- from local to global impact
TePe places significant emphasis on community engagement, understanding that meaningful change relies on collaborative efforts both locally and globally. At the heart of this commitment is TePe’s active endorsement of the Eklund Foundation for Odontological Research and Education. Established through a generous €5.5 million donation by the Eklund family, owners of TePe, the foundation supports international dental research that contributes significantly to global oral health.
A notable example of the foundation’s impact is the research conducted by Prof Dr Ana Pucar from the School of Dental Medicine at the University of Belgrade, Serbia. After receiving an Eklund Foundation grant in 2019, Dr Pucar and her team launched an ambitious study investigating the crucial link between periodontitis, a chronic oral disease at its core, and the development of oral cancer. Their research examines whether microorganisms from periodontal pockets can influence the transition of oral mucosal tissues from premalignant to malignant lesions.
– Active periodontal disease and the presence of pockets serve as a reservoir of pathogenic microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, and viruses, which may represent a risk factor for the development of oral cancer,” explains Dr. Pucar.
– Our study aims to detect and quantify these microorganisms in the tissues of benign, premalignant, and malignant lesions while simultaneously analysing the microbial composition of subgingival biofilm samples. Additionally, we assess the corresponding severity and grade of periodontitis to further help us understand its potential role in malignant transformation.
The research also extends beyond microbiological analysis. Dr. Pucar’s team takes brush biopsies of lesions to establish disease diagnoses and the team also investigates two potential tumour markers, podoplanin and beta-catenin, along with microRNAs associated with their activity.
– By studying these molecular markers, we hope to gain a deeper understanding of the mechanisms that link periodontal disease to oral cancer development, she adds.
Despite facing considerable challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic, including delays in patient recruitment and logistical hurdles in obtaining necessary materials, the team remained determined. They successfully navigated these difficulties, ultimately reaching their patient recruitment targets and approaching the final stages of their experimental research.
The support from the Eklund Foundation has proven transformative. Dr Pucar’s team has completed two doctoral dissertations and published nearly ten student research papers, with their students winning first-place awards at scientific congresses three times. The team’s research results have also been presented at various international conferences, published in two scientific journals, and will soon lead to additional publications.
Expressing profound gratitude for the Eklund Foundation’s support, Dr Pucar remarks,
"None of this would have been possible without the Eklund Foundation. We are immensely grateful."
Prof Dr Ana Pucar, DDS, MS, PhD
Dept. of Periodontology and Oral Medicine School of Dental Medicine University of Belgrade
Through continued research and collaborative partnerships, TePe and the Eklund Foundation remain dedicated to fostering advancements in oral health on a global scale.