Development of a Screening Program for Oral Potentially Malignant Disorders and Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Oral Cavity in Latin America and the Caribbean.

• Grant number: 24/20694-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research
• Start date: August 01, 2025
• End date: July 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Dentistry
• Principal Investigator: Alan Roger dos Santos Silva
• Grantee: Alan Roger dos Santos Silva
• Host Investigator: Thomas Peter Sollecito
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Odontologia de Piracicaba (FOP). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Piracicaba , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: University of Pennsylvania, United States

Abstract

Oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMDs) are diseases of the oral mucosa that present an increased risk of developing into squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). SCC of the oral cavity is the fourth most common type of cancer among men in Southeast region of Brazil and one of the most significant challenges for public health policy in Latin America. Screening and early detection are pivotal to reducing incidence and mortality rates of oral cavity SCC. Nevertheless, several obstacles hinder reducing incidence and mortality, including the limited implementation of continuous screening programs, the lack of well-defined referral pathways for the diagnosis and treatment of these diseases, and deficiencies in healthcare professional training. This research blueprint aims to address the barriers to diagnosis and treatment of OPMDs and oral cavity SCC in high-risk patients across Latin America and the Caribbean. The project will be carried out in three phases: (1) the development of a toolkit for OPMD and oral cavity SCC prevention specific to the region; (2) the development of a pilot study for an OPMD and oral cavity SCC opportunistic screening program, integrating artificial intelligence models; and (3) the creation of an integrated digital platform for regional data repository of the program. The project phases will be conducted at the University of Pennsylvania in collaboration with international leaders in teaching, research, and clinical care for patients with oral cancer.