Oral Biology, Ph.D.
Head: Dr. James Gilchrist
Campus Address/General Office: P129B - 770 Bannatyne Avenue
Telephone: 204-789-3571 (Graduate Program Assistant)
Fax: 204-789-3912
Email Address: oral.biology@umanitoba.ca
Website: umanitoba.ca/dentistry/oral-biology
Academic Staff: Please refer to the Oral Biology website for Academic staff information.
Oral Biology Information
The Department of Oral Biology offers graduate instruction and research leading to Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees.
Admission Information
Admission to the Faculty of Graduate Studies
Application and Admission Procedures are found in the Academic Guide.
Admission requirements for doctoral students are found in the Doctor of Philosophy General Regulations section of the Guide.
Oral Biology Ph.D. Admission Requirements
A M.Sc. degree is required, although students of exceptional or proven ability holding an appropriate professional degree or a B.Sc. (Hons.) degree may be admitted.
Application Information
Students should complete and submit their online application with supporting documentation by the date indicated on the Oral Biology Ph.D. program of study page.
Degree Requirements
The Ph.D. program requires satisfactory completion of course requirements as determined by each student’s advisory committee and a thesis based on original research. Minimum course requirements shall be 12 credit hours at the 7000 level beyond the Master’s degree, and must include course ORLB 7190 (unless students have previous credit for this or an equivalent course). Courses taken during the Master’s programs cannot be transferred as credits towards the Ph.D. program.
Ph.D. students are expected to attend all departmental seminars. Students shall present at least one seminar on their own research to the department each year.
Expected Time to Graduate: 4 years
Progression Chart
| Year 1 | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| GRAD 7300 | Research Integrity Tutorial | 0 |
| GRAD 7500 | Academic Integrity Tutorial | 0 |
| GRAD 8000 | Doctoral Thesis | 0 |
| GRAD 8020 | Doctoral Re-registration | 0 |
| ORLB 7190 | Communication Skills in Dental Research 1 | 3 |
| Courses at the 7000 level 2 | 9 | |
| Hours | 12 | |
| Years 2-4 | ||
| GRAD 8000 | Doctoral Thesis | 0 |
| GRAD 8020 | Doctoral Re-registration | 0 |
| GRAD 8010 | Doctoral Candidacy Examination 3 | 0 |
| Hours | 0 | |
| Total Hours | 12 | |
| 1 | Unless student has previous credit for this or an equivalent course. ORLB 7190 may not be offered every year, course may be taken in year 2. |
| 2 | All other courses are chosen through discussion between student and advisor. |
| 3 | Doctorial Candidacy Exam cannot be taken until all PhD program coursework is completed, and should be completed no later than 1 year prior to expected graduation. |
Registration Information
Students should familiarize themselves with the Faculty of Graduate Studies ‘GRAD’ courses applicable to their program. If you have questions about which GRAD course(s) to register in, please consult your home department/unit.
All new or returning graduate students must have identified a faculty member willing to act as thesis advisor. This must be done through personal interviews prior to registration. All programs of study must be approved by the department head or chair of the Graduate Studies and Research Committee.
Not all departmental graduate level courses are offered each year. Consult with appropriate faculty members.
Regulations
Students must meet the requirements as outlined in both Supplementary Regulation and BFAR documents as approved by Senate.
Supplementary Regulations
Individual units may require specific requirements above and beyond those of the Faculty of Graduate Studies, and students should consult unit supplementary regulations for these specific regulations.
Bona Fide Academic Requirements (BFAR)
Bona Fide Academic Requirements (BFAR) represent the core academic requirements a graduate student must acquire in order to gain, and demonstrate acquisition of, essential knowledge and skills.
All students must successfully complete:
- GRAD 7300 prior to applying to any ethics boards which are appropriate to the student’s research or within the student’s first year, whichever comes first; and
- GRAD 7500 within the first term of registration;
unless these courses have been completed previously, as per Mandatory Academic Integrity Course and Mandatory Research Integrity Online Course.
Students must also meet additional BFAR requirements that may be specified for their program.
General Regulations
All students must:
- maintain a minimum degree grade point average of 3.0 with no grade below C+,
- meet the minimum and not exceed the maximum course requirements, and
- meet the minimum and not exceed the maximum time requirements (in terms of time in program and lapse or expiration of credit of courses).
Courses
Oral Biology
A combined lecture and seminar course on the pharmacological basis of therapeutics. Special attention will be paid to drugs used commonly in the practice of dentistry, their side effects and their interaction.
Study of principles of ecology in relation to the various ecosystems in the oral cavity. In depth examination of the taxonomic relationships of oral bacterial species. Emphasis will be placed on the growth and metabolic activities of oral bacteria which lead to successful colonization of the mouth.
The description of the aetiology of microbial infections in the mouth and infections elsewhere in the body which involve oral bacteria. The control of such infections by vaccines, antibiotics and antimicrobial drugs. Treatment of infections in the immuno-suppressed, post- operative infections and nosocomial infections. The relationships of host immune system to the oral flora.
Each student will be required to carry out a minor research project in an area of oral biology other than that of their thesis work. The results of this project will be presented in a seminar and submitted as a written report.
A comprehensive study of the macromolecular constituents of connective tissue, of their synthesis, metabolism, macromolecular interaction in health and disease, and of their regulatory mechanisms.
This course will cover the structure and function of cell membrane receptors. The mechanisms and regulation of membrane coupled signal transduction pathways including those stimulated by oral tastants and drugs will also be covered.
This course deals with the molecular pathology of the oral cavity and maxilofacial complex.
This course examines the peripheral and central mechanisms associated with pain. Endogenous pain control systems and the pharmacological treatment of pain will also be covered.
This course is given by staff in the form of lectures and tutorials. Additional lectures may be given by visiting scientists. Students are expected to familiarize themselves with the relevant literature and are examined for an in-depth appreciation of the topics covered.
A course to develop written, visual and oral communication skills in scientific and clinical disciplines related to dentistry.