T-COHR Training in Craniofacial & Oral Health Research

Oral Health Sciences Specialized Courses

MCBP-745 Topics in Oral Health Sciences

MCBP-747 Oral Health Sciences Seminar Series

Emily Durham
Oral Health Sciences
Mentor: James Cray, Ph.D.
Project Title: Direct Effects of Nicotine Exposure on Murine Calvaria

Jessica eSilva
Cardiology
Mentor: Amy Bradshaw, Ph.D.
Project Title: Decreased Mechanical Strength and Collagen Content in SPARC-null Periodontal Ligament is Reversed by Inhibition of Transglutaminase Activity

Bethany Herbert
Oral Health Sciences
Mentor: Keith Kirkwood, D.D.S., Ph.D.
Projectd TItle: MK2 Signaling REgulates Osteoclastogenesis and Pro-Resorptive Cytokines During Aggregatibacter Actinomycetemcomitans-Induced Bone Loss

Joy Kirkpatrick
Oral Health Sciences
Mentor: Patrick Woster, Ph.D.
Project TItle: Use of KDM4B Inhibitors to Target Periodontal Disease Progression

Jaden Lee
Oral Health Sciences
Mentor: Ozlem Yilmaz, D.D.S., Ph.D.
Project Title: To Be Determined

JoAnn Roberts
Oral Health Sciences
Mentor: Ozlem Yilmaz, D.D.S., Ph.D.
Project TItle: Porphyromonas Gingivalis Modulates NADPH Oxidase 2 in Primary Gingival Epithelial Cells

Alexandra Rogers
Regenerative Medicine and Cell Biology
Mentor: Christine Kern, Ph.D.
Project Title: The Role of ADAMTS5-Mediated Aggrecan Turnover in the Temporomandibular Joint

Emilie Rosset
Cardiology
Mentor: Amy Bradshaw, Ph.D.
Project Title: SPARC Influences Collagen Fiber Morphology and Monocyte Activity in a Murine Model of Periodontal Disease

Raquela Thomas
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Mentor: Besim Ogretmen, Ph.D.
Projectd TItle: HPV16-E7 Oncoprotein Enhances Ceramide-Mediated Lethal Mitophagy by Regulating the Rb/E2F5/Drp1 Signaling Axis

R. Nicole Howie, Ph.D.
Oral Health Sciences
Mentor: James Cray, Ph.D.
Project Title: Sertraline Alters Wound Healing in Critical-Sized Mouse Calvarial Defects

Sarah Cisewski, Ph.D.
Clemson-MUSC Bioengineering
Mentor: Christine Kern, Ph.D.
Project Title: TBA

Reniqua House, Ph.D.
Oral Health Sciences
Mentor: Viswanathan Palanisamy, Ph.D.
Project Title: The RNA-Binding Protein CELF1 REgulates the Tumor Supressive Protein IL-24/mda-7 Expression in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Mrinmoyee Majumder, Ph.D.
Oral Health Sciences
Mentor: Viswanathan Palanisamy, Ph.D.
Project Title: RNA-binding Protein FXR1 Negatively Regulates Senescence by Destabilizing mRNA CDKN1A and Stabilizing Non-Coding RNA Telomerase RNA Component

Molecular and cellular biology of oral infectious diseases

A major focus seeks to understand immune responses that contribute to periodontal disease progression and oral bone loss and to translate findings to clinical applications. Two areas of scientific interest have emerged. The first involves development of novel chemotherapeutic targets to treat periodontal diseases with emphasis on cell signaling mechanisms in controlling immune cytokine involvement in osteoimmunology and immune regulatory mechanisms in periodontal inflammation. The second addresses the contribution of systemic diseases, especially impacted by microbe-host interactions, to periodontal disease treatment efficacy and influence on current treatment regimens in genetically susceptible populations. MUSC investigators are developing small molecule inhibitors for topical intraoral application for management of periodontal diseases.

Faculty: Alexander Alekseyenko, Lauren Ball, Amy Bradshaw, Yan Huang, Amy Martin, Robin Muise-Helmericks, Chad Novince, Paula Traktman, Chentha Vasu, Pat Woster, Ozlem Yilmaz, Hong Yu; Caroline Westwater

Oral pharyngeal cancer biology and cancer immunology

Oral and pharyngeal cancer is a research emphasis in College of Dental Medicine and Hollings Cancer Center because it has higher prevalence in South Carolina. Major efforts include: (1) elucidation of mechanisms by which tumor cells evade the immune system, especially in head-and-neck cancers associated with viral infections, (2) identification and validation of unique approaches (e.g. CAR T cell therapy) that enhance anti-tumor cell immunity leading to increased tumor cell death, and (3) understanding the influence of oral inflammation and immune surveillance in the tumor microenvironment. MUSC faculty have developed unique lipids, complement-based approaches, peptide delivery methods, and si-RNA-based therapeutics all to enhance tumor specific cell death, and modify immune cells to increase tumor cell death.

Faculty: Lauren Ball, Terry Day, Phil Howe, Andrew Jakymiw, Amy Martin, Shikhar Mehrotra, David Neskey, Besim Ogretmen, Visu Palanisamy, Jessica Thaxton, Pat Woster, Hong Yu

Bioengineering and biomechanics of the oral and craniofacial complex

The Clemson/MUSC Bioengineering Program enables bioengineering faculty to conduct research on the MUSC campus. There is significant expertise and research ongoing in biomaterials and material property science which are critical for many aspects of dentistry. In addition, nanoparticle delivery systems for periodontal inflammation control have been developed for periodontal regeneration along with fundamental understanding of the mechanical complexities of the temporomandibular joint compared with other articular joints. Other efforts focus on dental stem cell regeneration of the dentinal component of the tooth and bioactive materials for wound healing.

Faculty: Jeremy Gilbert, Dieter Haemmerich, William Hill, Meenal Mehrotra, Ying Mei, Robin Muise-Helmericks, Hai Yao, Tong Ye, Michael Yost

Craniofacial growth and development

Faculty are engaged with oral and craniofacial facial growth and development in 3 primary areas: (1) addressing gene-environmental interactions and signaling pathways in craniofacial suture closure and the role of stem cells in this process; (2) Bone biology in general as well as addressing the role of the oral microbiome in craniofacial skeletal development; and (3) understanding the role of matrix proteins in bone biology and development of the periodontal ligament.

Faculty: Amy Bradshaw, William Hill, Phil Howe, Michael Kern, Amanda LaRue, Meenal Mehrotra, Chad Novince, Paula Traktman, Hai Yao, Hong Yu

The MUSC Summer Undergraduate Research Program promotes access to graduate education and to enhance specific skills that are required for success in a subsequent M.S., Ph.D., or M.D./Ph.D. in biomedical sciences.

Learn more about the Summer Undergraduate Research Program.