The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) has awarded four researchers approximately $1 million per year for projects focused on deepening understanding of dental, oral, and craniofacial diseases and conditions.
The Sustaining Outstanding Achievement in Research (SOAR) awards will provide up to eight years of grant support to the following midcareer researchers:
- Samantha Brugmann, PhD, at Cincinnati Children's Hospital is investigating whether neural crest cells can develop into skeletal tissues that can be used to surgically repair craniofacial malformations.
- Gage Crump, PhD, at the University of South California is using zebrafish models to better understand developmental causes of human congenital head and face disorders. The research could lead to the development of regenerative medicine treatments for craniofacial disorders.
- Nisha D'Silva, PhD, BDS, MSD, at the University of Michigan--Ann Arbor is studying molecular pathways that control the spread and recurrence of head and neck cancer. Dr. D'Silva's research may help to determine which patients will respond best to existing treatments and lead to new treatments.
- Pinghui Feng, PhD, at the University of Southern California is studying links between human herpesviruses and chronic oral inflammation. The research may lead to new therapies for oral and other inflammatory diseases.
