Clinical and Dental Education Research Pilot Grants (CRISP)

Clinical and Dental Education Research Pilot Grants (CRISP) is sponsored by University of Iowa College of Dentistry. This program provides support for faculty with a specific clinical or dental education research question.

Clinical and Dental Education Research Pilot Grants | College of Dentistry and Dental Clinics - The University of Iowa Clinical and Dental Education Research Pilot Grants Clinical and Dental Education Research Pilot Grants The University of Iowa College of Dentistry Clinical/Dental Education Research Initiative Support Program (CRISP) accepts applications on a rolling basis.

The program is intended to provide support for faculty who have a specific clinical or dental education research question.

The support includes, but is not limited to: Collecting data for a peer-reviewed publication or for grant applications for external funding such as industry, foundations, or government awards; Paying the costs of extensive data acquisition or core facility services, such as BigMouth data expense; Covering the cost of short-term research assistant support; Purchasing equipment or supplies necessary to address the clinical or dental education questions; and Covering the cost of expanding the study design for answering the clinical or dental education question to include external sites.

Support for each awardee will be up to $5,000. Exceptions to this limit may be considered on a case by case basis when accompanied by exceptional justification. This program is in addition to the University of Iowa College of Dentistry Seed Grant Program that has been in place for the last two years and will continue.

The primary goal of the COD Seed Grant Program is to fund the generation of preliminary data that will make major external grant applications more competitive. The success of this program is fundamental for ensuring the clinical application and translational impact of our research initiatives.

“The college's investment in clinical and dental education research ensures that we will remain a leader in translational, clinical, and dental education research,” said Associate Dean Xie. Because of the college’s commitment to its research mission, the College of Dentistry recently became ranked 10th in the country, and 2nd in the Big 10, with over $6. 4M in National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) funding.

Robert Bowers and Anvita Maharishi, assistant professors in the Department of Family Dentistry, received a CRISP grant to study national trends in materials used for full coverage dental restorations. Their research will analyze data from 18 dental schools to assess the shift toward all-ceramic materials and inform updates to dental education and licensure standards.

Tuesday, September 30, 2025 Aline Petrin, assistant professor of orthodontics, received a CRISP grant to complete genetic screening of patients with Van der Woude syndrome. Her study will help clarify how genetic mutations influence disease severity and support future research into epigenetic factors that shape cleft phenotypes and guide individualized treatment strategies.

Wednesday, September 3, 2025 Dr. Michelle McQuistan, associate professor in the Department of Preventive and Community Dentistry, has received a CRISP grant to study whether the Teach-Back Method can improve patient understanding and reduce complications following wisdom tooth extractions.

Her team will conduct a randomized trial to evaluate outcomes such as adherence to instructions, post-operative complications, and patient satisfaction as part of Dr. Ankita Vishwamitra’s thesis project in Dental Public Health. Wednesday, September 3, 2025 Dr. Hiromi Saisho, Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Family Dentistry, has received a CRISP grant to evaluate the mechanical performance of flowable resin composites.

Her in-vitro study will assess fracture toughness and flexural strength across multiple formulations, aiming to guide clinicians in selecting materials that improve restoration longevity and reduce failure. With a University of Iowa CRISP grant, Dr. Abhishek Parolia is using a web-based training program based on the Dental Practicality Index (DPI) to educate students in the practice of treatment planning.

Wednesday, September 18, 2024 With a College of Dentistry CRISP grant, Anelise Viapiana Masiero is investigating how use of different instrumentation techniques, irrigation techniques, and heat affects endodontic sealers properties.

Wednesday, March 20, 2024 An Yi Ma's research investigating various types of fiber post removal strategies lays the foundation for an evidence-based set of practices for fiber post removal in a general dentist's office.

Thiago Soares Porto's research on bioactive glasses with niobum nanoparticles is intended to develop a novel adhesive system capable of enhancing the quality and longevity of dental restorations Thursday, August 24, 2023 Aline Petrin’s research on identical twins has shed led on the epigenetic causes of orofacial clefting. Her new study explores the epigenetic causes of mirrored clefting among twins.

The college’s Clinical/Dental Education Research Initiative Support Program (CRISP) selected Joseph Curtis's pilot study assessing various modern methods of the design and fabrication of custom edentulous impression trays and record bases. This purpose of the study is update the third-year curriculum incorporating more modern, digital components into the denture design process.

PhD, Professor, Department of Pediatric Dentistry and Iowa Institute for Oral Health Research DMD, PhD, Associate Professor and Graduate Program Director of Orthodontics, and Director, Clinical Research Office DDS, PhD, Associate Professor and Chair, Department of Operative Dentistry