To start your own Research Project:

You will need a mentor (Stony Brook Faculty) and fill out an IRB (International Research Bureau) application.  Most information can be found at Stony Brook's Office of the Vice President for Research.  Their website is:

http://www.stonybrook.edu/research

A lot of background research for your project can be done online through Stony Brook's HSC Library (using PubMed and other resources)

http://www.hsclib.sunysb.edu

Larger projects can be funded through the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research

http://www.nidcr.nih.gov