Saint Joseph University

The Cranio-Facial Research Laboratory (CRFL) , a component of the Health Technology Pole at Saint Joseph University of Beirut, is a joint center for research and innovation, linking the interface between the clinic and basic research in Dentistry.

This laboratory, collaborating with the Care and Radiology Centers of the Faculty of Dental Medicine, thus benefits from the contribution of researchers and specialized clinicians for better interactivity, in particular for research with clinical and epidemiological characteristics.

The laboratory’s mission is to provide research and education for students in the Master of Specialty and University Doctorate theses. The laboratory also integrates visiting students and associated researchers from foreign universities in the framework of internships or collaboration to broaden its field of expertise and its influence.

MISSION

Promote basic and clinical research.
Conduct and supervise research training and development programs.
Interact with the other research components of Saint Joseph University of Beirut.
Collaborate with national and international research laboratories.
Publish and communicate research results nationally and internationally.
Take advantage of the transfer of knowledge acquired to health professionals and the public.
Develop innovative research and transfer to manufacturers in the field.
Raise awareness of partners in dental research.

STRUCTURE

The Cranio-Facial Research laboratory is composed of five divisions:

1. Division of Oral Biology.

2. Division of Biomaterials.

3. Division of Oral Health.

4. Division of Cranio-Facial Anomalies.

5. Division of Cranio-Facial Imaging.

CONTACTS

Cranio-Facial Research Laboratory

Pr. Joseph Bouserhal, director: 03 321056 - joseph.bouserhal@usj.edu.lb

Division of Oral Biology

Dr. Carole Chakar: 03 307094 - carole.chakar@usj.edu.lb

Dr. Wassim Manhal: 03 322923 - wassim.manhal@usj.edu.lb

Division of Biomaterials

Pr. Maha Daou: 03 370512 - maha.daou@usj.edu.lb

Dr. Roula El Hachem Wassef : 03 836040 - roula.hachem@usj.edu.lb

Division of Oral Health

Pr. Joseph Bouserhal: 03 321056 - joseph.bouserhal@usj.edu.lb

Dr. Lara Nasr: - lara.nasr@usj.edu.lb

Division of Cranio-Facial Anomalies

Pr. Paul Boulos: 03 663040 - paul.boulos@usj.edu.lb

Pr. Amine Zoghby: 03 813393 - amine.zoghby@usj.edu.lb

Division of Cranio-Facial Imaging

Pr. Joseph Bouserhal: 03 321056 - joseph.bouserhal@usj.edu.lb

Dr. Nabil Ghosn: 03 941126 - nabil.ghosn@usj.edu.lb

DIVISION OF ORAL BIOLOGY

Directors: Dr. Carole Chakar – Dr. Wassim Manhal

The Division of Oral Biology is particularly dedicated to the study of bone, dental and peri-dental tissues, endosseous implants and the reaction of tissues to the implantation of biomaterials.

Research directions

Biomaterials and tissue regeneration of the oral cavity.
Dental implant osteointegration.
3D imaging methods for oral and implant surgery.

Expertise

Histology of soft tissue, bone, dental and biomaterials: demineralized and non-demineralized techniques, immunohistochemistry.
Interpretation of the reaction of these different elements in the context of in vitro, animal or clinical experiments.

National and international collaborations

Lebanese University: Doctoral School of Science and Technology, Research and Analysis Platform in Environmental Sciences, Research Platform in Nanosciences and Nanotechnology, Lebanon.
Sorbonne Paris Nord University (UP13)/Paris Descartes University (UP5), Innovative Biomaterials and Interfaces URB2i Research Unit, UR4462 Research Team (Bobigny/Montrouge), France.
Paris Diderot University (UP7), molecular oral pathophysiology laboratory, INSERM UMR S-1138, France.
Paris 7 University, UMR-CNRS 7052 orthopedic research laboratory.
School of Industrial Biology (EBI), EBInnov Laboratory, Cergy, France.

DIVISION OF BIOMATERIALS

Directors: Pr. Maha Daou – Dr. Roula El Hachem

The Division of Biomaterials is a service facility specializing in mechanical material testing for failure analysis and accelerated wear/aging. It is specialized in dental materials and their behavior.

Research directions

Axis 1 explores the mechanical properties of dental biomaterials.
Axis 2 explores the links between oral health and the behavior of dental materials.
Axis 3 explores the links between aging, damage tests and the clinical axis.

Expertise

The study of the resistance of all types of dental materials as well as the mechanics applied to the problems of fatigue, damage, aging and rupture of biomaterials related to the oral cavity.
Interpretation of the reaction of these different elements in the context of in vitro, animal or clinical experiments.
Thermocycling and simulation of artificial aging using cyclic temperature changes.
Tensile strength, compressive strength and bending tests.
Tests of adhesion strengths of cements and adhesives

National and international collaborations

Lebanese University: Doctoral School of Science and Technology, Research and Analysis Platform in Environmental Sciences, Research Platform in Nanosciences and Nanotechnology, Lebanon.
University of Brest, UFR Odontologie, France.
University of Paris 13, Laboratory of biomaterials and polymers UMR-CNRS 7244.
University of Paris 7 Denis Diderot, Laboratory of molecular oral pathophysiology, INSERM UMR S-1138, France.
Paris 7 University, UMR-CNRS 7052 orthopedic research laboratory, EBI, France.

DIVISION OF ORAL HEALTH

Directors: Pr. Joseph Bouserhal – Dr. Nada El Osta

The Division of Oral Health explores the equivocal relationships between oral health, nutrition, noncommunicable diseases and care and prevention practices, with a particular interest in assessing the factors related to the health of individuals and populations in Lebanon.

Research directions

• Axis 1 explores the relationship between oral health, nutrition and non-communicable diseases.

• Axis 2 explores the relationship between oral health and care and prevention practices.

• Axis 3 explores the relationship between non-communicable diseases and care and prevention procedures.

• Axis 4 explores the area of practice of forensic odontology in Lebanon.

Expertise

Epidemiological, experimental and clinical studies related to oral health as well as the psychometric validation of quality of life tools related to oral and general health will be performed in this division.

National and international collaborations

Clermont Auvergne University, Research Center in Clinical Dentistry, CROC, Clermont-Ferrand, France.
Saint Joseph University of Beirut, Laboratory of pharmacology, Clinical pharmacy and quality control of medicaments, Faculty of pharmacy, Beirut, Lebanon.

DIVISION OF CRANIO-FACIAL ABNORMALITIES

Directors: Pr. Paul Boulos – Pr. Amine Zoghby

The mission of this Division is to improve oral and cranio-facial health, specializing in the study of factors that may influence this physiology.

Research directions

Axis 1 explores anthropological evolution and cranio-facial deformities.
Axis 2 explores the physiology and pathophysiology of the masticatory system.
Axis 3 explores TMJ pain and headaches.
Axis 4 explores the links between sleep disorders and oro-facial health.

Expertise

Anthropological and pathologic evolution responsible for cranio-facial deformities
The investigation of ethnic variations in the components of the cranio-facial system.
The investigation of new technologies for the anatomical and functional exploration of the masticatory system.

National and international collaborations

Lebanese University: Doctoral School of Science and Technology, Environmental Science Research and Analysis Platform, Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Research Platform, Lebanon.
University of Naples Federico I, Orthodontics Section, Italy.
University of Aix Marseille II, School of Dentistry, France.
University Paris Descartes Sorbonne Paris Cité, UFR - Laboratoire of Odontology, Pathology, Imaging and Orofacial Biotherapies - EA 2496, France.

DIVISION OF CRANIO-FACIAL IMAGING

Directors: Pr. Joseph Bouserhal - Dr. Nabil Ghosn

The mission of this Division is to provide researchers with the technical assistance and the required tools to design, process and analyze the data of their research projects and to boost innovations in craniofacial imaging.

Research directions

Axis 1 explores radiological anatomy.

Axis 2 is aimed at digital dentistry.

Axis 3 is aimed at analytical imaging.

Axis 4 is aimed at the application of finite elements analysis in dentistry.

Expertise

The interpretation, segmentation and processing of cranio-facial radiological images using specific software: 3D Slicer, ITK-SNAP, Newtom Imaging, Materialise Simplant.
Quantitative analysis, digitization, and automation of measurements: ImageJ, dHAL Viewbox, Matlab.
The design and editing of three-dimensional models.
Simulations of surgical and orthodontic treatments: 3Shape Implant Studio, Materialise Simplant, Blue Sky Plan, 3Shape OrthoAnalyzer.
The comparison and superimposition of 2D and 3D images/datasets.

National and international collaborations

Boston University, Department of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics, USA.
Paul-Sabatier University Toulouse III, Molecular Anthropology and Synthetic Imaging Laboratory (AMIS), France.
Thessaloniki University, Department of Orthodontics, Greece.
University of Texas Health Sciences Center, Department of Comprehensive Dentistry, USA.

Website
https://www.usj.edu.lb/fmd/

Address
Innovation and Sports Campus
Damascus Road
PO BOX 11-5076 – Riad el Solh
Beirut 11072180

Telephone : 01/421 000 ext. 2281/6782/6836
Email : fmd.researchlab@usj.edu.lb