Since his appointment as a Clinical Lecturer in Periodontology in 1999, Dr Milward has strived to develop skills in both teaching and research. Mike has a keen interest in enhancing the educational environment for our students, and with this in mind has developed a number of innovative educational approaches, examples include introduction of computer based learning material, development of a Progress File scheme, and introduction of Infection Control Competency tests for undergraduate students. Mike has recently taken on the role of Quality Assurance & Enhancement lead for the School of Dentistry, and has become head of Periodontology Specialty Teaching.
Dr Milward is a calibrated clinical examiner for a number of multi-national companies and is a key member of the clinical trials team based in Periodontology at The School of Dentistry. To date Mike has been involved in 12 clinical trials, with a further study commencing in 2011. These studies have brought in considerable funding to the University and School as well as being published in the scientific literature.
In addition to his clinical trials based research Mike is committed to continuing research aimed at elucidating the mechanisms underpinning the aetiology of periodontitis, which formed the basis of his PhD thesis. In an attempt to achieve this goal Mike is actively developing a broad range of collaborations with the aim of taking this work forward.
Dr Milward’s external professional activities include membership of the British Society of Periodontology, where Mike sits on the Education Committee, which has developed a range of activities aimed at improving the knowledge and management of periodontitis within the dental community. Over the last few years Dr Milward has been external examiner for the Dental School at Manchester University.
Dr Milward is currently involved in the following research projects:
(i) Effect of Dietary Supplementation on chronic periodontitis patients (National Safety Associates, USA).
(ii) Is primary Sjogrens Syndrome the consequence of an aberrant immune response to oral bacteria? (University Hospital Birmingham Charities Research Grant).
(iii) Outcomes of Periodontal Therapy in Rheumatoid Arthritis (National Institute for Health Research).
(iv) Gums and Joints – FP 7.0 consortium grant.
(v) FT-ICR MS proteomics in salivary diagnostics (Philips USA).
Dr Milward's future plans involve delivering on his current projects but also trying to develop collaborations leading to further successful research grant applications. His current collaborations with researchers at the Medical School have been very fruitful and have added a further dimension to dental and biomedical research. Dr Milward’s clinical / research skills add considerable value to research ideas especially with the current interest in associations with periodontitis and systemic diseases, thereby opening a number of potential areas for research grant funding.
Biochemical outcomes following adjunctive daily supplementation with encapsulated fruit, vegetable and berry juice powder concentrates: a double blind RCT. Iain L.C Chapple, Michael R. Milward, Nicola Ling-Mountford, Silke deSpirt , Dina Patel, Wilhelm Stahl, Paul Weston, Kevin Carter, Keeley Askey, Gerard E Dallal, John B. Matthews. Journal of Clinical Periodontology (in preparation)
Management of Periodontal Disease in General Dental Practice. K.Gadhia, N.Karir, and M.R.Milward. Dent Update 2010;37:5 310-323
Matthews JB, Chen F-M, Wright HJ, Milward MR, Carter K, McDonagh A, Chapple ILC. Respiratory Burst of Neutrophils Stimulated by Fusobacterium nucleatum and IgG-opsonised Staphylococcus aureus is Reduced by Cigarette Smoke Extract. J Clin Periodontol 2010 (accepted)
Scott A, Milward MR, Matthews JB, Brock GR, Carlile M, Linden G, Lundy F, Naeeni MA, Kinane DF, Chapple ILC. Mapping biological to clinical pheonotypes during the development (21 days) and resolution (21 days) of experimental gingivitis. J Clin Periodontol 2010 (in preparation).
Competency assessment for infection control in the undergraduate curriculum. Milward MR, Cooper PR. European Journal of Dental Education. 2007 Aug;11(3)
Differential activation of NF-kB and gene expression in oral epithelial cells by periodontal pathogens clinical and experimental immunology. Milward MR, Chapple ILC, Wright HJ, Millard JL, Matthews JB, Cooper PR. Clinical and Experimental Immunology. May 2007;148(2)
The prevalence of inflammatory periodontitis is negatively associated with serum antioxidant concentrations. Chapple ILC Milward MR, Dietrich T. Journal of Nutrition. March 2007; 137(3)
Compromised GCF total antioxidant capacity in periodontitis – cause or effect? Chapple ILC, Brock GR, Milward MR, Ling N, Matthews JB. Journal of Clinical Periodontology, February 2007; 34(2):