Hard Tissue and Neoplastic Diseases External Faculty
Research Interests
John Sauk (UMB Dental School, Department of Oral Pathology)
Dr. Sauk's research program is focused on identifying molecular targets for head
and neck cancer. Specifically, this program seeks the development of a novel
therapy for well-differentiated oral squamous carcinoma based on targeting the
expression of uniquely expressed proteins on the cell surface of head and neck
carcinomas. To characterize the binding characteristics of these proteins,
combinatorial approaches are utilized to define binding motifs for these targets
and non-natural ligands are synthesized to retargets virus directed gene
therapies or are conjugated to chemotherapeutic agents to optimize tumor
radiosensitivity.
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Oral and Craniofacial Sensory Disorders External Faculty
Research Interests
Edward Grace, (UMB Dental School, OHCD)
My research interests focus on facial pain/TMD and behavioral dentistry.
(1) Facial Pain – The etiology and treatment of facial pain, particularly TMD
,are the prime areas of research interest. Past research has included:
investigation of mechanical devices to treat muscular TMD; use of low dose
antidepressant medications for the treatment of chronic facial pain;
psychological profiles of facial pain patients contrasted to low back pain
patients; and physical methods to alleviate chronic muscular facial pain.
(2) Behavioral Dentistry – The teaching of behavioral dentistry in dental
schools has been the primary area of research interest. Past projects have
included: survey of the teaching of behavioral dentistry in all United States
dental schools; development of a measure to assess communication skills in
dental students; and attitudes toward infectious disease patients by dental
students and dental faculty.
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Infectious and Autoimmune Diseases External Faculty
Research Interests
Timothy Meiller (UMB Dental School,
Department of Oral Medicine)
Dr. Meiller has extensive experience in conducting interdepartmental
patient-centered research. He is active in the design of patient-oriented
clinical projects and laboratory protocols investigating oral complications in
immunocompromised patients. He has successfully isolated oral macrophages and
related their activity to periodontal disease. Recently Drs. Meiller and Falkler
characterized Candida dubliniensis as a new opportunistic agent in
immunocompromised patients. Dr Meiller is also investigating management of oral
complications in immunocompromised cancer patients.
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