Antonio (Tony) L. Amelio
Associate Professor
Research:
The Amelio Lab applies an interdisciplinary approach to understand the mechanisms underlying the development of oral, head, and neck cancers. To this end, we are investigating the signaling pathways that drive mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the salivary gland and oral squamous cell carcinoma using a combination of bioinformatics, animal models, and molecular genetic analyses.
Lab:
3510 Koury Oral Health Sciences Bldg
3605 Koury Oral Health Sciences Bldg.
Telephone:
Office (919) 537-3309
Lab (919) 537-3405
Email:
antonio_amelio@unc.edu
Roland R. Arnold
Professor
Research:
Our interests include host-pathogen interactions at mucosal surfaces including the oral cavity and the respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts. Our studies examine both innate and acquired soluble host defense factors that are delivered to mucosal surfaces by exocrine secretions. We are also interested in the strategies of both pathogens and indigenous (normal flora) microbes for evading these host defense factors. As professional phagocytic cells such as the polymorphonuclear neutrophilic leukocytes employ similar antimicrobial agents to that found in secretions, we are interested in how these function in the cell. In order to understand the importance of these functions, we are interested in patient populations that have selective dysfunctions in discrete components of either exocrine secretions (e.g. IgA deficiency, cystic fibrosis, Sjogrens, ionic cofactors) or in neutrophils (e.g. chronic granulomatous disease, specific granule deficiency, lactoferrin, defensins, myeloperoxidase, adhesins, elastase). We are interested in specific pathogens associated with periodontal diseases, caries, chronic inflammatory diseases, respiratory pathogens including cystic fibrosis, COPD, lung transplants. These pathogens include among others Streptococcus mutans, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Prevotella intermedia, Tannerella forsythia, Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Burkholderia cepacia. We also have expertise in the evaluation of efficacies of antimicrobials to a variety of target microorganisms.
Lab:
3030 First Dental Bldg.
Office:
3043 First Dental Bldg
Telephone:
(919) 537-3165
Email:
roland_arnold@unc.edu
Silvana P. Barros
Associate Professor
Research:
My research interests are on translational studies using mammalian models and cell lines as well as clinical studies to investigate the cellular and molecular basis of periodontal pathogenesis and the implications and impact of this infectious inflammatory disease on systemic health. These topics have been the focus of my translational research interests and mentoring activities. I have developed new and modified existing infection models to be applied in mice on pre-clinical investigations aiming to develop new antimicrobials, as well as new pharmaceuticals. I combine my expertise on basic science: structural morphology and cell biology, with recent discoveries that we pioneered on epigenetics, transcriptome analysis in periodontal health and diseases, genome-wide associations, as well as epigenome wide association studies (EWAS) to investigate the effects of infection, inflammation and other environmental stressors in oral diseases. In our laboratory, we have investigated the role of oral bacteria on fetal growth restriction and epigenetic modifications of genes associated with growth and metabolism in the offspring of pregnant mice that pioneered our understanding of epigenetics as a contributing factor to development of periodontal disease.
Lab:
3417 Koury Oral Health Sciences Bldg
Office:
3501E Koury Oral Health Sciences Bldg.
Telephone:
(919) 537-3166
Email:
Silvana_barros@unc.edu
James Beck
W.R. Kenan Distinguished Professor
Research:
Oral epidemiology, periodontal disease, inflammation, oral and systemic disease, periodontal disease classification.
Office:
4501D Koury Oral Health Sciences Bldg.
Telephone:
(919) 537-3241
Email:
Email: James_Beck@unc.edu
Kimon Divaris
Associate Professor
Research:
Diverse research portfolio interrogating both proximal and distal determinants of oral health and disease, ranging from genomics of oral health traits and behavioral sciences to health disparities and dental education. Currently, NIH-funded research is supported by grants U01-DE025046 and XO1HG010871 (ZOE 2.0 study, “Genome-wide association study of early childhood caries”).
Lab:
4411B Koury Oral Health Sciences Bldg.
Office:
4501C Koury Oral Health Sciences Bldg.
Telephone:
(919) 537-3556
Email:
kimon_divaris@unc.edu
Ibrahim Duqum
Associate Professor
Research:
All Ceramic restorations. Digital Dentistry in both restorative and implant dentistry. CAD/CAM in dentistry. Osseointegration and survival and success of dental implants. Edentulism and attachments for complete dentures. Survival and success of dental extracoronal restorations. Dental educational research and application of digital dentistry in dental education.
Office:
337 Brauer Hall
Telephone:
(919) 537-3964
Email:
duqumibr@unc.edu
Eric T. Everett
Professor
Research:
Genetic basis for acquired and congenital defects of the oral/craniofacial/dental complex. Normal variation of oral and craniofacial structures. Literature of birth defects and dysmorphology. Integration of genetics in DDS curriculum.
Office:
Campus Box #7455
Lab:
4417 Koury Oral Health Sciences Bldg.
Email:
eric_everett@unc.edu
Lynn Fox
Associate Professor
Research:
Craniofacial team functioning, healthcare literacy, speech and language, stuttering
Office:
008 Brauer Hall
Telephone:
(919) 537-3509
Email:
lynn_fox@unc.edu
Sylvia Frazier-Bowers
Associate Professor, Assistant Dean for Inclusive Excellence and Equity Initiatives
Research:
As a clinician-scientist, it is also my goal to bridge the gap between the clinical profession and scientific advances to ensure that this is the foundation that our future generations of dentists receive. My current efforts also broadly focus on gene discovery and phenotype dissection of dentofacial variation specifically 1) tooth development 2) tooth eruption and 3) tooth agenesis using multiple translational methods.
Office:
271 Brauer Hall
Lab:
4411 Koury Oral Health Sciences Bldg.
Telephone:
(919) 537-3758
Email:
sylvia_frazier@unc.edu
Tate H. Jackson
Assistant Professor
Research:
The use of web-based and self-directed learning strategies in dental education; The epidemiology of surgicalorthodontic treatment; Genetic epidemiology of common oral diseases.
Office:
271 Brauer Hall
Telephone:
(919) 537-3775
Email:
tatejackson@unc.edu
Laura Jacox
Assistant Professor
Research:
The primary focus of my research program has been on longitudinal clinical studies of speech distortions in jaw surgery patients. The other focus of my lab is on social science research in dentistry, including qualitative methods (interviews, focus groups) and quantitative approaches (survey development) investigating trends in orthodontics. As part of the COVID-19 research response, we are studying antiseptic mouth rinses for their ability to limit salivary viral infectivity. Finally, we are exploring applications of animal-assisted therapy for management of dental anxiety in pediatric dental populations.
Office:
2901 First Dental Bldg.
Lab:
2090 First Dental Bldg.
Telephone:
(919) 537-3768
Email:
ljacox@live.unc.edu
Brandon Johnson
Diagnostic Sciences
Research:
Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology dosimetry, evaluation of radiology equipment/devices, patient and operator dose, effective dose, image quality, radiology/radiography education.
Office:
5511J Koury Oral Health Sciences Bldg.
Lab:
Radiology Clinic
Telephone:
(919) 537-3148
Email:
Brandon_johnson@unc.edu
Lorne D. Koroluk
Associate Professor
Research:
Malocclusion, growth and development, teaching, ulcerations; fungal; cancer; facial; dermatologic
Office:
237 Brauer Hall
Telephone:
(919) 537-3784
Email:
lorne_koroluk@unc.edu
Mark J. Kutcher
Associate Professor
Research:
Diagnosis and management of oral diseases such as viral, fungal, ulcerations etc.; facial cancer, dental management of medically compromised patients.
Office:
5405C Koury Oral Health Sciences Bldg.
Telephone:
(919) 537-3140
Email:
kutcherm@unc.edu
Jessica Y. Lee
Demeritt Distinguished Professor
Research:
Health Services Research, Epidemiology, Health Disparities, Healthy Literacy
Office:
231 Brauer Hall
Lab:
4501 Koury Oral Health Sciences Bldg.
Telephone:
(919) 537-3955
Email:
leej@unc.edu
Julie T. Marchesan
Assistant Professor
Research:
My research interest is on the pathogenesis of periodontal disease with a focus on the host response. This response is greatly influenced by both genetic factors and different microorganisms. Specifically, I have focused on the role of pathogen recognition receptors and sensors (TLR, NLR, IFI16, AIM2) and novel pathobionts (E. saphenum, F. alocis, Synergistetes) in the host response.
Office:
3506 Koury Oral Health Sciences Bldg.
Lab:
3411 Koury Oral Health Sciences Bldg.
Telephone:
(919) 537-3853
Email:
Julie_Marchesan@unc.edu
Patricia (Pat) Miguez
Assistant Professor
Research:
Currently there is a gap of knowledge in that we have not been able to identify a reliable form of preventing dentin and bone loss in various physiological and pathological scenarios. My long-term goals are to unveil novel mechanisms of protecting such mineralized tissues, characterize new effective agents and ultimately bring these agents to clinical practice. My research studies have concentrated in understanding collagen biochemistry and tissue mechanical properties link; promotion of mineralization (re-mineralization) in dentin and bone and, more recently, focused in the role of the proteoglycan biglycan in promotion of craniofacial bone regeneration through modulation of bone morphogenetic protein function. Other biological and translational experiments are in development to promote dentin formation. Another area of interest is on integrative medicine where I seek to understand how natural compounds (phytochemicals) act on cell behavior, extracellular matrix quality and mineralization as well as their effect on oral diseases development such as caries and periodontal disease.
Office:
4606 Koury Oral Health Sciences Bldg.
Lab:
4605-4611 Koury Oral Health Sciences Bldg.
Telephone:
(919) 537-3324
Email:
patricia_miguez@unc.edu
Antonio J. Moretti
Assistant Professor
Research:
Clinical Research
Office:
117 Brauer Hall
Telephone:
(919) 537-3727
Email:
antonio_moretti@unc.edu
Tung T. Nguyen
Assistant Professor
Research:
My imaging lab’s focus to is to develop 3D software to evaluate growth and treatment changes. Our research focuses on treatment outcomes and changes with the use of skeletal anchorage, Orthognathic surgery and 3D customized technology.
Office:
272 Brauer Hall
Lab:
2080 First Dental Bldg.
Telephone:
(919) 537-3764
Email:
tung_nguyen@unc.edu
Lauren Patton
Professor
Research:
Clinical trials for mucosal disease treatment or prevention, Oral complications of radiation therapy or other systemic disease management, Oral cancer prevention and early diagnosis, Management of patients with systemic disease, Oral and systemic disease interaction, HIV infection and AIDS patient dental care, access to care, oral lesions, Health services research, outcomes research, public health dentistry topics, Systematic reviews to assess evidence base for dental treatment processes
Office:
3140 First Dental Bldg.
Telephone:
(919) 537-3582
Email:
lauren_patton@unc.edu
Ceib L. Phillips
Professor, Associate Dean for Graduated/Advanced Education
Research:
Clinical Trial Methodology; Survey Research
Office:
3120 First Dental Bldg.
Telephone:
(919) 537-3373
Email:
ceib_phillips@unc.edu
Luiz A. Pimenta
Professor, ASPID Program Director
Research:
Clinical research in cleft lip/palate and craniofacial anomalies. Also, clinical and lab research in cariology
Office:
5417 Koury Oral Health Sciences Bldg.
Telephone:
(919) 537-3725
Email:
Luiz_Pimenta@unc.edu
Rocio B. Quinonez
Associate Professor, Associate Dean for Educational Leadership and Innovation
Research:
Dental education; early childhood oral health; prenatal oral health; interface between medicine and dentistry, access to care
Office:
1611H Koury Oral Health Sciences Bldg.
Telephone:
(919) 537-3799
Email:
rocio_quinonez@unc.edu
Apoena de Aguiar Ribeiro
Associate Professor
Research:
The focus of my research agenda include: (1) the biomolecular evaluation of the oral microbiome and its metabolome associated to caries and other oral diseases; (2) clinical caries diagnosis, detection, prevention and treatment; (3) oral health promotion in children with systemic diseases; (4) the investigation of virulence factors associated to infections caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).
Office:
3070 Koury Oral Health Sciences Bldg.
Lab:
3611 Koury Oral Health Sciences Bldg.
Telephone:
(919) 537-3684
Email:
apoena@email.unc.edu
Anne E. Sanders
Associate Professor
Research:
My major research interest relates to the use of social epidemiology theories and principles for informing our understanding of how social inequalities in health are generated and maintained
Office:
4502 Koury Oral Health Sciences Bldg.
Lab:
4605-4611 Koury Oral Health Sciences Bldg.
Telephone:
(919) 537-3275
Email:
anne_sanders@unc.edu
Rishma Shah
Assistant Professor
Research:
Investigate the etiology of the skeletal muscle tissue defect in craniofacial deformity patients. Understand the innate repair and regenerative process of the skeletal muscle tissue in craniofacial deformity patients. Engineer autologous skeletal muscle tissue for implantation into sites of defect in craniofacial deformity patients.
Office:
276 Brauer Hall.
Lab:
4617 Koury Oral Health Sciences Bldg.
Telephone:
(919) 537-3767
Email:
rishma_shah@unc.edu
Gary Slade
Professor
Research:
Clinical trials for mucosal disease treatment or prevention, Oral complications of radiation therapy or other systemic disease management, Oral cancer prevention and early diagnosis, Management of patients with systemic disease, Oral and systemic disease interaction, HIV infection and AIDS patient dental care, access to care, oral lesions, Health services research, outcomes research, public health dentistry topics, Systematic reviews to assess evidence base for dental treatment processes
Office:
4501E Koury Oral Health Sciences Bldg
Telephone:
(919) 537-3273
Email:
gary_slade@unc.edu
Taiseer Sulaiman
Assistant Professor
Research:
Our area of research focuses on multidisciplinary translational research, with in-vitro investigation of biomaterials that can have the maximum clinical relevance. Developing novel biomaterials in addition to testings’ that can help provide a blue print for further clinical investigations.
Office:
5405H Koury Oral Health Sciences Bldg
Lab:
5617D Koury Oral Health Sciences Bldg.
Telephone:
(919) 537-5251
Email:
Taiseer_Sulaiman@unc.edu
Peter Tawil
Assistant Professor, Interim Graduate Program Director
Research:
Endodontic and Endodontic Surgery
Office:
1150 First Dental Bldg.
Telephone:
(919) 537-3376
Email:
peter_tawil@unc.edu
Inna Tchivileva
Assistant Professor
Research:
My research objectives are to identify genetic variants influencing pain sensitivity, the likelihood of developing chronic pain disorders, and the response to pain therapy. I am interested in developing and conducting pharmacogenetics clinical trials translating basic research findings into clinical practice. Recently, my efforts have concentrated on studying the effect of catecholamine-O-methyltransferase gene polymorphism on response to beta-adrenergic blocker therapy in patients with temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD) and relationship between TMD and headache.
Office:
5509 Koury Oral Health Sciences Bldg
Lab:
Koury Oral Health Sciences Bldg.
Telephone:
(919) 537-3291
Email:
inna_tchivileva@unc.edu
Shannon Wallet
Associate Dean for Research Discovery and Innovation
Research:
My research interests are focused on mechanisms associated with altered innate immune functions, which lead to dysregulated adaptive immunity. Currently my research program has three major arms integrated through with a central philosophy. Specifically, our laboratory focuses on the contribution of epithelial cell biology and signaling to innate and adaptive immune homeostasis and dysfunction. We study the contribution of what I term ‘epithelial cell innate immune (dys)function’ to three major disease conditions: pancreatic cancer, type 1 diabetes (autoimmunity), and periodontal disease (autoinflammation). While appearing to be a diverse research program, we have found that many of the mechanisms and systems in play are surprisingly (or maybe not so surprisingly) similar allowing for rapid translation of our findings. Importantly, previous investigations into the role of epithelial cells in immunobiology have been hindered by a lack of robust primary cell culture techniques, which our laboratory has been able to overcome using both animal and human tissues. Thus, using our novel and unique tools we are able to evaluate our findings in the human conditions, again making translation of our findings that much more feasible.
Lab:
3405 Koury Oral Health Sciences Bldg.
Telephone:
(919) 537-3359
Email:
shannon_wallet@unc.edu
Jennifer Webster-Cyriaque
Professor
Research:
Viral oral infections in Immunosuppression and Cancer- VOIICe Viral Oral Infections in Immunesuppression and Cancer (VOIICe)Research Discipline: Microbiology viral pathogenesis/Clinical translational oral medicine.
The laboratory is seeking to understand the critical molecular interactions between the virus and the host that govern the development of oral lesions and malignancies and to translate these findings to the many immune compromised patients seen in practice that are burdened by oral disease.In addition to clinical trials based work designed to translate laboratory findings, there are 3 major areas of study in the laboratory: Mechanisms of Viral Pathogenesis/Reactivation in the Oral cavity and other compartments; HPV in oral disease and cancer; and Clinical TrialsSPNS: UNC HIV Oral Health Demonstration Project
Office:
4506 Koury Oral Health Sciences Bldg.
Lab:
4405 Koury Oral Health Sciences Bldg.
Telephone:
(919) 537-3492
Email:
Jennifer_Cyriaque@unc.edu
Jane Weintraub
Rozier Douglass Distinguished Professor
Research:
My research involves the disciplines of dental public health, oral epidemiology, and clinical research focused on oral disease prevention and understanding and reducing oral health disparities in children and older adults. I enjoy research that has implications for the future of dental education, dental practice and health policy.
Office:
4508 Koury Oral Health Sciences Bldg.
Lab:
4508 Koury Oral Health Sciences Bldg.
Telephone:
(919) 537-3240
Email:
Jane_Weintraub@unc.edu
Raymond White
Professor
Research:
Clinical research topics related to orthognathic surgery, third molar management
Office:
149 Brauer Hall
Telephone:
(919) 537-3944
Email:
ray_white@unc.edu
John Timothy Wright
James Bawden Distinguished Professor
Research:
My research interests involve advancing our understanding of community-based treatment approaches including school based oral health care. Recent research involves performing systematic reviews pursuant to developing oral health care guidelines
Office:
4410 Koury Oral Health Sciences Bldg.
Lab:
4110 Koury Oral Health Sciences Bldg.
Telephone:
(919) 537-3216
Email:
tim_wright@unc.edu
Di Wu
Assistant Professor
Research:
Our group develops novel statistical bioinformatics tools and applies them in biomedical research to help understanding the precision medicine for cancer (e.g., breast cancer and lung cancer) subtypes, the disease associated integrative pathways across multiple genomic regulatory levels, and the potential of drug repurposing mechanisms. Our recent focus includes pathway analysis, microbiome data analysis, data integration and EMR. Our application fields include cancer, stem cell, autoimmune disease and oral biology.
Office:
4504 Koury Oral Health Sciences Bldg.
Lab:
4507 Koury Oral Health Sciences Bldg.
Telephone:
(919) 537-3277
Email:
dwu@unc.edu
Mitsuo Yamauchi
Professor
Research:
Biology and chemistry of extracellular matrix proteins, Biological significance of collagen post-translational modifications in mineralization, tissue stability, aging and cancer metastasis, Role of small leucine-rich proteoglycans in growth factor function and bone tissue engineering
Office:
4606 Koury Oral Health Sciences Bldg
Lab:
4605A-E Koury Oral Health Sciences Bldg.
Telephone:
(919) 537-3217
Email:
mitsuo_yamauchi@unc.edu
David Zajac
Professor
Research:
As a clinical speech-language pathologist and speech scientist my research focuses on speech production in general and speech associated with craniofacial anomalies in particular. We are currently conducting an NIDCR-sponsored project investigating the emergence of stop consonants and how speech changes over time in young children with repaired cleft palate, children with otitis media, and typically developing children. We also investigate the effects of dental and occlusal anomalies on speech production.
Office:
007 Brauer Hall
Lab:
016 Brauer Hall
Telephone:
(919) 537-3525
Email:
david_zajac@unc.edu