Montego Bay's research moving to Africa - Oral sex gum disease clinical trial for the Cameroon

Western Bureau:

The clinical trial by the Montego Bay-based International Postgraduate Medical College (IPMC) to find a cure for a troublesome gum disease, which is being linked to cunnilingus (oral sex), is to be done in Bangante in the Republic of Cameroon, Central Africa, where the sexual habit is said to be rampant.

Dr Christopher Ogunsalu, the co-founder of IPMC and an integral player in both the research and the search for a cure for the problematic gum disease, met with co-researchers in Cameroon at the University de Montagnes to initiate a clinical trial and to establish a protocol for an initial single-blind study before the clinical trial commences.

"The ethical approval for this clinical trial of high significance and impact in both social and medical spheres will, of course, be from Cameroon," said Ogunsalu, in outlining the decision to do the research in Africa.

Professor Lazare Kaptue, vice-chancellor of the University des Montagnes in Cameroon, will be one of the co-researchers alongside Ogunsalu. He is internationally renowned as a pioneer in HIV infection/virus research in Africa and around the globe, and has been involved in the discovery of at least two new strains of the HIV viruses in Africa.

Multilevel research

"Professor Kaptue and myself will be using this as an opportunity to supervise Mike Agbor in the University des Montagnes in his PhD research work to validate the link between cunnilingus and the possible emergence of the new gum disease," said Ogunsalu, a Nigeria-born, naturalised Jamaican. "It has been suggested that the clinical research will be multilevel in socio-economic class.

"The study will particularly focus on the prevention of the suspected gum disease and the stabilisation of oral microflora of patients practising cunnilingus, with special emphasis of educational and pharmacological preventive modalities," added Ogunsalu.

This research work is co-sponsored by the joint institute, which was recently established between the University des Montagnes and IPMC. This joint institute, which is the International Centre for Oral Disease, has led to the dual master's of science and PhD degrees between the two institutions.