Research Intensive Faculty

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

Professor

Research:

Diverse research portfolio interrogating both proximal and distal determinants of oral health and disease, ranging from human genomics and microbial multi-omics of dental caries and periodontal disease, to behavioral sciences, health disparities and dental education research. Current research program is supported by NIH/NIDCR grants and is focused on early childhood oral health, human genomics, and microbiome multi-omics investigations.

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

Christina Graves

Assistant Professor

Christina Graves

Research:

Fundamentally, our research is focused on how the nervous and immune systems are developmentally educated by infectious and non-infectious stressors across the “gum-to-gut” axis. One current major focus of the lab is to elucidate how early life stress impacts the developing gut and dentition using zebrafish as an ideal — and translational — model organism. We utilize a combination of advanced imaging, next-generation sequencing, and genetic approaches to achieve a greater understanding of how early life events dictate health outcomes across the lifespan and generations. In addition to these primary research interests, we maintain active collaborations with other groups within the Adams School of Dentistry and across campus.

Office:

Koury Oral Health Sciences Building 3410

Telephone:

(919) 537-3725

Email:

cxg@email.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

Assistant Professor

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

Takashi Komabayashi

Olmsted Family Distinguished Professor, Graduate Endodontic Program Director

Takashi Komabayashi HeadshotResearch:

Endodontic biomaterial. Recent research involves evaluating endodontic sealer performance at the dentin interface using advanced imaging technology.

Office:

Koury Building Room 5417

Lab:

Koury Building Room 4611B

Telephone:

(919) 445-1685

Email:

takashi.komabayashi@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

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

 

Adam D. Lietzan

Assistant Professor

Adam Lietzan

Research:

A microbial challenge and subsequent host mediated response are critical in the pathogenesis of periodontal disease. The primary focus of the Lietzan lab is to understand how proteins from the oral microbiota influence host health. The lab utilizes structure-function studies to unravel mechanistic insights into the microbe-host relationship. A greater understanding of the underlying mechanisms of this dynamic interaction in health and disease will translate to improved patient care and treatment outcomes.

Office:

5610 Koury Health Sciences Building

Lab:

3411D Koury Oral Health Sciences Bldg.

 

Pei Feng Lim

Associate Professor

Research:

Pain education, orofacial pain, and widespread pain

Office:

2050 First Dental Bldg.

Lab:

Orofacial Pain Clinic

Telephone:

(919) 537-3939

Email:

peifeng_lim@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

Lauren Katz McKay

Assistant Professor

Research:

Skeletal muscle biology, regeneration, stem cell biology, craniofacial disorders, transcriptomics.

Telephone:

(704) 491-7627

Email:

lauren_katz@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

Professor
Antonio Morettis Portrait

Research:

Clinical research on the relationship of systemic and periodontal diseases, halitosis.

Office:

117 Brauer Hall

Telephone:

(919) 537-3727

Email:

antonio_moretti@unc.edu

Tung T. Nguyen

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

Aimin Peng

Professor
Aimin Peng

Research:

My primary research focuses are oral cancer and DNA repair. I have studied cell cycle regulation and the DNA damage response (DDR) since my graduate research. I am particularly interested in the connection between these pathways and human cancer, including cancer of oral cavity. Dysregulation of these pathways has been established as a causal factor in cancer progression, and therapeutic solutions to improve cancer treatment through manipulating the DDR or cell cycle machinery are dearly sought. It is, however, imperative to delineate the mechanistic basis of these pathways in order to fully translate these studies into clinical benefits. My ongoing research efforts are directed to characterize new mechanisms that confer oral cancer resistance to radiation, chemotherapy and immunotherapy, and to develop new therapeutic strategies that potentially improve the treatment outcome of oral cancer.

Lab:

3605 Koury Oral Health Sciences Bldg.

Office:

3510 Koury Oral Health Sciences Bldg.

Telephone:

(919) 537-3309

Email:

penga@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

Rocio B. Quinonez

Professor, Associate Dean for Educational Leadership and Innovation

Research:

Dental and interprofessional education, prenatal and early childhood oral health, public health, 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

John W. Stamm Distinguished 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

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

Associate 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