2OO9 – 2O1O - Faculty of Dentistry - University of Otago

ALISON RICH
BDS (Otago) MDSc PhD (Melb) FRACDS FFOP(RCPA)
Oral Diagnostic and Surgical Sciences
Associate Professor and Associate Dean (Undergraduate
Studies)
Associate Professor Rich is a co-leader of the
Immunopathology Group. The group has been successful
in attracting a number of grants for their work and
Associate Professor Rich intends to continue to use her
skills as a diagnostic oral pathologist and an experienced
research supervisor to advance this group’s work. In
2009/10, she co-supervised 4 PhD and 3 DClinDent
students as well as assisting with other postgraduate
and undergraduate student research projects. An
undergraduate student she supervised won the local IADR
junior competition and presented her material in Wuhan
(China) in 2009. Associate Professor Rich’s contribution
to dental research was recognised by her being invited
in 2010 to become a member of the Board of the New
Zealand Dental Association Research Foundation.
Associate Professor Rich’s research also relates to
her activities as Associate Dean – Undergraduate
Studies (Dentistry). She obtained a Research into
University Teaching Grant in 2009 to determine
whether the performance of dental students in
selection tasks predicts their subsequent academic
and clinical performance. Alison is part of a national
team investigating dental workforce issues in New
Zealand, and a member of the Oral Health Workforce
Executive. Research into curriculum development and
student mentoring, with the Dental Education Support
Officer, is an emerging interest.
Research and Collaboration
Investigation of various aspects of potentially malignant
oral disorders and oral squamous cell carcinoma is an
ongoing project and, during 2009-10, the main area
of interest was characterising the nature and role of
inflammatory cells in the connective tissue adjacent to
islands of invading keratinocytes. Specifically, the type and
distribution of tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes and cells
expressing toll-like receptor 2 was assessed and their
influence on the tumour microenvironment was analysed.
A parallel study was also undertaken, investigating the
immune infiltrate and the expression of TLR2 in oral
mucosal lichen planus.
This work was enhanced by collaboration with the
Oral Cancer Research and Coordinating Centre at the
University of Malaya (www.malaysiaoalcancer.org).
Recent Publications
Bakri MM, Hussaini HM, Holmes AR, Cannon RD, Rich
AM. Revisiting the association between candidal infection
and carcinoma, particularly oral squamous cell carcinoma.
Journal of Oral Microbiology 2: 5780 - DOI: 10.3402/jom.
v2i0.5780 (2010).
Rosdy NMMNM, Firth NA, Rich AM. Calibre-persistent
labial artery: often misdiagnosed as a mucocoele.
International Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery 39:
1230-1233 (2010).
Kaur J, Hay KD, MacDonald H & Rich AM. Retrospective
audit of the use of the Marx Protocol for prophylactic
hyperbaric oxygen therapy in managing patients requiring
dental extractions following radiotherapy to the head and
neck. New Zealand Dental Journal 105: 47-50 (2009).
Ayers KMS, Thomson WM, Newton JT, Morgaine KC, Rich
AM. Self-reported occupational health of general dental
practitioners. Occupational Medicine 59: 142-148 (2009).
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