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In alignment with the institutional goals,
scientific research is the most prominent activity of the
faculty in the Section of Oral Biology. Within the past few
years, the volume and scope of research in the section has
increased greatly. All faculty have substantial external
funding, and a major NIH-funded training grant for dental,
graduate, and post-doctoral students and junior faculty. The
myriad of ongoing multidisciplinary research programs focus
on: Molecular and Cellular Biology, inflammation and
Immunity, Developmental Biology, Chemical Senses,
Musculoskeletal Biology, Microbiology, and Biomaterials and
Tissue Engineering. The broad range of projects provided
ample opportunities for scientific collaborations among
faculty as well as offer opportunities for scientific
collaborations among faculty as well as offer opportunities
for graduate and post-doctoral students to obtain versatile
training in modern approaches to biology. |
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Sudha Agarwal, Ph.D.
Professor
The focus of my lab is in three areas that are related to
Mechanobiology/bioengineering of cells of the
musculoskeletal tissues: (i) mechanical stress-mediated
intracellular signal transduction pathways that are involved
in enhancing tissue’s ability to self regenerate and repair
cartilage and muscle; (ii) mechanisms of bone adaptation to
mechanical forces; and (iii) synthesis of polymers for use
as cell/gene delivery scaffolding matrix for cartilage and
bone tissue engineering.
[Publications] [Teaching]
[Lab]
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Michael Bailey, Ph.D.
Assistant
Professor
My lab focuses on the impact of the activity of the
nervous and endocrine systems on bacterial infections with
an emphasis on innate immune responses and the barrier
defenses created by intestinal microbiota.
[Publications] [Teaching]
[Lab]
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Cliff Beall, Ph.D.
Research
Assistant Professor
The focus of my research is how the
collection of microbes that inhabit the mouth affect dental
health and disease. One thing we are doing is identifying
bacterial species by sequencing their 16S ribosomal RNA
(rRNA) genes. We have developed a curated 16S rRNA database
to aid in identification and we are using it to study
bacterial populations in periodontal disease. We are also
taking advantage of next-generation DNA sequencing
technology to sequence all the genes that are present in the
oral bacteria, the "oral metagenome".
[Publications]
[Lab]
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Mike Beck, Ph.D.
Professor
Emeritus
Dr. Beck is a statistician and provides statistical
support to the PhD and post-doctoral students |
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Qun Chen, M.D.
Research
Assistant Professor
My research focuses on the study of putative multiple
promoter system of type I IL-1 receptor, IL-1RI, and
alternative or combinatorial use of these different
promoters in specific tissues of mouse and human. Diverse
functions of the IL-1 targeting are studied in the context
of the differential distribution and expression of these
promoter driven transcripts.
[Publications]
[Lab]
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Zhixiong Chen, Ph.D.
Research
Assistant Professor
My main research interest focuses on synaptic plasticity
and brainstem mechanisms underlying ingestion and rejection.
Techniques employed include intracerebral microinjection and
EMG recording from freely moving rats, patch-clamp recording
and Ca2+-imaging from living brain slice
[Publications]
[Lab]
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Laura Geran, Ph.D
Research
Assistant Professor
The neurophysiology of taste sensation/perception using
acute electrophysiological recording techniques and
behavioral testing.
[Publications]
[Lab]
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Scott Herness, Ph.D.
Division Chair,
Professor
My laboratory studies signal transduction mechanisms in
mammalian taste receptor cells. We utilize physiological and
molecular techniques to investigate how individual taste
cells distinguish among the myriad of taste stimuli by using
cell to cell communication within the taste bud with
neurotransmitters, neuropeptides, and second messenger
signaling cascades.
[Publications] [Teaching]
[Lab]
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Gene
Leys, Ph.D.
Associate
Professor
We use an integrated approach that utilizes molecular
biology, microbiology and epidemiology to study the
molecular and population genetics of periodontitis-associated
and other oral bacteria. We have developed a system for the
detection and identification of bacterial strains (clonal
types) of oral bacteria.By using PCR with species-specific
primers, bacteria are detected directly from oral samples
without the need for culturing. PCR products are sequenced
to determine the genetic identity for individual clonal
types and phylogenetic relationships among strains.
[Publications] [Teaching]
[Lab]
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Rudy Melfi, Ph.D.
Professor
Emeritus
Dr. Melfi has authored several books on histology and is
involved in developing highly interactive web-based teaching
tools for teaching Histology.
[Publications] [Teaching]
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Ning Quan,Ph.D.
Associate
Professor
Our lab studies the communication between the immune
system and the central nervous system. One of the focuses is
to understand the role of blood brain barrier in mediating
the cross talk between these two systems. We have created
conditional knockdown animals to analyze the function of
interleukin-1 receptor expressed on endothelial cells.
Another focus of our lab is to unravel the transcriptional
control of the expression of the type I interleukin-1
receptor. We have discovered a promoter complex that allows
tissue- and cell type-specific expression of this molecule.
[Publications] [Teaching]
[Lab]
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Peter Reiser, Ph.D.
Professor
My research is focused on the roles of sarcomeric protein
isoforms in regulating contractile properties of muscle.
Specific areas of interest include craniofacial (extraocular,
jaw-closing and laryngeal) muscles, limb skeletal muscles
and cardiac muscle, with an emphasis on comparative muscle
physiology and biochemistry. The approach is based primarily
on analyses of contractile properties and protein
composition of single, isolated muscle cells.
[Publications] [Teaching]
[Lab]
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John Sheridan, Ph.D.
Professor
Interactions among the nervous, endocrine and immune
systems as they relate to viral pathogenesis, immunity, and
tissue repair. Inflammatory and immune responses during
viral infection and would healing. Effects of aging and
stress on immunity; lymphocyte trafficking and activation;
neuroendocrine regulation of cytokine and chemokine gene
expression.
[Publications] [Teaching]
[Lab]
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Joseph Travers, Ph.D.
Professor
Circuits in the brainstem reticular formation are
necessary for coordinated oromotor function. Our lab is
using neuroanatomical, neurophysiological and
neuropharmacological approaches to analyze how these
circuits process sensory information to switch between
multiple behaviors. For further information:
Travers' Lab Webpage
[Publications] [Teaching]
[Lab]
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Susan Travers, Ph.D.
Professor
Research in my lab investigates how the central nervous
system processes sensory signals arising from the mouth. The
oral cavity is richly innervated and supplies the organism
with information critical to regulating eating and drinking.
Our focus is the sense of taste, but we also study oral
tactile and thermal sensations because all these modalities
interact to give rise to the complex experience of flavor.
For further information:
Travers' Lab Webpage
[Publications] [Teaching]
[Lab]
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FangLi Zhao, Ph.D.
Research
Assistant Professor
Whole cell patch-clamp recordings are used to reveal the
electrophysiological response profiles of acutely isolated
taste receptor cells to various taste stimuli, to study the
intracellular transduction cascades used by these cells to
respond to taste stimuli, and to elucidate the potential
modulation processes that may occur between taste receptor
cells within the taste bud.
[Publications]
[Lab] |
