The Nation's Network

Founded at UAB, the National Dental Practice-Based Research Network is a consortium of participating dental practices and organizations that conduct practice-based research. Essentially, it is “practical science” done for the benefit of “real world” clinical practices. The network builds upon clinicians’ observations from their own practices, gets them engaged in discussions with other practitioners about scientific approaches, and then establishes scientific consensus that is clinically meaningful and relevant to patient treatment. Their work expedites the application of scientific discoveries into routine, everyday clinical practice.

UAB School of Dentistry is home to the network's national administrative base. The National Network Director is Dr. Gregg Gilbert. The network comprises practices from six United States regions. In addition to the Birmingham location are hubs in Rochester, New York; Gainesville, Florida; Minneapolis, Minnesota; San Antonio, Texas; and Portland, Oregon.

The major source of funding for the nation's network is the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), part of the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH).