Medical University | MUSC Hospital | Directory | A-Z Index

Training in Craniofacial and Oral Health Research

MUSC logo

 T-COHR | T-COHR Trainees

Training in Craniofacial and Oral Health Research (T-COHR)

Junior Investigators:

Daniella Ishimaru, Ph.D., Research Assistant Professor
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Project Title:  Drosha-dependent Alterations in miRNA Biogenesis and their Roles in HNSCCs
 
Bei Liu, M.D., M.P.H., Assistant Professor
Department of Microbiology and Immunology
Project Title:  Role of CD24-Siglec Signaling in the Initiation and Progression of Oral Cancer
 
Walter Renne, DMD, Assistant Professor
Department of Oral Rehabilitation
Project Title:  Generation of a Novel Bacteriostatic and Anti-Collagenolytic Dental Adhesive Through the Incorporation of Polyacrylic Acid Modified Copper Nanoparticles into Adhesive Resins
 
Jing Zhou, DDS, PhD, MSD, Assistant Professor
Department of Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics
Project Title:  Periodontal Disease as A Risk Factor for Colorectal Neoplasia
 
Christine Kern, Ph.D., Assistant Professor
Department of Regenerative Medicine & Cell Biology
Project Title:  Prrx Regulation of Extracellular Matrix Genes during Craniofacial Development

Andrew Jakymiw, Ph.D., Assistant Professor
Department of Craniofacial Biology
(Mentor: Besim Ogretmen, PhD)
Project Title:  Characterization of a Dicer mRNA splice variant in oral cancer

Visu Palanisamy, Ph.D., Assistant Professor
Department of Craniofacial Biology
Project Title:  Molecular mechanisms of mRNA Stability in Human Saliva

Gunhild Sommer, Ph.D., Research Assistant Professor
Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Project Title:  Role of La in protection against chemotherapy-induced apoptosis in oral SCC

Students:

Michael DeFee, DSTP student
(Mentor: Christopher Parsons, MD)
Project Title:  Targeting Membrane Associated HSP90 Inhibits Activation of Nuclear Factor Kappa B By Kaposi’s Sarcoma Associated Herpesvirus

Alfred Griffin, DSTP student
(Mentor:  Keith L. Kirkwood, DDS, PhD)
Project Title:  Role of MKP-1 in Skeletal Homeostasis

Bethany Herbert, DSTP student

Jonathan Kuo, PhD student
Clemson-MUSC Bioengineering
(Mentor; Hai Yao, PhD)
Project Title:  Bioengineering Approach to Understanding TMJ Pathobiology

Haley Lindner, DSTP student
(Mentor:  Robin Muise-Helmricks, PhD)
Project Title:  Poly-N-Acetylglucosamine Nanofibers from a Marine Diatom Promote Wound Healing and Defensin Eexpression via an AKT1-Dependent Pathway

David Sentelle, DSTP student
(Mentor:  Besim Ogretmen, PhD)
Project Title:  Role of Ceramide in Inducing Lethal Autophagy in Head and Neck Cancer

Jessica Trombetta, DSTP student
(Mentor:  Amy Bradshaw, PhD)
Project Title:  the role of SPARC in the maintenance of collagen type I within the periodontal ligament - or - SPARC Knock Out Mice have Irregular Collagen Morphology in the Periodontal Ligament

Clemson-MUSC Bioengineering
(Mentor: Hai Yao, PhD)
Project Title:  Biomechanical Characterization and Modeling of Human TMJ Disc
 
Clemson-MUSC Bioengineering Program
 
Wenhui (Daniel) Jiang, PhD student
currently in laboratory rotations

Xiaoyi (Tina) Zhang, MSTP student
(Mentor:  Keith L. Kirkwood, DDS, PhD)
Project Title:  The role of mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphatase-1 in tumor progression

Postdoctoral Fellows:

Alexis Nagel, Ph.D.
(Mentor: Lauren Ball)            
Project Title:  The role of the nutrient-responsive O-GlcNAc modification of IRS-1 and -2 on insulin and IGF-1 signaling in osteoblasts

Sudha Talwar, Ph.D.
(Mentor: Visu Palanisamy)
Project Title:  Regulation of RNA binding proteins in oral cancer progression

Wendy Vandenberg-Foels, Ph.D.
(Mentor: Xuejun Wen)
Project Title:  (1) Endogenous Stem Cell Recruitment for Articular Cartilage Regeneration
(2) Alveolar bone regeneration in extraction sockets

Clinical Fellows:

Mary Gray, DMD
(Mentor: Keith Kirkwood)                
Project Title: TTP in Periodontal Disease Progression

Justin McAbee, DMD
(Mentor: Keith Kirkwood)
Project Title:  MKP-1 in Bacterial Mediated Bone Loss

 

Scholars Day