JCDA Jan 2014 | Page 24

News & Updates jcda ca ESSENTIAL DENTAL KNOWLEDGE Published by The Canadian Dental Association jadc DES CONNAISSANCES DENTAIRES INDISPENSABLES Publié par l’Association dentaire canadienne McGill Announces New Dentistry Facility PubMed Pilots Open Peer Review System PubMed, the widely used database of scientific literature on health and life sciences, is piloting a new system that allows colleagues to comment on any article indexed by PubMed. The recently launched PubMed Commons is “a forum for open and constructive criticism and discussion of scientific issues.” Until now, conventional letters to the editor provided the scientific community with a way to criticize, question or comment on a published article. PubMed Commons now provides an opportunity for postpublication peer review that has the potential to accelerate scientific debate: comments are unmoderated, immediately posted, and can be shared or cited. It also marks a significant change in editorial control as PubMed Commons allows readers of scientific literature (not journal editors) to drive the discussions. The NCBI Insights Blog is reporting that the new system is having an influence as some authors are using PubMed Commons to post corrections, change their conclusions or update people on their work. Participation during the pilot phase is currently limited but will likely expand in the future. a McGill University announced the opening in 2014 of a new, cutting-edge facility for its faculty of dentistry. The $18-milllon project will bring under one roof many of the faculty’s activities and services, including its undergraduate teaching clinic and clinical and community research units. The Reaching new heights while reaching out initiative aims to foster collaboration between students, clinicians and researchers— leading to enhanced patient care and treatment. “The move to this new location, adjacent to the McGill downtown campus, will provide the public easier access to our clinic by public transportation,” explains Dr. Paul Allison, dean of the faculty. “The new space will bring research, clinical teaching, graduate and dental students together, and become the hub for the faculty’s community outreach activities, all in a state-of-the-art facility.” The launch of the Reaching new heights while reaching out initiat ]