Research Activities Research Articles

Dietetic research involvement is associated with the European region where a dietitian is working and their highest degree qualification.

Research is the foundation of the dietetic profession and of evidence-based guidelines/practice. The present study aimed to examine the level of research involvement among dietitians in Europe. A cross-sectional study was conducted among dietitians across Europe using the validated Research Involvement Questionnaire (RIQ), which assigns participants to four levels of research involvement. The survey link was distributed through various channels; for example, National Dietetic Association (NDA) members of European Federation of the Associations of Dietitians (EFAD), the EFAD eNewsletter, national newsletters, etc. Data were analysed with SPSS, using descriptive statistics, statistical tests and ordinal logistic regression analysis with the level of research involvement as the dependent variable. In total, 257 European dietitians completed the survey (84.6% female). Most participants held a Master's degree (46.1%), followed by a Bachelor's degree (27.3%) or Doctorate (25.7%). One-third of participants were involved at level 3 or 4 (leading research, leadership in research), whereas most were involved at level 1 (evidence-based practice) or 2 (collaboration in research). The multivariate regression analysis showed that dietitians' research involvement was higher in dietitians with a Doctorate and in Northern/Southern Europe compared to Eastern/Western Europe. Dietitians have low levels of research involvement in practice even when highly qualified. Interventions to motivate dietitians to be more involved in research projects are important, as well as interventions to facilitate dietitians' research activities. This would inform the discipline's evidence base, strengthen the professional status of dietitians and increase their reputation within the healthcare sector.

Evaluation of safety and biomedical potential of water-soluble oat lignin Avena sativa L.

The study of the value of lignin for biomedical use is generating growing interest. For the first time, the safety and biological efficacy of lignin from the stems of the oat Avena sativa L. were studied, necessary for a preliminary assessment of its biomedical potential, have been studied. In vitro experiments, a sample of oat lignin exhibited cytotoxicity to the HeLa, A549, and HT-29 cancer cell lines, depending on the concentration. At maximum concentrations 125 and 150 μg/ml, it reduced their survival and increased the level of reactive oxygen species. In vivo experiments, a sample of oat lignin, with acute (from 5 to 250 mg/kg body weight) and chronic (300, 1200 and 2000 mg/kg body weight) administration, did not have a toxic or genotoxic effect on the organs of mice. The biological efficacy of the oat lignin was manifested in activation of repair processes in bone marrow and thyroid gland, a decrease in the level of abnormal spermatozoa in males, stimulation of reproductive performance of females and in increase in research activity and a decrease in the level of anxiety in animals. The results indicate the prospects for further study of the medical and biological potential lignin of the oat.

Technology roadmap toward the completion of whole-brain architecture with BRA-driven development

The development of brain-morphic software holds significant promise for creating artificial general intelligence that exhibits high affinity and interpretability for humans and also offers substantial benefits for medical applications. To facilitate this, creating Brain Reference Architecture (BRA) data, serving as a design specification for brain-morphic software is imperative. BRA-driven development, which utilizes Brain Information Flow (BIF) diagrams based on mesoscale brain anatomy and Hypothetical Component Diagrams (HCD) for corresponding computational functionalities, has been proposed to address this need. This methodology formalizes identifying possible functional structures by leveraging existing, albeit insufficient, neuroscientific knowledge. However, applying this methodology across the entire brain, thereby creating a Whole Brain Reference Architecture (WBRA), represents a significant research and development challenge due to its scale and complexity. Technology roadmaps have been introduced as a strategic tool to guide discussion, management, and distribution of resources within such expansive research and development activities. These roadmaps proposed a manual, anatomically based approach to incrementally construct BIF and HCD, thereby systematically expanding brain organ coverage towards achieving a complete WBRA. Large Language Model (LLM) technologies have introduced a paradigm shift, substantially automating the BRA-driven development process. This is largely due to the BRA data being structured around the brain’s anatomy and described in natural language, which aligns well with the capabilities of LLMs for supporting and automating the construction and verification processes. In this paper, we propose a novel technology roadmap to largely automate the creation of WBRA, leveraging neuroscientific insights. This roadmap includes 12 activities for automating BIF construction, notably extracting anatomical structures from scholarly articles. Furthermore, it details 11 activities aimed at enhancing the integration of Hypothetical Component Diagrams (HCD) into the WBRA, focusing on automating checks for functional consistency. This roadmap aims to establish a cost-effective and efficient design process for WBRA, ensuring the availability of brain-morphic software design specifications that are continually validated against the latest neuroscientific knowledge.

COVID-19-related research data availability and quality according to the FAIR principles: A meta-research study

Background According to the FAIR principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable), scientific research data should be findable, accessible, interoperable, and reusable. The COVID-19 pandemic has led to massive research activities and an unprecedented number of topical publications in a short time. However, no evaluation has assessed whether this COVID-19-related research data has complied with FAIR principles (or FAIRness). Objective Our objective was to investigate the availability of open data in COVID-19-related research and to assess compliance with FAIRness. Methods We conducted a comprehensive search and retrieved all open-access articles related to COVID-19 from journals indexed in PubMed, available in the Europe PubMed Central database, published from January 2020 through June 2023, using the metareadr package. Using rtransparent, a validated automated tool, we identified articles with links to their raw data hosted in a public repository. We then screened the link and included those repositories that included data specifically for their pertaining paper. Subsequently, we automatically assessed the adherence of the repositories to the FAIR principles using FAIRsFAIR Research Data Object Assessment Service (F-UJI) and rfuji package. The FAIR scores ranged from 1–22 and had four components. We reported descriptive analysis for each article type, journal category, and repository. We used linear regression models to find the most influential factors on the FAIRness of data. Results 5,700 URLs were included in the final analysis, sharing their data in a general-purpose repository. The mean (standard deviation, SD) level of compliance with FAIR metrics was 9.4 (4.88). The percentages of moderate or advanced compliance were as follows: Findability: 100.0%, Accessibility: 21.5%, Interoperability: 46.7%, and Reusability: 61.3%. The overall and component-wise monthly trends were consistent over the follow-up. Reviews (9.80, SD = 5.06, n = 160), articles in dental journals (13.67, SD = 3.51, n = 3) and Harvard Dataverse (15.79, SD = 3.65, n = 244) had the highest mean FAIRness scores, whereas letters (7.83, SD = 4.30, n = 55), articles in neuroscience journals (8.16, SD = 3.73, n = 63), and those deposited in GitHub (4.50, SD = 0.13, n = 2,152) showed the lowest scores. Regression models showed that the repository was the most influential factor on FAIRness scores (R2 = 0.809). Conclusion This paper underscored the potential for improvement across all facets of FAIR principles, specifically emphasizing Interoperability and Reusability in the data shared within general repositories during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A Bibliometric Analysis of Articles on Pit and Fissure Sealants During 2012 - 2023

Background: Pit and fissure sealants have become an essential preventive approach for occlusal caries, mainly in the young population. In the last decade, tremendous research has been done in sealant materials, effectiveness, application procedures, and clinical results; therefore, the trends, collaboration networks, and influential contributions need to be summarized in a structured manner. To conduct a deep bibliometric analysis of the published articles on pit and fissure sealants between 2012 and 2023, to track research trends, key contributors, collaborative networks, and gaps in the literature.Methods: Articles were obtained from Scopus, Web of Science, and PubMed databases with a bibliometric analysis of articles published from 2012 to 2023. The metrics were calculated using the package Biblioshiny in R while VOSviewer was used in the analysis of authorship, citation, and thematic network.Results: A total of 1,215 articles with 4,059 authors was analyzed, averaging 4.56 authors per paper, attesting to the high collaboration level. The United States, Brazil, and India are known to lead the sealant research activities. Sealant research tends to indicate the extent to which the world is going in the preventive dentistry field. Trends indicated a maximum output in 2015 and 2019 followed by a decline in subsequent years, indicating an overall annual decline in the rate of publication of -2.16%. Thematic analysis found that the most common themes of research were sealant efficacy, material innovation, and application techniques.Conclusion: Analysis Dramatic progresses in pit and fissure sealant research are highlighted due to an increasing global network. However, areas include improved long-term clinical follow up and optimizing retention when these sealants are put on under different conditions. Gaps should be addressed on how to innovate materials, form, and techniques and strategies for sealants that aim for evidence-based preventive recommendations and guidelines in public health dental practice.

Measuring Research Capacity: Development of the PACER Tool.

Evaluating research activity in research departments and education programs is conventionally accomplished through measurement of research funding or bibliometrics. This limited perspective of research activity restricts a more comprehensive evaluation of a program's actual research capacity, ultimately hindering efforts to enhance and expand it. The objective of this study was to conduct a scoping review of the existing literature pertaining to the measurement of research productivity in research institutions. Using these findings, the study aimed to create a standardized research measurement tool, the Productivity And Capacity Evaluation in Research (PACER) Tool. The evidence review identified 726 relevant articles in a literature search of PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, ERIC, CINAHL, and Google Scholar with the keywords "research capacity" and "research productivity." Thirty-nine English-language studies applicable to research measurement were assessed in full and 20 were included in the data extraction. Capacity/productivity metrics were identified, and the relevance of each metric was data-charted according to 3 criteria: the metric was objective, organizational in scale, and applicable to varied research domains. This produced 42 research capacity/productivity metrics that fell into 7 relevant categories: bibliometrics, impact, ongoing research, collaboration activities, funding, personnel, and education/academics. With the expertise of a Delphi panel of researchers, research leaders, and organizational leadership, 31 of these 42 metrics were included in the final PACER Tool. This multifaceted tool enables research departments to benchmark research capacity and research productivity against other programs, monitor capacity development over time, and provide valuable strategic insights for decisions such as resource allocation.

Exploration of Elementary School Students' Imagination Through Children's Stories: Creative Thinking Strategies

This study aims to explore how children's stories can influence and improve the creative thinking skills of elementary school students in Indonesia. Imagination as part of the creative thinking process plays a role in developing students' skills. This study uses a case study method with a qualitative approach. Data was collected through open interviews with teachers and students, classroom observations, and analysis of students' creative works after the children's stories were read. The research participants were grade 5 students in one of the elementary schools in Kuningan Regency, West Java, Indonesia. The research activities involved students in rewriting stories with additional imagination, and students' written works were analyzed based on indicators of originality, complexity, and depth of ideas. The results of the study show that writing a retelling based on children's stories can stimulate students' imagination and creativity, which can be seen from the improvement in narrative structure, vocabulary use, and theme development. This research successfully explored how children's stories can influence and improve the creative thinking skills of elementary school students. The findings show that through children's stories, students are not only able to expand their imagination, but also increase the originality, complexity, and depth of ideas in their written work. These results provide an in-depth understanding of the important role of children's stories in stimulating students' creativity, as well as offering valuable insights for curriculum development that support the development of creative thinking skills from an early age.

Osteopathic Research in Family Medicine.

Osteopathic physicians (DOs) comprise a growing portion of family physicians. In 2023, more DO seniors matched into family medicine than MD seniors, and nearly a quarter of US DO seniors matched into family medicine. Family medicine benefits from the osteopathic philosophy of whole-person care, though this provides challenges regarding research in family medicine. Notably, among students entering family medicine, MD students report an average of 2.4 research activities compared with 1.7 for DO students, marking the lowest values across specialties. There are multifarious reasons for the limited research exposure of osteopathic medical students, and 2 may be amenable to change. First, osteopathic trainees have relatively limited research exposure. Second, osteopathic manipulation training emphasizes techniques that are not compatible with current theories of anatomy and pathology. The reduced research emphasis among osteopathic trainees can be addressed by strategies that focus on enhanced research exposure and a cultural shift toward fearless reevaluation of these inconsistent beliefs. Improvements in research training and culture among osteopathic trainees (including medical students and residents) will directly benefit osteopathic medicine, family medicine, and patients.

Research perspectives of supply chain knowledge management: A bibliometrics study

The purpose of this article is to present a bibliometric analysis of scientific publications on knowledge management (KM) and supply chain (SC), provide an overview of research activities in this field and recognise its most substantial and fundamental aspects. In addition, this study aims to quantitatively analyse KM in SC in other words supply chain knowledge management (SCKM) research trends, forecasts and citations from 1999 to 2021 in Web of Science (WOS). A total of 499 documents related to SCKM research were collected from the following databases: SCI-EXPAND, SSCI, AHCI and ESCI. These documents were carefully reviewed and subjected to bibliometric data analysis techniques. We map the time trend, disciplinary distribution, high-frequency keywords and topics, major authors and influential publications to show emerging topics. Based on the findings of other researchers, many implications emerged that improve one’s understanding of the identity of SCKM as a distinct multi-discipline scientific field, and its publication has grown significantly since 2018. SC papers were published in engineering and Operations Research and Management Science journals, while the coverage of research topics related to KM and SCKM is broader and more interdisciplinary than those of SC papers. High-frequency keywords associated with SCKM research are listed. From the citation of 499 papers with both KM and SC as keywords, we find the most popular one.

The next generation of physician-researchers: undergraduate medical students' and residents' attitudes, challenges, and approaches towards addressing them.

Undergraduate medical education and residency training are critical periods for conducting research. Medical diagnoses and therapies are direct results of successful research efforts that have advanced several scientific fields. This review highlights the importance of incorporating scientific research training into the curricula of undergraduate medical education and residency programs. We utilized key databases such as PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar to conduct a narrative review of English-language articles published between 2002 and 2024. Ultimately, we selected 49 studies that examined the attitudes of undergraduate medical students and residents toward research, the common challenges they encounter while participating in research activities, and the strategies that support and encourage their involvement, all in alignment with our study objectives and keywords. In addition, we identified several relevant themes, including the value of research experience in shaping well-rounded medical professionals; the integrity of research practices in residency selection, which addresses concerns such as the arms race and misrepresentation, as well as the balance between quality and quantity; striking a balance between research and clinical training while promoting equity and inclusion; and effective programs and mentorship strategies to enhance research engagement. Translating the positive attitudes of undergraduate medical students and residents into improved knowledge and practice necessitates the development of structured mentoring programs and advanced training systems. Institutions must provide the necessary tools, guidance, and support to overcome research barriers. This will help establish an environment in undergraduate medical education and residency training that values research, facilitates access to it, and integrates it into the curriculum. To address the critical shortage of physician-researchers and improve evidence-based medical practice, it is crucial for medical schools to focus on research education and create avenues for student involvement. By tackling research challenges and implementing supportive strategies, these efforts empower the next generation of physician-researchers to embrace research, contribute to medical progress, and uphold the highest standards of patient care.

Multidisciplinary Collaboration and Industry Partnership: Keys for the Development of the Masters of Geomatics in Disaster Risk Reduction Curriculum

Abstract. Despite the high susceptibility of the Philippines to natural disasters, there is a significant lack of human resources focused on disaster risk reduction (DRR). To address this, the University of the Cordilleras, in collaboration with the ERASMUS CBHE Plus Program: Geomatics in Disaster Risk Reduction of the European Union, has developed a curriculum for a GeoDRR program. This program is designed to produce professionals with expertise in disaster risk reduction, geomatics, and remote sensing. The curriculum development employed a mixed-methods approach using the ADDIE (Analyze, Design, Develop, Implement, Evaluate) Framework and the DACUM (Developing a Curriculum) method. The ADDIE Framework guided the structured development process, while the DACUM method identified the necessary competencies for students. The resulting UC MGeoDRR curriculum comprises 15 units of Core Courses, 15 units of Professional Courses, 9 units of Electives, and a 6-unit Capstone project. The curriculum is designed to be localized and contextually relevant, integrating DRR into research, innovation, and extension activities. The pilot program is recommended for graduates of related undergraduate programs and DRR professionals and practitioners.

Recounting the untold stories of breast cancer patient experiences: lessons learned from a patient-public involvement and engagement storytelling event.

Breast cancer remains a prevalent disease in women worldwide. Though advancements in breast cancer care have improved patient survival, a breast cancer diagnosis, and subsequent interventions have a lasting impact on patients' lived experiences during the pandemic. We present the collaborative learning process from this patient engagement workshop series as a community-academic partnership. Narrative medicine tools were used to recount patients' lived experiences following diagnosis, where both patients and researchers shared their cancer research activities in each workshop, and the role of the multidisciplinary healthcare team was discussed. We used an iterative approach to cohort building, narrative development, and the use of multiple media formats to capture stories. Over 20 patients with breast cancer shared their stories for the first time since their diagnosis with a wider audience. Here, we present the learning process and considerations from this event. Understanding patients' lived experiences can support researchers and healthcare professionals in developing an empathetic approach to shared healthcare decision making. Moreover, understanding the lived experiences of patients is critical to addressing disparities in healthcare.

The Importance of Emotional Intelligence in Direct Leadership in the Army of the Czech Republic

The article deals with application of emotional intelligence for leaders of direct leadership in the Army of the Czech Republic and its connection with the social climate of their units. Emotional intelligence leadership and social climate is a connection that is currently appearing in research activity and doctrinal army documents and explores. The authors try to find and evaluate the benefits and limits of EI in the field of preparation military personnel. From the currently available research, it is precisely the construct of emotional intelligence that appears as one of the possible ways to develop the necessary skills of commanders to facilitate their work with subordinates. Emotional intelligence involves the ability to correctly identify emotions in oneself and in others, to understand emotions and their language, to manage emotions in oneself and in others and use emotions to support cognitive activities and to motivate adaptive behaviour. Direct leadership is the level where leading people is face to face. These are units, where subordinates are used to seeing their commanders every day. For these functions it is still possible and important to create strong relationships, close cooperation and mutual knowledge of all members of the unit. Commanders facing high decision-making demands in an unstable environment. They build working one’s teams with a favourable social climate and support their psychological resilience subordinates. These aspects are decisive for ensuring the tasks of the unit. The main method is quantitative research, which is carried out using a standardized test MSCEIT emotional intelligence in selected commanders of six units and a non-standardized questionnaire "social climate on the units" in their subordinates. Based on obtained results is submitted methodology of development of emotional intelligence for leaders of a platoon. It contains standard parameters. The thesis also formulates recommendation for pedagogical and research activities and output of doctrine leadership.

ANALYSIS OF THE POSSIBILITIES OF MANUFACTURING FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS USING THE FFF METHOD

The article presents the course and results of research aimed at assessing the strength and practical usability of a furniture hinge additively manufactured from thermoplastic material. The research activities included: development of design assumptions, adoption of target geometry, creation of a 3D-CAD model, preliminary strength analysis in the FEM environment, prototype manufacturing using FFF method with thermoplastic material (pet-g), and conducting tests under conditions similar to real ones. The hinge geometry was based on typical market-available design solutions, while considering the specifics of the adopted manufacturing method. Strength analysis via FEM was conducted on the 3D-CAD model, allowing estimation of stress values and determination of the suitability of the developed geometry for testing on a real model. Subsequently, research models were produced using FFF technology with various infill patterns: linear 30%, hexagonal 30%, linear 60%, hexagonal 60%, and solid 100%. Bench tests were conducted to determine the maximum load-bearing capacity of the hinge under perpendicular loading to the axis and to assess hinge wear under conditions simulating real-life door usage. The results revealed that the hinge with solid infill safely carried a load of 160 kg without damage, while the hinge with hexagonal 30% infill exhibited the lowest load-bearing capacity, failing at 85 kg. To determine the hinge's durability, the clearance at two reference points on the doors was measured.

Early scientific research training links to the innovation ability of medical undergraduates and postgraduates

Scientific research training (SRT) is crucial for fostering skills and innovation in college students. However, the status of SRT in medical undergraduates and postgraduates, as well as the impact of early SRT on students’ innovation abilities, remain largely unknown. This study assessed the role of SRT in culturing innovation abilities among medical students. The results revealed that undergraduates exhibited a greater understanding of scientific research compared to postgraduates. Notably, undergraduates demonstrated a higher level of understanding of SRT in contrast to postgraduates (81.26% vs. 56.97%). A significant proportion (>70%) of undergraduates had engaged in research activities early in their academic journey, with an average participation duration exceeding 1 year. Moreover, undergraduates initiated their involvement in SRT during the first- and second- year of undergraduates, which was earlier than postgraduates. Personal interest emerged as a primary motivator for engaging in SRT, with postgraduates exhibiting higher research aspirations and achieving greater research outcomes. Postgraduates also received more substantial guidance from advisors, leading to enhanced academic performance compared to undergraduates (90.7% vs. 67.59%). Interestingly, students expressed satisfaction with laboratory conditions and attributed their academic success to personal efforts. These findings underscore the importance of early SRT in cultivating the innovation abilities of medical students.

Surface analysis in additive manufacturing: A systematic literature review regarding powder bed fusion processes

Abstract The analysis of surface effects in powder bed fusion additive manufacturing is the subject of intensive research activities. The aim of this paper is to provide an overview of the current state of knowledge and to gain a comprehensive understanding of this subject area. The paper is intended to enable researchers to select specific articles for their own further research context. In addition, a bibliometric analysis validates the data base. A discussion of the findings suggests that the criticality of the surface should be considered as a quality factor in the field of additive manufacturing by powder bed fusion processes. An accurate and reliable measurement is crucial for predicting component quality. There is a clear trend from two-dimensional measurements to three-dimensional measurements. Conducting comprehensive research is essential to improve the reliability and comparability of measurement results and to promote broad acceptance and application of this technology in the industry.

Abstract 4114714: Impact of Cardiology Interest Groups on the Professional Development of Medical Students

Background: Launched in 2023, the American College of Cardiology Medical Student Member Community (ACC MSMC) began recognizing Cardiology Interest Groups (CIGs) at medical schools worldwide. This initiative fosters a robust network among ACC medical student members and celebrates their contributions within their institutions and broader communities. We surveyed medical students from 50 recognized CIGs to evaluate the influence of this network on their members' career trajectories. Methods: An anonymous web-based survey was sent to 50 student leaders of CIGs recognized by the ACC from 20 countries and was distributed to their members. The objective was to evaluate the impact of their involvement in these groups on their clinical knowledge, research activities and publications, professional advancement, and the promotion of diversity and equity. Results: Of 215 respondents (71% ACC members), 49.3% identified as female, with significant representation from Asia (35.7%), and the USA (17.6%). The majority joined CIGs to explore cardiology as a career path (61%), build professional networks (60%), and participate in specialized workshops (59.5%). Most rated their access to CIG resources as excellent (73.8%), supporting ACC's mission to enhance diversity and inclusion. Regarding educational outcomes, 48.6% rated their knowledge acquisition in cardiology as excellent, and 41% noted excellent preparation for a cardiology career. Additionally, 26.4% of students published research papers post-CIG involvement, with 39% attending ACC or AHA conferences. Survey feedback also highlighted strong networking (38.6% excellent) and mentoring opportunities (36.2% excellent) provided by CIGs. Conclusions: CIGs significantly enrich medical students' professional development by offering extensive networking, education, research, and mentorship opportunities. They play a crucial role in nurturing a global interest in cardiology, thereby enhancing diversity within the field. This model serves as a valuable blueprint for other scientific societies considering the establishment of student interest groups.

Advances in Optical and Thermal Remote Sensing of Vegetative Drought and Phenology

In recent decades, remote sensing of vegetative drought and phenology has gained considerable attention from researchers, leading to a significant increase in research activity in this area. While new drought indices are being proposed, there is also growing attention on how variations in phenology affect drought detection. This review begins by exploring the crucial role of satellite optical and thermal remote sensing technologies in monitoring vegetative drought. It presents common methods after revisiting the foundational concepts. Then, the review examines remote sensing of land surface phenology (LSP) due to its strong connection with vegetative drought. Subsequently, we investigate vegetative drought detection techniques that consider phenological variability and recommend approaches to improve the detection of vegetative drought, emphasizing the necessity to incorporate phenological metrics. Finally, we suggest potential future work and directions. Unlike other review papers on remote sensing of vegetative drought, this review uniquely surveys the comprehensive advancements in both detecting vegetative drought and estimating LSP through optical and thermal remote sensing. It also highlights the necessity and potential applications for these practices.

David Flusser und seine Bedeutung für den jüdisch-christlichen Dialog

The life story of David Flusser (1917 Vienna – 2000 Jerusalem) extends from interwar Czechoslovakia, where he grew up and studied, to the broad research and teaching activities of an erudite professor at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. He was a leading authority on Second Temple Judaism as well as early Christian writings. His contribution to the Jewish-Christian dialogue lies above all in his deep understanding of early Christianity, which he approached with great interest, openness and friendliness. For him, both Jesus and the apostle Paul are inspirational personalities who can only be properly understood in the context of the Jewish tradition of the time. The presented article focuses on how Flusser perceives their relationship to Jewish law (Torah) and how he sees Jewish attitudes to Jesus’ crucifixion.

Outcomes of transitioning from mandatory to elective research at a dental school in Southern California.

The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of a curricular change from mandatory to elective research on the student research outcomes at a Southern California Dental School over ten years. Additionally, the perception of dental students and faculty toward research in dental education was assessed. A survey was distributed to determine the perception towards research in dental education, motivation and barriers for pursuing research and the possibility participants would pursue research-even if the school did not mandate it. The survey was distributed to a total of 507 dental students and 121 full-time faculty. Both dental students (80.6%) and faculty (91.4%) agreed that learning about research is important in dental education. Both cohorts generally agreed that research experience enhances dental training, supports the scientific basis of dental treatment methods, and correlates with clinical ability. The majority of students (77.0%) disagreed with mandating research while faculty (77.6%) believed that it should be mandated. Lack of time was the single most stated barrier for participating in research. The overall trend during the transition from mandatory to elective research showed that initially there was a stark drop in students and faculty participation and projects being carried out. However, with deliberate planning, research outcomes steadily increased. We conclude that dental students and faculty have a positive perspective on the importance of research in dental education and actively engage in research and mentoring activities when provided with a supportive and encouraging environment. This participation occurs regardless of whether research is mandated or elective.