Our Labs

Our laboratory focus on the understanding of the “histone code” in the context of tissue injury, chronic inflammatory diseases, and cancer biology.

Dr. Decker's laboratory focuses on the intercellular signaling mechanisms that regulate inflammation in bone. Specifically, we are keen to understand how periodontal disease trains innate immunity and subsequent effects on bone regeneration and skeletal cancer metastasis that reside in the bone marrow niche spaces.

The D'Silva Lab's translational research focus is head and neck cancer, including biomarkers for early detection and treatment resistance, and molecular mechanisms of tumor progression and treatment resistance.

The Emrick lab studies the molecules, cells, and circuitry of the sensory nervous system innervating the mouth, head, and neck to understand how it all encodes oral and craniofacial information, contributes to normal tissue function, and ultimately drives reflexes and perceptions.

Dr. Fenno's research focuses on the role of the oral spirochete Treponema denticola in the development of periodontal diseases. The studies involve molecular characterization of spirochete surface-expressed and secreted proteins and their interactions with host tissue components.

Dr. Franceschi’s laboratory studies the signals regulating the formation and functioning of osteoblasts, cells that produce and mineralize the extracellular matrix of bone.

My primary interest is in how mammalian motor systems compensate for the potentially detrimental effects of tooth wear in diphyodontic species and the life-threatening potential that occurs during swallowing due to incomplete separation of the respiratory and digestive systems in the oropharynx.

Directed by Dr. Alexandre F. DaSilva, H.O.P.E. (Headache & Orofacial Pain Effort) is a multidisciplinary collaborative effort to investigate the brain as a research and therapeutic target for chronic trigeminal pain disorders, including primary headaches (e.g. migraine), TMJD and trigeminal neuropathic pain.

The Inglehart group's interests focus on exploring how oral health disparities could be reduced. Efforts focus on (a) educational research and (b) behavioral/clinical research related to oral health disparities.

Research in the Kaartinen lab focuses on the molecular reasons behind craniofacial and cardiac birth malformations, such as cleft palate, cleft lip and cardiac valve and septal anomalies; growth factor signaling in normal development in order to understand reasons that often lead to a failure in these particular developmental processes.

The Kaigler laboratory is focused on developing novel and innovative approaches for tissue engineering of bone, gingiva, salivary gland tissue, and tooth-related structures (enamel, dentin, dental pulp). Fundamental studies conducted on the molecular level are as aimed at providing rationale and guidance to human studies exploring clinical application.

Dr. Kohn’s laboratory focuses on biomineralization, which is investigated by establishing structure-function relations in mineralized tissues, and utilizing this information to develop biomimetic strategies to engineer tissue.