraged to discuss projects with the first supervisor prior to submitting an application.
Dr. Sadia Niazi, BDS Endodontics Clinical Lead ,Clinical Lecturer/Honorary Consultant in Endodontology
Department of Endodontics ,Centre of Oral Clinical & Translational Sciences
Faculty of Dentistry, Oral & Craniofacial Sciences,
Email: sadia.niazi@kcl.ac.uk
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