Published: 2 July 2025
The NUS Faculty of Dentistry, in collaboration with the Osteology Foundation, hosted The Osteology Research Academy on Clinical Translation of Advanced Technologies from 11-13 June 2025. This three-day programme, developed by course chairpersons Dr Gopu Sriram (NUS Dentistry) and Prof Sašo Ivanovski (Osteology Foundation), was designed to advance research expertise and clinical innovation in dental medicine.
The event brought together leading global experts, forward-thinking educators, and participants from all around the world for an immersive experience at the cutting edge of dental science.
Professor Chris Peck, Dean of NUS Dentistry, alongside Professor Sašo Ivanovski from The University of Queensland and Osteology Foundation, gave a warm welcome to all participants of the programme. It featured a strong lineup of speakers from NUS Dentistry, including Associate Professors Raymond Wong, Fu Jia-Hui, and Vinicius Rosa, as well as Dr Gopu Sriram and Ms Sim Yu Fan. They were joined by Professor Dean Ho from the Department of Biomedical Engineering at the College of Design and Engineering, NUS, and Dr Nileshkumar Dubey from the University of Maryland. Together, the speakers brought a wealth of expertise and insight to the Academy.
The Academy was thoughtfully designed to equip dental professionals and researchers with a strong foundation in advanced research methodologies and cutting-edge innovations in oral tissue regeneration through a series of lectures and complementary hands-on workshops. Participants gained valuable insights into the transformative role of 3D printing, 3D bioprinting, novel biomaterials, tissue engineering, and organ-on-chip technologies in dental research and clinical translation. These were complemented with insights on digital medicine in dental health and methods to design clinical trials for the translation of new technologies to clinical practice.
Hands-On Learning and Global Collaboration
The Academy’s interactive workshops provided participants with invaluable hands-on experience in next-generation technologies, including 3D printing, 3D bioprinting, bone grafting, 3D tissue engineering, and organ-on-chip fabrication. These sessions ensured that theoretical knowledge was effectively translated into practical skills relevant to frontier dental and craniofacial research.
Day 1 focused on the exploration of applications of 3D printing and bone grafting techniques for bone regeneration. Using ingeniously crafted 3D-printed educational models, participants practiced calvarial wound repair and alveolar ridge augmentation procedures.
Day 2 saw participants gaining insights on the design of experiments and fabrication of miniature tissues such as spheroids and 3D tissue equivalents (lab-made gingiva-like tissues) using advanced tissue engineering methods.
On day 3, participants fabricated miniature dental hard and soft tissues using 3D bioprinting and organ-on-chip devices – including a customised organ-on-chip device representing NUS Dentistry. Adding a personal touch to the event, fabricated device designs were also transformed into keychains for participants to bring home. The final highlight saw participants having the opportunity to electrospin their own guided tissue/bone regeneration (GTR/GBR) membranes while learning about these membranes’ potential applications for periodontal and bone regenerative therapies.
These hands-on sessions empowered participants to bridge the gap between cutting-edge research and clinical practice, while fostering innovative ideas and collaboration in dental and craniofacial research.
Beyond lectures and workshops, the programme fostered a vibrant, international learning community. Attendees engaged in lively discussions, Q&A sessions, and exchange opportunities with faculty and peers from diverse backgrounds. Social networking highlights included the Osteology Welcome Reception and a dedicated team dinner, offering an ideal platform for idea-sharing, mentorship, and forging camaraderie.
The Osteology Research Academy on Clinical Translation of Advanced Technologies stands as a testament to the shared commitment of NUS Dentistry and the Osteology Foundation to the future of dental research and practice. By equipping participants from around the globe with advanced knowledge and skills on frontier technologies, the Academy is shaping the next generation of dental innovators.
