NIDCR Data Science Symposia Series – 2026 AADOCR General Session

Discover how omics-based research and data science are reshaping dental, oral, and craniofacial research. Invited experts shared cutting-edge advances in genomics, spatial-temporal transcriptomics, and microbiomics, highlighting new insights into developmental diseases and childhood caries.

Artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies are transforming biomedical research by enabling powerful analysis of large-scale, complex data. This session featured innovative AI/ML applications in dental, oral, and craniofacial research — from quantifying craniosynostosis and using clinical data to reduce disparities to data standardization and predictive modeling of craniofacial diseases — while emphasizing responsible AI practices.

Data-driven science is reshaping patient and population health by integrating diverse data sources such as electronic health records, surveys, registries, and social determinants of health. This symposium featured speakers who apply innovative data science and epidemiologic approaches to improve care for special populations, build efficient learning health systems, and inform health policy to strengthen oral and whole-person health.