360° CHAT-TMD
Connecting research, technology, and lived experience to improve TMD care.
360° CHAT-TMD — the 360° Collaborative Hub for AI in TMD Research — is an interdisciplinary, patient-centered initiative studying temporomandibular disorders (TMD). This initiative is part of the national TMD IMPACT Collaborative, funded by the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) under Award U54DE035412.
Led by the University of Michigan in collaboration with Harvard University and Mass General Brigham, the consortium brings together researchers, clinicians, educators, and patient partners to address major gaps in the understanding and treatment of TMD and chronic overlapping pain conditions.
TMD Statistics
30+
Conditions included within TMD
5%–10%
Of the U.S. population affected
11–12 million
U.S. adults experiencing TMJ-region pain
2×
More common in women than men
OTEC
Outreach, training, and education core (OTEC)
OTEC is the 360° CHAT-TMD core responsible for translating research into accessible education, training, and public resources. This core develops and evaluates evidence-based educational resources and curricula for clinicians, researchers, trainees, patients, and advocacy partners.
The Rounds’ Role within OTEC
The Harvard Interdisciplinary Pain and Headache Rounds serves as a central education, dissemination, and stakeholder-engagement platform within OTEC. Through its weekly lectures, Case Studies and Literature Reviews, special symposia, continuing education programming, and global interdisciplinary audience, The Rounds helps:
• Disseminate evidence-based education on TMD, orofacial pain, and overlapping pain-conditions
• Translate emerging 360° CHAT-TMD research into clinician- and trainee-facing programming
• Involve patients, professional organizations, training programs, and advocacy partners in content development and feedback
• Pilot and refine educational resources for wider dissemination
• Support participant recruitment, outreach, and broader visibility for 360° CHAT-TMD research, resources, and opportunities
• Provide a durable public platform for recordings, educational materials, patient perspectives, and training resources
OTEC’s core areas of work include
Partnership and stakeholder infrastructure
formal partnerships, a public resource platform, and structured patient, clinician, and organizational feedback
Education and dissemination
a growing library of evidence-based educational materials distributed through The Rounds and partner channels
Mentorship and workforce development
structured support for students, residents, fellows, and early-career researchers
Co-design and community engagement
co-development of research and education with patients, clinicians, and advocacy organizations
Evaluation and sustainability
assessment of reach, use, and impact, with planning for continuation beyond the initial grant period
Organizations currently engaged
The TMJ Association (TMJA)
Facial Pain Association
Miles for Migraine
American Academy of Orofacial Pain (AAOP)
American Academy of Oral Medicine (AAOM)
H-CREDENT / Catalyst
42 North Dental
Additional patient, professional, academic, and community partners
KEY PERSONNEL
Those contributing to both 360° CHAT-TMD and The Rounds
Alexandre DaSilva, DDS, DMedSc
Contact Principal Investigator (PI), 360° CHAT-TMD · Advisory Board, The Rounds
David A. Keith, DMD, BDS
Co-Investigator, 360° CHAT-TMD · Board of Directors, The Rounds
Fernando Guastaldi, DDS, PhD
PI, 360° CHAT-TMD · Advisory Board, The Rounds
Elizabeth Hatfield, DDS
Co-Investigator, 360° CHAT-TMD · Board of Directors and Director of the Case Studies and Literature Reviews, The Rounds
Shruti Handa, DMD
PI, 360° CHAT-TMD · Advisory Board, The Rounds
Ascher Kulich
Senior Program Manager, 360° CHAT-TMD · Marketing and Communications Lead, The Rounds
Ronald Kulich, PhD
Consultant, 360° CHAT-TMD · Board of Directors, The Rounds