Investigator Profile: Anderson Hara, PhD, DDS, MSD

Major Research Project Description

The central theme of my research career has been to obtain a fundamental understanding of dental hard-tissue pathologies, with focus on dental caries and erosive tooth wear (ETW), and to improve the clinical diagnosis and strategies for the prevention and treatment of these pathologies. In the past twenty years, I have focused specifically on: 1) clinical management of dental caries and ETW, through early diagnosis and preventive strategies; 2) impact of abrasion and erosion processes on tooth wear; 3) development of experimental models and objective outcome measures for the clinical study of dental caries and ETW; and 4) translation of knowledge generated in the research arena to the current and next generation of dental practitioners. I have been the PI, co-PI or co-investigator in many studies focused on the areas above. I have secured substantial financial support for my projects, from both NIH/NIDCR and oral care industries, totaling more than 3 million dollars as PI. The relevance and impact of my contributions can be verified by my peer-reviewed publications (total of 135). In addition to my scientific background and activities, I have accumulated extensive experience managing research projects and teams for the last 12 years, in the capacities of Director of the Laboratory Research Core (2009-2021), Associate Director (2014-2021), and more recently Acting Director (2021-present) of the Oral Health Research institute, Indiana University School of Dentistry.

Major funding in the past 5 years

NIH/NIDCR Hara AT (Role: Co-PI)
03/03/21 - 08/31/22
Erosive Tooth Wear Perception Among Network Dentists and Patients, and Experience Among Network Patients (NIDCR UG3; UG3DE030087)
In this project, we propose to quantify the erosive tooth wear (ETW) profile in real-life dental practice, to establish the role of risk factors, and to measure perceptions of ETW in both practitioners and patients. It will provide the foundation for U.S.-specific, actionable strategies to raise awareness about ETW and to support appropriate diagnosis and management of ETW. 

NIH/NIDCR Hara AT (Role: PI)
08/01/18 - 07/31/21
Objective Outcomes Measures for the Clinical Assessment of Erosive Tooth Wear (NIDCR R21; 1R21DE026844-01A1)
This project aims to study two objective outcome measures for the clinical monitoring of erosive tooth wear, one based on the 3D surface texture of enamel and the other based on the changes of enamel thickness. 

NIH/NIDCR Fontana M (PI) Hara AT (Role: PI for the Indiana site)
12/01/17 - 11/30/22
Predicting Caries Risk in Underserved Toddlers in Primary Healthcare Settings (NIH U01; PI: M. Fontana, University of Michigan)
This project aims to validate a practical and easily-scored caries risk assessment tool, together with clinical information easy to access by medical colleagues, for use in primary medical healthcare settings for not only the young children at risk for ECC, but also the older children at risk for caries. 

NIH/NIDCR Koo H (PI) Hara AT (Role: Co-investigator)
12/01/17 - 11/30/19
Biofilm Elimination and Caries Prevention using Multifunctional Nanocatalysts (NIH; University of Pennsylvania)
This study aims to explore an innovative strategy for the prevention of dental caries based on the elimination of dental biofilm by multifunctional nanocatalysts.

Publications

View Dr. Hara's publications