Our Labs

The Hatch Lab is focused upon elucidating essential factors and pathways that control craniofacial skeletal development and pathogenic mechanisms leading to craniofacial skeletal anomalies, with an emphasis on craniosynostosis (the premature fusion of cranial bones).

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.

Metabolic Diseases and Membrane Trafficking Disorders

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.

By molecular and genetic dissection of the breathing-control circuitry, our laboratory studies the function of neural populations that control breathing rhythms and behaviors (such as sighing), and the pathophysiology of diseases with breathing abnormality.

Tooth Development and Biomineralization.

Research in the Liu laboratory focuses on understanding cellular and molecular mechanisms that regulate physiological and pathological bone metabolism, skeletal and craniofacial bone development and diseases.

TThe Lombaert Lab determines how stem cells participate in the formation of branching organs (e.g., salivary glands) and how they respond to various external and internal cues in normal, damaged or diseased environments.

The Ma laboratory is focused on tissue engineering and regenerative medicine of bone and periodontal tissues: (1) stem cells (embryonic and mesenchymal stem cells) and their interactions with biomaterials; (2) spatially and temporally controlled delivery of growth/differentiation factors using nanotechnologies to mediate cell proliferation and differentiation.