DART Mentors Research Interests

DART Leadership 

Faculty/Degree

 Department               

Phone/Address

Research Interests

Mary MacDougall, PhD

 Associate Dean for Research and Director, Institute of Oral Health Research 

(205) 996-5122

 SDB 702
Zip 0007

Tooth formation, dentin, enamel, dental genetic diseases  and tissue engineering  

Reddy, Michael S., DMD, DMSc

Professor and Chairman, Periodontology

(205) 934-4506

SDB 412
Zip 0007  

Natural history and modeling of periodontal disease progression

Noel K. Childers, DDS

 Professor and Chairman, Pediatric Dentistry  

(205) 934-3230

SDB 304C
Zip 0007

Immunology of dental caries

Gregg Gilbert,  DDS,MBA

 Professor and Chairman,
Diagnostic Sciences

(205) 934-5423

 SDB 109
Zip 0007  

Health services and policy issues with specific focus in the area of aging

Amjad Javed, PhD

 Associate Professor, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

(205) 996-5124

SDB 714
Zip 0007

Transcriptional control of osteoblast differentiation, Cytokines and endocrine responsive bone formation, Fracture healing and Skeletal remodeling during pot natal development using both in vitro cell culture and in vivo mouse models. 

McCracken, Michael DDS, PhD

 Associate Professor, Prosthodontics

(205) 934-1593

SDB 606A
Zip 0007  

Interaction between systemic disease and bone response

Suzanne M. Michalek, PhD

 Professor, Microbiology 

(205) 934-3470

 BBRB 258B
Zip 2170  

Vaccine development for the induction of mucosal responses

Hui Wu, PhD

 Associate Professor, Pediatric Dentistry

(205) 996-2392

 SDB 802
Zip 0007 

Interactions between bacterial biofilms and hosts, and influence of oral bacterial biofilms on bone remodeling dynamics 

DART Mentors

Faculty/Degree  

Department 

Phone/Address 

Research Interests 

Richard Allman, MD

 Professor and Director, Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine 

(205) 934-9261

 CH19 201
Zip 2041 

Quality improvement, disease prevention and health promotion, and complications of immobility.  

Zsuzsanna Bebok, PhD

Assistant Professor, Cell Biology

(205) 975-5449

MCLM 350

Zip 0005

Membrane Protein Biogenesis Regulation in Epithelial Cells by Cellular Stress Responses and Genetic Mutations

David Bedwell, PhD 

Professor, Microbiology 

(205) 934-6593

 BBRB 432A
Zip 2170 

Translation termination and nonsense-mediated mRNA decay

Susan Bellis, PhD

 Assistant Professor, Physiology and Biophysics 

(205) 934-3441

 MCLM 982A
Zip 0005 

Structure and function of integrin adhesion receptors

Dale J. Benos, PhD

 Professor and Chairman,
Physiology & Biophysics
 

(205) 934-6220

 MCLM 704
Zip 0005 

Structure-functional analyses of epithelial and cellular Na+ and Cl- channels 

Etty N. Benveniste, PhD

 Professor and Chair, Cell Biology  

(205) 934-7667

 MCLM 395
Zip 0005 

Molecular regulation of gene expression in the central nervous system 

Mark Bevensee, PhD

Assistant Professor,
Physiology and Biophysics
 

(205) 975-9084

MCLM 846
Zip 0005 

Intracellular pH regulation and acid-base transporters in excitable tissue. 

J. Edwin Blalock, PhD

 Professor, Physiology & Biophysics  

(205) 934-6439

 MCLM 896
Zip 0005  

Rationale design of peptide drugs and vaccines for respiratory and autoimmune diseases 

William Britt, MD

 Professor, Pediatric Infectious Disease 

(205) 996-7762

 CHB 107 

Two aspects of the biology of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) the largest member of the family of herpes viruses. 

R. Pat Bucy, MD

Professor, Clinical Pathology

(205) 934-6246

 SW W287  

In Vivo Regulation of Immune Responses by T cells 

Chaplin, David D., MD, PhD

 Professor and Chairman, Microbiology 

(205) 934-9339

 BBRB 276
Zip 2170 

Regulation of secondary lymphoid tissue development and function; Molecular regulation of asthmatic inflammation 

Champion Deivanayagam, PhD

(205) 934-6206

CBSE 100

Zip 4400

Funded to structurally elucidate the interactions that occur between the surface protein Antigen I/II of Streptococcus mutans, a dental pathogen and a known etiological agent in dental caries.

Jeffery C. Edberg, PhD

 Associate Professor,
Immunology/Rheumatology
 

(205) 934-0894

 THT 433A
Zip 0006 

Mechanisms and genetics of autoantibody mediated autoimmune diseases. 

Fouad, Mona, MD, MPH

Professor, Preventive Medicine 

(205) 934-4307

MT 618
Zip 4410 

Clinical Grant, minority health, cancer prevention and control 

Kohtaro Fujihashi, PhD

 Professor, Pediatric Dentistry

(205) 934-1951

SDB 801
Zip 00007

The Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms for Mucosal Immunity in the Elderly; Molecular and Cellular Mechanisms for the Induction and Regulation of Mucosally Induced Tolerance; A Mucosal Internet Of gd, ab T Cells and Epithelial Cells for Mucosal Immunity; mucosal vaccine development for Category A agents such as anthrax and botulinum 

W. Timothy Garvey, MD

Professor and Chairman, Nutrition Sciences

(205) 934-6103

WEBB 230
Zip 3360 

Combines human-based and basic technologies to study the molecular, genetic, and metabolic pathogenesis of insulin resistance, obesity, and Type 2 Diabetes.   

Nicolaas Geurs, DDS, MS

Associate Professor, Periodontology 

(205) 934-1074

SDB 412
Zip 0007 

Developing new methods for the diagnosis of periodontal disease 

John C. Hauth, MD

Professor and Chairman, Obstetrics and Gynecology

(205) 934-5621

OHB 246
Zip 7333

 

Jannet Katz, DDS, PhD

Professor, Pediatric Dentistry 

(205) 934-2878

 BBRB 713
Zip 2170 

Immunobiology of host-microbial interactions in periodont al disease

Catarina Kiefe, PhD, MD

Professor, Preventive Medicine

(205) 934-3773 MT 621
Zip 4410

Clinical epidemiology
Quality measurement and outcomes research
Health services delivery to medically indigent populations  

Robert P. Kimberly, MD

Professor, Immunology/Rheumatology  

(205) 934-5306

THT 429
Zip 0006 

The role of genetic factors in the normal function of the immune system and the development of immunological diseases 

Christopher A. Klug, PhD

Associate Professor, Microbiology

(205) 934-3370

WTI 378
Zip 3300

Molecular basis for self-renewal and lineage commitment of murine hematopoietic stem cells, acute myeloid leukemia, pancreatic cancer 

Bruce Korf, MD, PhD

 Professor and Chairman, Genetics  

(205) 934-9411

KAUL 238
Zip 0024

Natural history, diagnosis, and management of neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) 

Jack E. Lemons, PhD

University Professor, Prosthodontics 

(205) 934-9206

SDB 615
Zip 0007

Laboratory surgical research

Mark Litaker, PhD

Associate Professor,
Diagnostic Sciences
 

(205) 934-5423

LHRB 134
Zip 0007

Selection bias adjustment for evaluation of treatment effects 

Patrick Louis, DDS, MD

Associate Professor, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery 

(205) 934-5334

SDB 419
Zip 0007 

Dental implants, aesthetic surgery, orthognathic surgery, pathology, temporomandibular joint disorders (TMJ), trauma, and reconstruction

Linda Lucas, PhD

Professor and Dean, School of Engineering 

(205) 934-8400

HOEN 100
Zip 4440 

Characterization and development of bioactive coatings for dental and orthopedic devices. 

Guillermo Marqués, PhD

Assistant Professor, Cell Biology 

(205) 975-8851

MCLM 670
Zip 0005 

Developmental and adult synaptic plasticity, regulation of gene expression during nervous system development, cell signaling and signal transduction by TGF-ß/BMP pathway in neurons. 

Jay M. McDonald, MD

Professor, Pathology 

(205) 934-4303

WP P210
Zip 7331 

Signal transduction in the pathogenesis of disease 

Ludwine Messiaen, PhD

Professor, Clinical Genetics  

(205) 996-2915

KAUL 420
Zip 0024  

Molecular genetic testing in common and rare hereditary disorders (either in a presymptomatic, diagnostic or prenatal setting). 

Stephen C. Mitchell, DMD, MS

Assistant Professor, Pediatric Dentistry 

(205) 934-1136

SDB BX89
Zip 0007 

Infant Oral Health Early Childhood Caries Pulp Therapy in the Primary Dentition Use of Technology in Education 

Joanne Murphy-Ullrich, PhD

Professor, Molecular & Cellular Pathology  

(205) 934-0415

VH668B
Zip 0019  

Extracellular environment,matrix molecules and growth factors,regulation of cellular processes such as growth, death, motility, and differentiation 

Lance Ramp, DMD

Assistant Professor, Prosthodontics 

(205) 934-1026

SDB 520
Zip 0007 

Dental biomaterials mechanical properties 

Merrie Ramp, DMD

Associate Professor, Comprehensive Dentistry 

(205) 934-3265

SDB 509
Zip 0007 

Dental materials testing and educational research 

Nathaniel Robin, MD, PhD

Associate Professor,
Clinical Genetics
  

(205) 934-9528

KAUL 210
Zip 0024  

Ethical issues in genetic testing and genetic research, and understanding the phenotypic consequence of genetic alterations. 

John Ruby, DMD

Associate Professor,
Pediatric Dentistry
 

(205) 975-7003

SDB 314
Zip 0007 

Genotyping oral bacteria, Treponema denticola interactions with the innate immune system 

Harry W. Schroeder, Jr., MD, PhD

Professor, Developmental and Clinical Immunology

(205) 934-4769

WTI 378
Zip 3300  

B cell and repertoire development; genetics of primary immune deficiency diseases 

Rosa Serra, PhD

Professor, Cell Biology 

(205) 934-0842

MCLM 310
Zip 0005 

Role and mechanism of TGF-ß signaling in embryonic and post-natal development , human degenerative and neoplastic disease. 

Phillip D. Smith, MD

Professor, Gastroenterology  

(205) 934-6061

THT 611G
Zip 0006 

Human mucosal macrophage responses to inflammatory and infectious agents 

Peter Waite, MPH, DDS, MD

Professor and Chairman, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery 

(205) 934-4345

SDB 419
Zip 0007 

Orthognathic surgery, airway disorders, facial cosmetic surgery

Tim Wick, PhD

Professor and Chairman, Biomedical Engineering 

(205) 934-8420

HOEN 370
Zip 4440 

Bioreactors, tissue engineering

Ping Zhang, PhD

Research Assistant Professor, Pediatric Dentistry 

(205) 934-3770

BBRB 708
Zip 2170

The area of mucosal immunology involving the development of mucosal vaccines