UMKC School of Dentistry
Clinical Research Center (CRC)

The CRC Mission:
• The Clinical Research Center (CRC) is a dental clinical research facility with primary mission of conducting clinical research and is the mechanism by which corporate sponsors employ the physical and human resources of the school of dentistry in the testing and evaluation of dental-related products and therapies.
• The CRC also conducts research on internally funded projects and provides expertise and support to dental and basic science faculty in the areas of research design, Good Clinical Practice Standards, Clinical Research Ethics, measurement, and biostatistics.

CRC Facilities
The CRC is located in a dedicated area on the first floor of the School of Dentistry consisting of dental treatment cubicles, secured storage for maintaining and dispensing research-related products, and a private office where subjects can be screened for participation and review all informed consent materials related to their research participation.

The CRC Team
• The CRC Director, Dr. Karen Williams, supervises all activities in the center and insures that the center meets federal standards for Good Clinical Practice. Dr. Williams also provides consultation on research design and biostatistics to corporate sponsors as well as faculty throughout the UMKC and UM Columbia campuses.
• Dr. Lynn Friesen, a board certified periodontist, allocates 25% of her appointment at the School of Dentistry to the CRC. In addition, the CRC also utilizes the expertise of many academic and administrative areas in the school.

CRC Partnerships
• The importance and quality of CRC’s partnerships with the private sector is demonstrated by its contribution to the development, evaluation and approval of bold, new products and therapies that have improved the oral health of millions of people.
• Over the 20 years since its inception, the CRC has conducted over 70 studies, ranging from Phase I through Phase III clinical trials.

CRC Needs Your Help
The Clinical Research Center at the School of Dentistry relies on volunteer research subjects to accomplish it’s mission. If you are interested in learning more about the CRC you can contact us at 816-235-2200.

Clinical Research Center
UMKC School of Dentistry
650 E. 25th
Kansas City MO 64108
Email: crc@umkc.edu

Current and Recent CRC projects:
• Evaluation of products for tooth whitening
• Comparison of powered toothbrushes for reducing gingivitis
• Testing the safety and effectiveness of antimicrobial mouth rinses
• Determining the value of a device for increasing the comfort of patients suffering from temporomandibular disorders
• Effectiveness of various manual, battery-powered, and rechargeable toothbrushes
• Effectiveness of antimicrobials delivered in a sustained release device for treatment of periodontitis
• Evaluating the effectiveness of resorbable barriers used in tissue-guided regeneration in the treatment of periodontal defects
• Comparing different approaches to diagnosing periodontal disease