Labs

 Learn more about our work and the researchers who are advancing our understanding of oral health.

  • Alvarez Lab
    2/9/26
    The Alvarez Lab investigates why periodontal disease so often returns after apparent recovery, focusing on the long-term immune cells that persist in gingival tissues and may drive relapse.
  • Cui Lab
    2/9/26
    The Cui Lab investigates the role of frequently mutated genes in cancer development, aiming to identify novel treatment strategies for head and neck cancers associated with these mutations.
  • Diaz Lab
    2/9/26
    The Diaz Lab investigates the ecology of oral microbial communities and their interactions with the host in health and disease.
  • Dziak Lab
    2/9/26
    The Dziak Lab investigates bone regeneration with emphasis on bone graft fabrication.
  • Ikonomou Lab
    2/9/26
    The Ikonomou Lab's research program is in the areas of pluripotent stem cell biology and engineering, with emphasis on the study and in vitro derivation of foregut progenitors.
  • Kay Lab
    2/9/26
    The Kay Lab is a cell biology and immunology lab, with a focus on innate immunity.
  • Kirkwood Lab
    2/9/26
    Dr. Keith Kirkwood's team of researchers investigates the cellular and molecular mechanisms that regulate inflammation, immunity, and bone remodeling in oral and craniofacial diseases.
  • Kramer Lab
    2/9/26
    The Kramer Lab focuses on understanding chronic inflammation in Sjögren's disease and how MyD88-mediated signaling contributes to it.
  • Kumar Lab
    2/9/26
    The central focus of the Kumar Lab is to understand the interplay between oral fungi and the oral epithelium.
  • Kwon Lab
    2/9/26
    The Kwon Lab investigates the molecular mechanisms that regulate tooth and craniofacial development to uncover the mechanisms underlying pathological craniofacial conditions.
  • Romano Lab
    2/9/26
    The broad focus of the Romano Lab is the transcriptional regulatory mechanisms that govern the development and differentiation of epithelial-rich tissues, including the salivary gland.
  • Ruhl Lab
    2/9/26
    The Ruhl Lab investigates the molecular mechanisms of how saliva mediates initial bacterial attachment to teeth, tissue, and biomaterial surfaces in the mouth.
  • Sharma Lab
    2/9/26
    The Sharma Lab researches pathogenic strategies of periodontal bacteria, investigating how periodontal pathogens undermine host innate immunity.
  • Tavares Lab
    2/9/26
    The Tavares Lab studies how salivary gland epithelial cells communicate with immune and stromal cells, seeking to understand how disruptions lead to salivary gland dysfunction and Sjögren’s-like disease.
  • Visser Lab
    2/9/26
    The Visser Lab broadly focuses on microbial pathogenesis and host-pathogen interactions.
  • Zachariadou Lab
    2/9/26
    The Zachariadou Lab focuses on periodontal research with a special emphasis on alveolar bone biology, resorption and healing.