The Pitt Dental Medicine research mission is to expand the boundaries of knowledge and build on discoveries to enhance the quality of human life. Our mission aligns with the University of Pittsburgh’s position as a research-intensive university. In addition, our research is an essential part of the School’s teaching mission for health science students. Furthermore, the contribution of research can be directly applied to patient care by advancing the knowledge base of the dental field as a whole. This, too, is a key component of education for Pitt Dental Medicine students and serves to integrate research into the future of clinical dentistry and ultimately benefit patients.