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Clinical Research Centre

Clinical Research Centre

Clinical Research Centre

Innovating Clinical Research

With generous support from the Faculty of Dentistry’s Oral Health Research and Innovation initiative from the University and a donation, the Clinical Research Centre (CRC) was established in 2020 to foster clinical innovation and capture the potential for translational and clinical research in Asia and the Pacific Rim.

Located on the 5th Floor of the Prince Philip Dental Hospital, the Centre serves as a core facility to facilitate translational and clinical research, complementing the Central Research Laboratories (CRL) which serves basic science research activities.

The research facilities at the CRC are well equipped for use in conducting innovative research projects where they serve as an efficient and effective platform where clinical research activities are carried out every day.

For general enquiries, please contact us by email at crcdent@hku.hk. For our Faculty staff who are interested in learning more about the Centre, you are welcome to book an appointment to tour our CRC facilities and register your research project.

Register Project

For the general public who are interested in volunteering for our clinical researches, please visit the link below for more information.

Volunteering for Clinical Research

Reception, Waiting Area & CRC Office

Reception Area & CRC Office Clinical Research Centre

Reception Area and CRC Office occupy 34 sq. meters where research participants arrive and report for registration at the front desk. Research team members sign in and out of this area and meet research participants in the waiting area who will then be escorted to the treatment area. It is located in Room 5A09.

Patient Waiting Area Clinical Research Centre

Patient Waiting Area occupies 45 sq. meters and is connected to reception area. Adequate and spacious seating provides participants with ease of access and parking of mobility aids where necessary.

Treatment Area

Clinical Research Centre

Treatment Area occupies 80 sq. meters of the CRC and houses four Intego pro dental units, each equipped with a 22” monitor mounted on the light support column for viewing medical images. In addition to the dental chairs, each partition has a countertop with a computer and monitor. Clinical examinations and routine dental procedures take place in this area. It is located in Room 5A02, available for booking (Chair 1 to Chair 4)

Clinical Research Centre

Function / Capability

  • Whip arm hoses are available for a wide range of dental treatments by research teams.
  • Intuitive touchscreen control panel for efficient adjustment of dental chair.
  • LEDview Plus operating light with integrated multicolored LEDs provides uniform illumination for perfect viewing conditions.

Location

Room 5A02, Treatment Area, PPDH

Clinical Research Centre

Function / Capability

  • Measurement outputs include height, weight, and calculate body mass index (BMI)

Location

Room 5A02 Treatment Area, PPDH

Clinical Research Centre

Function / Capability

  • Equipped with H13 HEPA filter and activated carbon filter to trap 99.99% of ultra-fine particles in the air.
  • Equipped with high-intensity UV-C direct to kill germs.
  • Specially designed for infection control and prevention of infectious diseases (prevents 99% of airborne particles and droplets containing viruses such as COVID-19).

Location

Room 5A02, Treatment Area, PPDH

Operation Theatre

Clinical Research Centre

Operation Theatre occupies 33 sq. meters and is equipped with an intego ambidextrous dental unit that provides a specialized ventilation system to conduct surgical procedures. It has a camera system integrated with surgical light that serves as a platform for medical research knowledge translation, and surgical filming. It is located in a confined area in Room 5A14, and available for booking as Operation Room.

Clinical Research Centre

Function / Capability

  • Intego Pro dental unit with advanced features
  • The unit can convert from right to left position in 15 seconds, providing great flexibility and multi-directional mobility

Location

Room 5A14, Operation Theatre, PPDH

Clinical Research Centre

Function / Capability

  • Equipped with 12 surgical white illuminations to provide optimal visibility during surgery
  • Auto-focus capabilities in the range of 450-1000mm
  • Lamp configured with state-of-the-art HD monitor and 4K video camera
  • Permanent wheels allow for portability of the mobile light source throughout the operating area

Location

Room 5A14, Operation Theatre, PPDH

Biological / Biological Device Storage & Dispensing Room

Clinical Research Centre

Biological / Biological Device Storage and Dispensing Room occupies 14 sq. meters. It is equipped with basic laboratory equipment for cell culturing of dental pulp cells and biomaterials analysis. It is located in Room 5A08.

Sterilization Room

Clinical Research Centre

The Sterilization Room is a designated area that contains disinfection and sterilization devices that are fully licensed and approved by the HKU Safety Office. It is specifically divided into cleaning, packaging, and sterilization zones to prevent cross-contamination. Maintenance of high-quality sterilization conditions is monitored through chemical and biological testing. It is located in Room 5A10.

Clinical Research Centre

Function / Capability

  • High-energy cavitation and specially formulated solutions make ultrasonic cleaning the most effective method for removing gross and microscopic debris.

Location

Room 5A10, Sterilization Room, PPDH

Clinical Research Centre

Function / Capability

  • Effectively clean a range of dental instruments, including complex and intricate devices
  • High temperature of up to 93°C for the elimination of potentially harmful microorganisms

Location

Room 5A10, Sterilization Room, PPDH

Clinical Research Centre

Function / Capability

  • Automatic maintenance system for ensuring the longevity of turbine and contra-angle handpieces to achieve thorough cleaning and lubrication
  • Connected to different adaptors for fitting various types of handpieces

Location

Room 5A10, Sterilization Room, PPDH

Clinical Research Centre

Function / Capability

  • Provides high-quality sterilization of equipment and ensures hygiene and safety of research participants

Location

Room 5A10, Sterilization Room, PPDH

Function Rooms

Store Room Clinical Research Centre

Store Room occupies 26 sq. meters across from the treatment area in Room 5A04. It provides an adequate storage area with lockable filing cabinets and dental cabinet for storing investigational devices, dental instruments, dental supplies and consumables. The humidity and temperature of the environment are controlled to maintain optimal conditions for the sterile integrity of packaging where the possibility of contamination could be reduced.

Patient Registration & Sampling Area Clinical Research Centre

Patient Registration and Sampling Area occupies 9 sq. meters providing an independent area with standard office setup for research participants enrolment and follow-up appointments. It is located in Room 5A05.

Recovery Rooms Clinical Research Centre

There are two Recovery Rooms at CRC and they occupy a total of 30 sq. meters. These rooms have sinks and are equipped with tables and chairs along with safety lockers where research participants can store their belongings, rest and recover following dental procedures or surgery. They are located in Rooms 5A01 and 5A03.

3D Image Room Clinical Research Centre

3D Image Room occupies 9 sq. meters and is used for digital visualization work. This room provides space to set up a high-resolution monitor and scanning equipment for creating 3D imaging and modeling. It is located in Room 5A07.

Image Analysis Centre Clinical Research Centre

Image Analysis Centre occupies 16 sq. meters and is equipped with a computer to examine x-ray and photographic films. It is also a workplace designed for taking 2D photographs, with black curtains blocking sunlight and plenty of room for capturing the dental artifacts from different angles. The Centre is located in Room 5A17.

Data Centre Clinical Research Centre

Data Centre occupies 20 sq. meters and is separated into an open workspace and study records area. The open workspace is furnished with eight workstations, providing a comfortable and calming environment for research study. The study records area contains a set of secure, lockable steel cabinets and rolling stack shelving units for research data storage. Our staff are stationed at the data centre to provide statistical consultation and logistical support for dental research community-based projects. It is located in Room 5A19.