Dr. Hatice Hasturk Awarded by NIDCR

Dr. Hatice Hasturk, Boston University Goldman School of Dental Medicine (BUGSDM) Assistant Professor in the Department of Periodontology and Oral Biology was recently granted a K23 award by the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) for her research titled, Treatment of Periodontitis and Inflammatory Changes in Diabetes. This award was approved as of June 1 for five years and will allow her to focus on determining the association between diabetes and oral disease.

"This study is designed to determine the association between two major community health care problems, diabetes and oral disease, and improve the quality of life of the affected subjects," said Dr. Hasturk. "Diabetes and chronic oral health conditions continue to present a serious obstacle to public health. I strongly believe that while chronic oral inflammation is being controlled by successful periodontal treatment and maintenance therapy, simultaneous care of diabetes by health care providers will support the elimination of the unstable and reciprocal condition between periodontal disease and diabetes."

This is the first time Dr. Hasturk has received direct funding from NIDCR as a principal investigator. Prior to this she has worked as a co-investigator on several NIDCR supported studies.