Discover CCMB
Center for Craniofacial Molecular Biology 2012
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Director's Message About CCMB Meet the Faculty Featured Faculty Yang Chai Janet Oldak Michael Paine Harold Slavkin Songtao Shi Malcolm Snead New Faculty Spotlight Amy Merrill-Brugger Ruchi Bajpai CCMB Team Events & Activitiesies
Director's Message Welcome to the Center for Craniofacial Molecular Biology (CCMB) at the Ostrow School of Dentistry, University of Southern California. CCMB is a research laboratory located on the Health Sciences Campus of the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. USC is proud to be a member of a small group of elite research universities in the nation. CCMB is a world-renowned research center where innovative basic science research in craniofacial biology merges with cutting-edge clinical practice. The laboratory is funded through numerous federal and organization-sponsored research grants. Many of these grants are from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research under which basic research is conducted into developmental, biochemical and molecular biological aspects of human development, with a special emphasis on craniofacial structures in both health and disease. Specifically, our faculty members are conducting research on diverse topics including (1) the molecular genetics of tooth development; (2) the cellular and molecular etiology of cleft lip and cleft palate and rescue; (3) enamel matrix formation and biomineralization; (4) transcriptional control of craniofacial development; (5) stem cell mediated craniofacial tissue regeneration and immunology; (6) nanotechnology strategies for growth of bones and teeth; (7) stem cells and the specification of neural crest cells; (8) human skeletal diseases; as well as many others. History has shown that the public derives immeasurable benefits from investment in biomedical research in a wide array of health areas. Looking to the future of oral and craniofacial research, it is clear that we are entering a momentous time for our center. As we plan for the future, we will continue to emphasize the importance of oral health and how it affects the rest of the body. We will work closely with our colleagues to translate scientific discovery to practical health care. We will explore diverse funding sources to support our research. We will make every effort to train the next generation of scientists who will continue to create new knowledge to benefit society. We will continue to advance scientific knowledge and promote innovation in order to reap the best rewards. I invite you to explore many of the exciting research projects conducted at CCMB and discover how our faculty, staff and students are working together to shape the future of health care. Sincerely,
Yang Chai, D.D.S., Ph.D. Professor George and MaryLou Boone Chair in Craniofacial Molecular Biology Associate Dean of Research Director, Center for Craniofacial Molecular Biology Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry University of Southern California
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About the Center The Center for Craniofacial Molecular Biology (CCMB) is the Ostrow School of Dentistry's primary research facility; located in the heart of the University of Southern California's Health Sciences Campus. CCMB is home to a diverse group of world-class researchers in a variety of disciplines centered around structures of the craniofacial region. Since its establishment in 1989, CCMB has been home to several major discoveries and has attracted top researchers from around the world. CCMB also serves as a bridge that connects Medicine and Dentistry, allowing meaningful and productive collaborations to exist between the Keck School of Medicine and the Ostrow School of Dentistry. CCMB receives its funding from numerous federal and organization-sponsored research grants, many of which originate from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) under which basic research is conducted into developmental, biochemical, molecular and biological aspects of human development, with special emphasis on craniofacial structures in both health and disease. In addition to highly-acclaimed researchers, CCMB is also comprised of top-notch graduate students, post-doctoral fellows, research technicians and administrators who work together effectively to fulfill the center's mission to advance oral, dental and craniofacial research toward solving problems in health and promoting the well-being of society.
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Meet the Faculty
From left: Yan Zhou, Malcolm Snead, Stephen Yen, Ruchi Bajpai, Matthew Lee, Amy Merrill-Brugger, Yang Chai, Janet Oldak, Songtao Shi, Anh Le and Michael Paine. Not pictured: Hal Slavkin, Mark Urata and Margarita Zeichner-David
“By mutual confidence and mutual aid - great deeds are done, and great discoveries made.� - Homer 5
Yang Chai, D.D.S., Ph.D.
Professor George and MaryLou Boone Chair in Craniofacial Molecular Biology Associate Dean of Research Director, Center for Craniofacial Molecular Biology Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC 6
TENACITY OF PURPOSE Highly-distinguised scientist, innovator, teacher, mentor, clinician and director of a worldclass research organization...these are but a few hats that Dr. Yang Chai wears on a daily basis in pursuit of advancing craniofacial genetics and development research. Dr. Yang Chai is not only the George and MaryLou Boone Professor of USC, but he is also the Associate Dean of Research at the Ostrow School of Dentistry and serves as the Director of the Center for Craniofacial Molecular Biology (CCMB); these significant roles are part of a wide array of responsibilities that vie for his time and attention which he manages with a great deal of aplomb. Dr. Chai is recognized around the world for his groundbreaking research in craniofacial genetics and development, most notably for his work on the molecular regulation of cranial neural crest (CNC) cells. His goals are to uncover the etiology and molecular mechanisms that lead to certain oral and facial birth defects, determine preventive measures and discover how to reverse a malformation prior to birth in order to spare children from complex surgeries and the other hardships that come with such defects. Most recently, Dr. Chai and his collaborators from the Ostrow School of Dentistry were credited with advancing the understanding of the genetic disorder called Loeys-Dietz syndrome or Marfan syndrome type II which manifests with life-threatening birth defects. This discovery may allow doctors to quickly diagnose and better treat the disease. Their
work was published in February 2012 in The Journal of Clinical Investigation. Dr. Chai's commitment and contributions to dental and craniofacial research have garnered him some of the field's most prestigious awards including being elected as an American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Fellow (2011); receiving the Distinguished Scientist Award for Craniofacial Biology Research from the International Association for Dental Research (2011), as well as the Method to Extend Research in Time (MERIT) Award from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health (2010). As a widely respected researcher and prolific author of more than 100 scientific papers and numerous book chapters, Dr. Chai serves on the editorial board of Developmental Biology and Journal of Bone and Mineral Research. He is also on the Board of Scientific Counselors at the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research for the National Institutes of Health (NIH). He will soon begin to serve as the chair of the Board of Scientific Counselors at NIDCR, NIH. In addition, he serves on NIH study sections and reviews grant applications for the Welcome Trust, MRC, and other international research organizations. 7
Dr. Chai's research is currently focused on the following areas: (1) Cranial neural crest cells and craniofacial malformations, (2) TGF-beta signaling and craniofacial morphogenesis, (3) Tissue-tissue interactions in regulating tongue morphogenesis, and (4) Molecular regulation of tooth root development.
Cranial Neural Crest Cells and Craniofacial Malformations The formation of cranial neural crest (CNC) cells is one of the key features of craniofacial development. CNC cells give rise to an array of cell types during embryonic development. Dr. Chai and his collaborators developed a comprehensive cell fate tracking system in which they are able to investigate the functional significance of a signaling molecule in regulating the fate of neural crest cells (Chai et al., 2000). They found that transforming growth factorbeta (TGF-β) plays an important role in regulating the fate of CNC cells; specifically, conditional inactivation of Tgfbr2 (TGF-β type II receptor) in CNC cells causes cleft palate and other craniofacial defects. The significance of this model is nothing short of groundbreaking since it has provided the opportunity to discover downstream signaling events and the ability to test how manipulation of TGF-β signaling may prevent and rescue cleft palate in mice and humans. (Ito et al., 2003; Sasaki et al., 2006; Iwata et al., 2010, 2012 and unpublished data).
Tooth Morphogenesis and Jawbone Regeneration Dr. Chai and his collaborators are also focusing on the investigation of a novel function for post-migratory cranial neural crest (CNC) cells in organ development and to demonstrate the utility of these CNC cells in regenerating craniofacial structures. They are currently performing experiments to test their hypotheses that Smad4 mediated BMP/TGF-β signaling and their downstream target genes are crucial for mediating tissuetissue interactions and controlling the fate of epithelial and dental mesenchymal cells during tooth root development. The study has already yielded the discovery that post-migratory cranial neural crest (CNC) cells maintain mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) characteristics and show potential utility for the regeneration of craniofacial structures. "We are interested in learning how different parts of a tooth develop. We have done intensive studies looking at what controls crown formation during tooth development and more recently, we have branched out in the area of root formation. We are learning how root formation is controlled through tissue-tissue interaction with the hope that with some of the stem cell biology we are working on, we can use that to regenerate the root or jawbone, so that we can change the way we restore missing teeth."
Tissue-tissue Interaction in Regulating Tongue Morphogenesis Another area of research that Dr. Chai and his colleagues are working on is understanding how cell-cell interaction controls tongue development. Their preliminary studies show that cranial neural crest (CNC) cells contribute to the interstitial connective tissue, which ultimately compartmentalizes both intrinsic and extrinsic tongue muscles and serves as their attachments. Taking advantage of their neural crest- or mesoderm-specific Tgfbr2 mutant animal models, they designed studies to test the hypothesis that TGF-signaling controls the fate of CNCs as well as mesoderm-derived cells and regulates tissue-tissue interaction during tongue development. Ultimately, this study will provide a better understanding of how the TGF-β signaling cascade regulates the fate of the CNC- and mesoderm derived cells during normal craniofacial development and how signaling pathway disruption can lead to craniofacial malformations. 8
“We are not just working on animal models just for the sake of discovery, but using it to gain a better understanding of what is wrong in human disease. This research puts us in the translational side of science which is really exciting. If we understand the cause of a congenital birth defect, we can use the information to provide better diagnosis and ultimately, prevention of the malformation.”
Front row (from left): Julie Mayo, Akiko Susuki, Arum Han, Jifan Feng, Gilian Zhong, Carolina Parada, Pedro Sanchez Back row (from left): Jingyuan Li, Thach-Vu Ho, Yang Chai, Richard Pelikan, Junichi Iwata, Mark Urata, Hu Zhao.
TEACHER, MENTOR AND CLINICIAN Dr. Chai's extensive accomplishments are not limited to his contributions as a highly decorated scientist, but also extend to his leadership and mentoring abilities that have proven to be effective in inspiring younger faculty and student researchers. However weighty the demands are of his work as a researcher, Dr. Chai still finds time to teach the Head and Neck Anatomy class for the students at the Ostrow School of Dentistry. His training in anatomy and oral-maxillofacial surgery make him an ideal candidate to teach head and neck anatomy which is fundamental to oral health care.
“Teaching makes me appreciate the importance of anatomy, it is a great experience and I love the interaction with the students." His belief in encouraging the next
generation of scientists is evident; he currently mentors four dental students (one of whom won the 2012 best undergraduate dental student research award) and two undergraduates who are interested in dentistry and medicine. Dr. Chai also maintains an active clinical practice. “I really
value my clinical training and my clinical practice helps me focus on the areas of research that can make a difference for my patients”. His clinical practice keeps him in touch with the most pressing needs of his patients and has served as an inspiration on more than one occasion. In fact, his jawbone regeneration research was directly inspired by his clinical practice. 9
“CCMB is foremost is a collaborative environment. There is extensive interaction among the faculty with each group having its own area of expertise. It is such a fun and happy place to work in; you only have to look at our faculty and see how supportive they are of each other. Many people, including myself, feel that CCMB has such great potential. We will continue to expand our research, attract promising scientists and be the envy of the craniofacial research community.�
DIRECTOR OF THE CENTER FOR CRANIOFACIAL MOLECULAR Since his appointment as Director in 2007, Dr. Chai has devoted significant efforts to firmly establish eminent status for CCMB. While the Center has had many successes in competing for federal grants and its impressive research portfolio continues to grow, the hallmark of CCMB's many triumphs, according to Dr. Chai, lies in its highly
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CCMB faculty achieved an astonishing 67% success rate in the recent competition for the ARRA grants from the NIH.
collaborative environment and exceptionally supportive faculty. In the recent competition for the ARRA (American Recovery and Reinvestment Award) grants from the NIH, CCMB faculty achieved an astonishing 67% success rate. These research grants have allowed CCMB faculty to expand their research portfolio, recruit new faculty, improve research infrastructure and establish new collaborations throughout the world. Dr. Chai also points to CCMB's other strengths, including its location at the heart of the Health Sciences Campus which provides its investigators with the ability to utilize many of the University's core
facilities and the implementation of important support services that not only support its own faculty, but attract many others from all over USC. Dr. Chai notes that CCMB has now extended its collaborative reach by working with human geneticists and clinicians like Dr. Pedro Sanchez and Dr. Mark Urata from Children's Hospital, Los Angeles (CHLA) who now have dual appointments with the Ostrow School of Dentistry and the Keck School of Medicine. These collaborations have proven to be advantageous in bridging the gap between basic research and clinical practice.
Dr. Chai shares his life with his wife and two daughters. He credits their unwavering support for being able to accomplish all that he does. Life in the Chai household is hectic, but satisfying. Dr. Chai's wife also has a demanding career working in cancer epidemiology and his two daughters excel in academics and sports; the older one is now attending USC as a freshman and the younger one has started highschool. The family enjoys gardening and traveling as time permits.
A LOOK AHEAD Groundwork is carefully being laid for CCMB's future. Dr. Chai mentioned that he plans to continue to foster the successes of CCMB's faculty in basic research, as well as expand into translational research in order to compete in the intense research arena. There is also intent in the very near future to recruit more promising junior faculty in support of this endeavor, along with plans to continue to improve the Center's infrastructure to make it more ideal for cutting edge research. Dr. Chai is also looking to increase collaboration within the University and other "We want to continue to national and international build upon our strengths in organizations.
craniofacial development and tissue regeneration, expand into translational research and continue to attract world-class scientists.�
He cites the hiring of Dr. Amy Merrill-Brugger and Dr. Ruchi Bajpai as examples of CCMB's success in recruiting talented junior faculty as part of a comprehensive plan to support the center's growth and future direction.
For more information about Dr. Chai please visit the CCMB website at: www.usc.edu/hsc/dental/ccmb 11
Janet Oldak, M.Sc., Ph.D.
Professor Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC
CRACKING THE CODE
The quest to be able to grow tooth enamel or similar synthetic materials has been a long but fruitful journey for Dr. Janet Oldak, who hopes her life's work will help other researchers beyond dental science. For nearly two decades, CCMB researchers have been studying how dental enamel is formed with the goal to one day be able to grow natural tooth enamel and/or create synthetic materials that can be used as alternative dental restorative matter. Dr. Janet Oldak is a renowned expert on tooth enamel formation and structural biology. She integrates physical chemistry, biochemistry, molecular biology, biotechnology, and biomaterial sciences in the study of mineralization of enamel. Her groundbreaking work has already resulted in one U.S. patent for Tooth Enamel Inspired Materials for Dental and Biomedical Application (Patent No. US 7,132,015 B2). In 2011, Dr. Oldak was appointed Professor of the Division of Biomedical Sciences in the Ostrow School of Dentistry. Her accomplishments to date, include being the President Elect for the American Association of
Dental Research (AADR) of Southern California (2012); being Co-Chair of the 10th International Conference on the Chemistry and Biology of Mineralized Tissues (2007-2010); serving in the Special Grants Review Committee (SGRC) of the NIDCR Standing Study Section (2007-2009); being a member of the NIH Musculoskeletal Tissue Engineering Study Section (MTE) (2011-2015); and being elected President of the Mineralized Tissue Group of the International Association of Dental Research (IADR) and American Association of Dental Research (AADR) (2007-2008). Dr. Oldak is also a prolific author of 90 articles in peerreviewed journals and numerous book chapters, and has served on the Journal of Dental Research’s Editorial Board and the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) Ad Hoc Study Sections. She is currently an Associate Editor of Connective Tissue Research. 13
"My ultimate goal is to help scientists develop new dental materials that more closely mimic the structure and function of natural tooth enamel. In addition, I seek to explore novel fundamental structural principles by which proteins interact with their targets and to investigate the prevalence of intrinsically disordered proteins in tooth biomineralization."
Since 1999, Dr. Oldak has been Amelogenin Interactions with Other “The basic principles that we’ve receiving ongoing research support learned from how proteins function, Enamel Proteins and Lipids, 3) mainly through funding from NIH- how they interact with different Amelogenin-Mineral Interactions, 4) NIDR that allows her to continue targets and fulfill different functions Biomimetic Strategies For Synthesis her objective to understand the can have a profound impact on other of Enamel Inspired Material, 5) principles that govern the formation areas of research. We have ideas Protein Proteolysis and Mineral and mineralization of dental enamel about developing other biomedical Crystal Growth, 6) Intrinsic by learning how the intricate matrix material applications, such as Disorder in Proteins Interacting with manipulating the coating of titanium Mineral, 7) Amelogenin-apatite of proteins, enzymes and minerals Nanocomposite Coatings to Improve come together to form a remarkable implants to improve integration, promote cell growth and Titanium Implants. bio-ceramic. Dr. Oldak’s laboratory is currently focused on the following regeneration.” In addition to her existing research research projects, some in projects, Dr. Oldak plans to continue her collaboration collaboration with other investigators within and outside with Dr. Jim De Yoreo of the Molecular Foundry at of the University: 1) Molecular Mechanisms of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory to look at early Amelogenin Self-Assembly, 2) Investigation of stages of mineral nucleation and subsequent growth as Amelogenin Configuration by NMR Spectroscopy, 3) controlled by enamel proteins and proteinases in vitro. 14
CURRENT RESEARCH FOCUS Intrinsically Disordered Proteins in Biomineralization The long term objective of the proposed research is to advance the understanding of the role of extracellular matrix protein fragmentation in enamel and dentin, with a focus on the analysis of folding and the degree of disorder in the secondary structures of key proteins and polypeptides. Matrix-Based Mineral (MBM) Enamel Biomimetics The major goal of this project is to understand the general principles that apply to the formation of dental enamel and to develop biomimetic strategies for the fabrication of enamellike materials in-vitro. Biomimetic Coatings on Titanium Implants for Promoting Periodontal Regeneration The long-term objective of this study is to develop dental implants that will promote the formation of a periodontal attachment apparatus on their surface around them. The strategy is based on treating the implant surface to create an amelogenin-calcium phosphate nano-composite coating that will induce periodontal regeneration.
Dr. Oldak shares her life with her husband of 25 years who is a Professor of Electrical Engineering, her 22 year-old daughter who is a recent USC graduate and her 17 year old son. She cites yoga and 5K-10K distance running as activities that she enjoys outside of spending time with her family.
Their intent is to explore cooperative protein-protein interactions in vitro and in vivo, and to continue efforts to design and develop biomimetic strategies for bioinspired re-mineralization of enamel.
program. She believes in the enriching value of introducing students to research which she has witnessed to have an empowering effect.
The objective of reconstructing dental enamel on tooth Dr. Oldak spends the majority of her time in research, surfaces continuous to be a challenge, but Dr. Oldak is but like all other CCMB faculty, undaunted in her pursuit of cracking the she is also involved in teaching in proverbial code. The impact of being “Over the last 5 to 10 able to do so has implications that go the Keck School of Medicine years, I’ve opened my laboratory to any student beyond dental science. She hopes that (Protein Chemistry), and facilitates who is interested. I think her research efforts will have high impact Problem Based Learning (PBL) and it is important to invest in and prove to be useful to other scientists Craniofacial Biology (CBY) courses the next generation of in understanding systems and synthesis for the Ostrow School of Dentistry, scientists like those before among others. For the last ten of other materials. us have.” years, Dr. Oldak has mentored a great number of dental students as To find out more information about Dr. part of CCMB’s student research Oldak, please visit CCMB's website at www.usc.edu/hsc/dental/ccmb/ 15
Michael L. Paine, B.Sc., B.D.S., Ph.D. Professor of Dentistry Director of the Graduate Program in Craniofacial Biology Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC
PUSHING THE KNOWLEDGE BASE CCMB is home to some of the world’s foremost experts in craniofacial development and biology. Among the many innovators in the Center is tooth formation expert, Dr. Michael Paine, who has devoted his two decades-long career to understanding dental enamel formation and bio-mineralization. Dr. Paine received his Ph.D. in Pathology in 1993 from the University of Sydney in Australia. In 1999, he obtained a Certificate in Periodontology from the University of Southern California. In March of 2011, Dr. Paine was appointed Professor of the Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC. In addition to his work as a dedicated researcher, Dr. Paine is also the Director of the Graduate Program in Craniofacial Biology and codirects the Keck School of Medicine’s Masters of Science in Clinical and Biomedical Investigations. His considerable service to USC includes participating in the University’s Institutional Review Board (since 2003); being Vice-Chair of the Ostrow School of Dentistry’s “Curriculum Committee” (2006-2009); serving as CoChair of the “Health Professions Subcommittee” of the University Committee on Curriculum (UCOC); and being a member of the “Policy Committee” of UCOC and the Postdoctoral Affairs Advisory Committee (since 2011).
His dedication and expertise in craniofacial research has won Dr. Paine many well-deserved accolades, as well as high demand for his leadership. Since 2009, he has been a standing member of the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) Special Grants Review Committee (SGRC) and was appointed as its Chair this year. Currently, he is also the President Elect of the Mineralized Tissue group of the American Association of Dental Research (AADR), as well as a member of the American Association of Dental Research (AADR) “Constitution Committee”. Dr. Paine is also an esteemed member of the following professional organizations: American Association for the Advancement of Science (since 1992), American Association for Dental Research and American Society for Cell Biology (since 1994), as well as the American Academy of Periodontology (since 1995) and the American Dental Education Association (since 2009). 17
Dr. Paine is the author of more than 80 peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters, as well as acting as an ad-hoc reviewer for over 30 highimpact journals. In 2011, Dr. Paine was selected as one of only four recipients nationwide of the Institutional Training for Dental and Craniofacial Research Workforce Grant, also known as the T90 training grant, in the amount of $2.6 million from the NIDCR. The grant is designed to provide support for a select cadre of scholars seeking either a formal Ph.D. degree education or post-doctoral training with a major focus on dental, orofacial and craniofacial health-related disease processes. Dr. Paine’s main research focus is on dental enamel formation and the proteins involved in the process. More recently, his interest has been captured by the regulation of pH
during enamel formation and how the cells that produce enamel control the pH conditions, so that enamels form properly without major defects.
“What we are trying to do is identify proteins, including ion transport proteins, residing in enamel cells that are essential for enamel formation. This has resulted in discoveries that many syndromic medical conditions resulting from known gene mutations may, or actually do, also include an unrecognized dental disease component. Such diseases include proximal renal tubular acidosis, cystic fibrosis and peroxisomal disorders."
Like all members of CCMB's faculty, Dr. Paine is involved in collaborations within the Center (Malcolm Snead and Janet Oldak) and other areas of the University, including faculty from the USC School of Pharmacy (Paul Beringer and Curtis Okamoto). In addition to Dr. Paine’s dedication to research, he is committed to fostering the success of the next generation of scientists. Over the years, he has mentored students as part of CCMB’s summer research program and has been involved in teaching Ph.D. and Masters of Science candidates. CCMB’s eminent status is due to significant efforts and contributions made by faculty like Dr. Paine. The potential applications of his work exceed the boundaries of dental science and serve to further cement the Center’s reputation as a leader in craniofacial biology research.
“The future of dental education and support for biomedical research require investment in the selection and training of tomorrow’s scientists, whether they are basic, translational or clinical researchers. Our objective is to educate the next generation of researchers so that they will be able to address the nation’s health-related needs in dental, oral, and craniofacial research". 18
AREAS OF RESEARCH Molecular Mechanisms for Extracellular pH Control During Amelogenesis Sponsor: National Institute of Dental Research Period: 9/17/2009-06/30/2015 The connection between pH regulation and enamel mineralization is poorly understood. Animal models and patients with disease states caused by mutations to genes involved with acid/base homeostasis frequently have dental defects. Three such proteins are the anion exchanger (AE2), the electrogenic sodium bicarbonate cotransporter (NBCe1) and the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR), which is a chloride channel, is directly associated with AE2 function. Clinical observations suggest that AE2, NBCe1 and CFTR each play important roles in enamel mineralization (amelogenesis). This project is to better understand the physiological and biochemical functions of AE2, NBCe1 and CFTR in amelogenesis. With a better understanding of pH regulation and dental disease, earlier and more accurate dental diagnoses, and more appropriate dental treatment options will be made available to affected individuals. Enamel Matrix Protein Interaction Sponsor: National Institute of Dental Research Period: 3/01/2000-03/31/2013 The goal of this project is to characterize protein-protein interactions involving the enamel extracellular matrix proteins, as well as proteins integral to the plasma membrane of ameloblast cells, and characterize how these interactions regulate enamel formation. To achieve this, the molecular biochemistry of three potential membrane-bound receptors (LAMP1, LAMP2 and CD63) of the structural enamel matrix proteins are being studied. Knowledge gained from this and related studies may lead to better dental and non-dental materials, or biomimetics. This data will be critical in the pursuit to regenerate an entire tooth, which is the ultimate goal of this and other related studies.
In a recent publication in the Journal of Cell Physiology (published August 2011), Dr. Paine and his colleagues exploited the two-step process of enamel formation to identify the genetic events driving enamel mineralization by conducting a comprehensive genome-wide profiling of the enamel organ. They identified groups of maturationassociated genes whose functions are linked to key mineralization processes including pH regulation, calcium handling, and matrix turnover. The study provides a strong foundation for improving the basic understanding of biomineralization and its practical applications in healthcare by providing the first global overview of the cellular machinery required for enamel maturation.
Dr. Paine shares his life with his wife and 12 year old twin boys whose interests in sports (basketball, college and professional football) have recently spurred his own. Dr. Paine enjoys gardening, reading and woodworking, aside from enjoying time with his family.
To find out more information about Dr. Paine, please visit CCMB's website at www.usc.edu/hsc/dental/ccmb/ 19
Harold Slavkin, D.D.S.
Professor of Dentistry Former Dean Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC
LEGACY FOR THE AGES Former Dean of the Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC and founder of the Center for Craniofacial Molecular Biology, Dr. Hal Slavkin continues his inimitable journey as a pioneer in craniofacial biology.
It would be difficult to think of the Center for Craniofacial Molecular Biology (CCMB) without calling to mind one its most distinguished leaders and founding director, Dr. Harold Slavkin. Over the course of nearly half a century, Dr. Slavkin has been both witness and influential contributor to craniofacial biology’s emergence as a major multidisciplinary concentration whose advancements have made a profound impact on society at large and spurred a torrent of research activities in other biomedical fields. As one of Ostrow School of Dentistry’s most distinguished alumni, Dr. Slavkin established CCMB in 1989 specifically to direct and advance oral, dental and craniofacial research. In 1995, Dr. Slavkin was recruited to become the 6th director of the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) within the National Institutes of Health where he promoted research on oral health disparities,
craniofacial biology, innovations in biomaterials, as well as focused attention on training and collaborations with other organizations. In 2000, Dr. Slavkin returned to his alma mater and served as the Ostrow School of Dentistry’s 11th Dean where he championed learner-centered education, access to oral healthcare for the underserved and dynamic basic, translational and clinical research until he stepped down in 2008. Dr. Slavkin went on sabbatical in 2009 and returned to USC in 2010 as a tenured professor with CCMB whose time is now divided between teaching, research and writing. He uses his rich experience and expertise in research and academia to help postdoctoral researchers and graduate students to focus their research, and improve their thinking and communication skills. Dr. Slavkin collaborates with other faculty, namely Dr. Yang Chai,
who is the current director of CCMB, and Drs. Pedro Sanchez and Mark Urata from Children’s Hospital, Los Angeles (CHLA). He also collaborates with several research teams from Kyoto University in Japan and jointly, they have recently published papers focusing on the development of genetically defined mouse models for human craniofacial syndromes. The most recent paper, Id2 Controls Chondrogenesis Acting Downstream of BMP Signaling During Maxillary Morphogenesis was published in Bone this past January . 21
To date, Dr. Slavkin is still heavily involved in trying to increase access to oral healthcare for the disadvantaged segments of the population, mainly the poor elderly and children. This endeavor started during his tenure as Director of NIDCR where he led the charge to produce the first Surgeon General’s Report titled Oral Health in America which was released in May 2000. His current involvement extends to traveling to various governmental agencies to provide expert testimony and act as an advocate for the underserved to be provided access to oral healthcare.
"At the moment, there are 110 million Americans who do not have access to oral healthcare. It's always been in my consciousness...to try to gain access to oral healthcare for the disadvantaged population." Dr. Slavkin also served on an Institute of Medicine (IOM) committee tasked with assessing the current oral health care system and recommending strategic actions for the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to improve oral health and oral health care in America. The report of the results of the study, Advancing Oral Health in America, was published in April of 2011.
“When science works, the 3Cs: Communication, Collaboration and Coordination, are aligned and are very effective. Science has evolved from being a solo act, to a team sport. It takes open international communication; it takes willingness and expertise for collaboration; it takes the ability to coordinate the control of the team’s activities and giving credit when appropriate to whom it’s due." 22
Last October, Dr. Slavkin received the Larry Meskin/Ed Shils Award which recognizes outstanding contributions in educating the public on the importance of oral health, providing educational opportunities for those in the dental industry and profession, or demonstrating innovative care, policy or service models. The award was presented to Dr. Slavkin in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In the coming months, Dr. Slavkin will be focusing on activities related to his recently published book, The Birth of a Discipline: Craniofacial Biology, where he elucidates through personal narrative how craniofacial biology has evolved and how the advancements in the field came about as a result of the convergence of ideas and significant efforts from many talented individuals whose focus was to benefit those with congenital or acquired malformations of the face, bringing about considerable scientific and public health advances.
Published in June 2012,
The Birth of a Discipline: Craniofacial Biology may be purchased at http://store.dentalaegis.com
The proclivity to discover, to create and to inspire is highly evident in and permeates all facets of Dr. Slavkin’s life from his dedication to craniofacial biology and improving healthcare access, to his love of sailing and painting watercolors (see left). He shares his life with his wife, Lois, their four married children and eight grandchildren.
To find out more information about Dr. Slavkin, please visit CCMB's website at www.usc.edu/hsc/dental/ccmb/ 23
Songtao Shi, D.D.S., Ph.D.
Professor of Dentistry Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC
LEADING THE CHARGE As stem cell research continues to give rise to novel scientific breakthroughs, Dr. Songtao Shi is leading the charge in changing the way human diseases and their cures are understood and identified. For many scientific discoveries, chance interaction plays a great part, but an astute mind is needed to recognize its significance. Inspired serendipity is how Dr. Songtao Shi made a landmark discovery that deciduous (baby) teeth contain stem cells. As Dr. Shi tells it, when his then-sixyear-old daughter, Julia lost a tooth, they looked at it carefully and noticed red-colored tissue inside. Since Dr. Shi’s previous work had already demonstrated that extracted adult wisdom teeth contained stem cells in the pulp at the center of the tooth, he decided to find out if the same was true for deciduous teeth. What Dr. Shi found then are what we now know as SHED, stem cells from human exfoliated deciduous teeth, which belong to a classification of stem cells called mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs).
MSCs have been shown to be able to repair damaged cardiac tissue and generate new nerve, fat, cartilage, muscle, and bone tissue. Dr. Shi’s discovery was the subject of many articles covered by news organizations around the world, including the Washington Post, Scientific American, ABC News, and United Press International. Since then, Dr. Shi and his colleagues have been making other landmark discoveries identifying dental pulp stem cells, periodontal ligament stem cells, root apical papilla stem cells, tendon stem cells, gingiva stem cells, sclera MSCs, and benign tumor MSCs from keloids. Their novel and landmark findings have paved the way for other scientists to investigate oral tissue-derived stem cells and their use for tissue engineering and disease modeling. 25
“We are always looking for ways to better use MSCs to cure diseases and understand their mechanisms. We are trying to understand one way human disease is linked to stem cells with the hope that the knowledge we collect along the way will lead to cures and/or prevention. Perhaps one day we’ll find that human diseases are linked to stem cell disorders and also discover a cure…for now we apply our knowledge to pioneer the use of MSCs to cure diseases.”
Dr. Shi received his Ph.D. in Craniofacial Biology from the University of Southern California in 1994. Prior to joining the faculty in CCMB in 2006, Dr. Shi served as a Principal Investigator and Clinical Fellow for eight years at the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) where he made the discovery of the existence of SHED. Dr. Shi is a prolific author of more than 124 peerreviewed articles in a variety of high-impact scientific journals, of which, he served as the first or corresponding author. Dr. Shi has served on numerous committees and boards including being the Scientific Editor for PLoS ONE and Associate Editor for Oral Diseases. Currently, he is on the editorial boards of Stem Cell Research & Therapy, World Journal of Stem Cells, and the Chinese Journal of Dental Research. Dr. Shi is Changjing Scholar in the Fourth Military Medical University, Distinguished Visiting Professor in Tongji University, and Visiting Professor 26
in XiangYa School of Medicine & Stomatology, Central South University (CSU). A trained pediatric dentist, Dr. Shi holds a dental license from the State of California with clinical experience working at a NIH hospital and in private practice. This background has enabled Dr. Shi to be a highly qualified translational researcher studying
orofacial disorders and explore cures for orofacial diseases. Currently, Dr. Shi’s research is focused on understanding the mechanisms of MSC associated diseases, developing new experimental disease models, and exploring the feasibility of translating these bench discoveries to clinical therapies. His groundbreaking research continues to push the knowledge
base which has implications beyond dental science. Among his recent findings, Dr. Shi and his collaborators were the first to use MSCs to treat systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), as well as periodontitis in animal models and patients. They were also the first to generate bisphosphonaterelated osteonecrosis of the jawlike disease (BRONJ) in mouse and swine models. Very recently, Dr. Shi and his colleagues discovered that a previously unrecognized mechanism known as the FAS/ FAS-ligand pathway was the key to the therapeutic benefits of systemic infusion of MSCs for a variety of auto-immune diseases and may therefore represent a new functional role of receptor/ ligand in cell therapies. This study raises tantalizing possibilities with regards to the application of this approach for other autoimmune disorders and organ transplantation. The details of the discovery were published in the May 2012 issue of Cell Stem Cell.
Another recent discovery by Dr. Shi and his colleagues relates to the potential of MSCs as a promising source for bone generation. They presented findings that provide novel insight into how host immune systems communicate with transplanted MSCs during bone formation and repair. Systemic infusion of MSCs and local administration of aspirin markedly improved bone regeneration. The details of the study were published in the December 2011 issue of Nature Medicine.
Sciences Initiative. He also teaches courses for dental students of the Ostrow School of Dentistry. Performing and promoting translational research is of great importance to Dr. Shi. He believes that translational research helps scientists understand diseases and find their cures faster, which in turn benefits patients that desperately need them. He believes that expansion in translational research will only push CCMB even further as an elite research organization.
Dr. Shi attributes the success of his research to the diligent efforts of his team. “We have a good
team…a dedicated team who is changing CCMB in terms of science. Each member knows they are making a difference and it is part of what keeps them pushing forward to discover mechanisms to cure diseases and advance stem cell therapy." Like all faculty at CCMB, Dr. Shi performs other functions in addition to research. Dr. Shi is also involved in the Clinical and Translational Health
"Being a CCMB faculty member means that not only do we conduct research, but we also teach and serve on committees…we are educators with responsibilities to the next generation of scientists, not only Ph.D. candidates, but dental students as well.” To find out more information about Dr. Shi, please visit CCMB's website at www.usc.edu/hsc/dental/ccmb/
Dr. Shi shares his life with his wife, daughter and son. The family loves to travel and experience different cultures whenever time permits. 27
Malcolm Snead, D.D.S., Ph.D. Professor of Dentistry Chair of the Division of Biomedical Sciences Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC
THE GREATER GOOD Dr. Malcolm Snead is arguably one of the most compelling figures in CCMB not just for the sheer breadth of his knowledge of craniofacial biology, but also for his pursuit of not only his own interests, but also in service of his peers, students and the University at large. To endeavor to list all of Dr. Snead’s accomplishments as a scientist, teacher, and mentor is not a small undertaking by any means. His contributions to craniofacial biology have garnered him some of the field’s most prestigious awards including the Fullbright Senior Specialist Award in 2007; the Research in Oral Biology Award in 2001; and the Method to Enhance Research In Time (MERIT) award from the National Institute for Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) in 2000. Dr. Snead is also a prolific author of more than 110 publications, as well as a reviewer of 15 high-impact journals and is currently on the editorial boards of the following publications: Journal of Biological Chemistry, Journal of Bone and Mineral, Research, Critical Reviews in Oral Biology and Medicine, Journal of Craniofacial Genetics and Developmental Biology, International Journal of Oral Biology and Orthodontics and Craniofacial Research.
Dr. Snead is a renowned expert in biomimetics whose long-term research goal is to understand the genetic process underlying the creation of teeth and to use that knowledge to make biomimetics, or biological substitutes, not only for teeth, but for other parts of the body, as well. His expertise has earned Dr. Snead many well-deserved recognitions from within and outside of USC, as well as high demand for his guidance. He is a member of a multitude of prominent professional organizations, including the American Association of Dental Research and the International Society for Stem Cell Research, among others. Most recently, Dr. Snead was asked to present an overview on the aspects of enamel biomineralization in the Gordon "Frontiers of Science" Conference on August 19, 2012. 29
There is so much more to Dr. Snead than his considerable knowledge and value as a highly accomplished biologist. His scientific accomplishments are rivaled only by his long standing history of service, most of which are to the University, including but certainly not limited to serving as the Associate Dean of Research for the Ostrow School of Dentistry from 2001-2006. Currently, Dr. Snead is also presiding as the Chair of the Division of Biomedical Sciences, who is responsible for more than half of the curriculum in the dental school. He also serves on various University committees including the Provost Academic Leadership Development Program. Like all CCMB faculty, Dr. Snead also takes part in fostering the success of the next generation of scientists. In fact, he helped establish CCMB’s summer research program during Dr. Harold Slavkin's tenure as Dean of the Ostrow School of Dentistry. The program was aimed at locating five
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“CCMB faculty members do a lot more than what they are widely known for which is world-class research and publication. Many of us also have significant roles in the administration of the Ostrow School of Dentistry, including participating in its educational mission, faculty mentoring and University review processes." to ten entering dental students who may be interested in a career in research. In addition to his involvement in the summer program. Dr. Snead also finds time to mentor new faculty. His efforts were recognized and rewarded when he was selected (out of four hundred nominations) to receive the USC
Mellon Mentoring Award in 2010; a testament to his commitment and effectiveness as a mentor. Over the years, Dr. Snead has won numerous awards which he would often share with his colleagues. The success that he has enjoyed in academia over the years seems to be tempered with humility and the need to give back, as evidenced by his considerable service and willingness to pass on the knowledge that he has amassed so far. Dr. Snead would like CCMB to be recognized for the depth of eminence it provides the University; not just for scholarship, but for the many roles that each faculty is tasked with.
AREAS OF RESEARCH
When asked about the future of his work, Dr. Snead shared an anecdote about the phenomenon of the migration of Monarch butterflies from Canada to South America. He said that it takes three generations of butterflies to make the complete trip. When the first generation dies, the second picks up where they left off, continuing the journey until they perish, at which time the third generation proceeds to complete it. He notes that the same is true in research; work by the previous generation is taken to the next level by the next generation.
To find out more information about Dr. Snead, please visit CCMB's website at www.usc.edu/hsc/dental/ccmb/
Determination and Expression of Amelogenin Gene Products The major goals of this project are to test the hypothesis that amelogenin gene regulation is dependent upon a cascade of signals provided during instructive secondary germ layer interaction serving to pattern oral epithelium to the ameloblast phenotype. Nanotechnology Strategies for Growth of Bones and Teeth The major goal of this project is to develop molecularly designed peptide nanostructures that can trigger differentiation of progenitor cells and mineralization in physiological media with features that mimic enamel or bone matrix. This research will guide the development of synthetic, nanostructured templates that can be used for enamel or bone regeneration and repair. Cell and Genetic Approaches to Enamel Biomimetics The major goal of this project is to determine the effects of selected tooth specific proteins on mineral deposition and composition in vitro; using transgenic animals as part of a gain function test, determine the effects of excessive amounts of tuftelin and ameloblastin proteins on tooth biomineralization in vivo.
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ONWARD AND UPWARD Meet Dr. Amy Merrill-Brugger, a promising addition to CCMB's faculty intent on further advancing craniofacial biology through translational research. Dr. Amy Merrill-Brugger joined CCMB in 2010 after an exhaustive search involving 78 applicants. She is one of two recent faculty additions to CCMB who is intent on uncovering disease mechanisms of craniofacial disorders and the subsequent advancement of therapies for detection, treatment and ultimately, the prevention of those birth defects. Dr. Merrill-Brugger received her Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology in 2005 from the University of Southern California (USC), during which time she discovered a novel disease mechanism for craniosynostosis, a birth defect that causes one or more sutures (borders where the skull’s bony plates intersect) on a baby's head to close earlier than normal. This discovery led to the identification of Ephrin-A4 gene mutations in patients with unassigned craniosynostosis. In 2007, she completed a postdoctoral fellowship in Developmental Biology at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) where she identified a unique potential of neural crest cells to autonomously control the timing of bone formation in the jaw using an avian chimeric system that draws upon the divergent maturation rates of quail and duck embryos.
Amy E. Merrill-Brugger, Ph.D. Assistant Professor Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC Keck School of Medicine of USC
NEW FACULTY SPOTLIGHT 32
She highly touts CCMB’s nurturing environment, Dr. Merrill-Brugger then completed a post-doctoral citing plentiful opportunities for interaction and fellowship in Medical Genetics in 2009 at Cedars collaboration, both internal and external to CCMB Sinai Medical Center where she established the and the University. She is currently working with lethal disorder, short-rib polydactyly syndrome, as a Dr. Pedro Sanchez, a clinician and geneticist with ciliopathy by identifying mutations in the Children’s Hospital, Los microtubule motor DYNC2H1. Before she “For what I do, studying craniofacial Angeles (CHLA) to uncover the genetic causes of joined CCMB in 2010, she development, CCMB is one of the craniofacial birth defects. also completed a postbest places in the world to be. It is a Once they identify disease doctoral fellowship in tremendous honor to be part of a genes, she will define the role Human Genetics at the of these genes during facial University of California, group of clinicians and scientists development. Los Angeles (UCLA) where that have inspired my work she focused on uncovering In addition to the throughout my career. To be a part the disease mechanisms of opportunities for of this organization is an amazing 1) Bent Bone Dysplasia, a collaboration, Dr. Merrillopportunity; one that I hope to live newly classified skeletal Brugger cites the tremendous up to." birth defect caused by support that she continues to abnormal FGFR2 signaling receive from her colleagues at and 2) Spondylocarpotarsal CCMB and the University itself. "The faculty Synostosis Syndrome, a progressive joint fusion continually lend insight into my work and provide a disorder resulting from mutations in FilaminB. huge support system that pushes me to be better. I The significance of being at CCMB working with did my Ph.D. here in USC, so when I came on world-class leaders in Craniofacial Molecular board, it felt like coming home.” Biology research is a fact that is not lost on Dr. Merrill-Brugger.
“During embryonic development, the craniofacial bones are formed by a stepwise series of events that organize mesenchymal precursors of bone into individual skeletal elements with the proper shape and integration. Inherited human conditions that interrupt this process cause devastating birth defects with physical and social obstacles. By merging techniques in human genetics and developmental biology, my lab is uncovering mechanisms of normal and abnormal craniofacial development. Our research goal is to advance molecular-based therapies for craniofacial bone regeneration and repair." 33
When asked about her thoughts on her future in CCMB, Dr. MerrillBrugger shared her optimism about the eventual positive impact of her research and being a part of CCMB’s future.
students to work in her laboratory and believes that exposure to research is an important part of their experience.
Currently, Dr. Merrill-Brugger is working on distinguishing between intracellular and “Research is of primary importance extracellular FGF signaling in osteoprogenitor cells to me. It is the area where I feel I during craniofacial can make a big difference…it is development, a project where my heart is and being in sponsored by the March of CCMB provides the ideal place to Dimes Foundation who study what I study. I want and hope awarded her with the Basil to be part of CCMB’s future and its O’Connor Starter Scholar Research Award in 2010. growth.” In addition, she is engaged in defining the nuclear activities of FGFR2 during skeletal Being a researcher is not the only development which is a project hat that Dr. Merrill-Brugger wears, sponsored by the James H. as is the case for all CCMB faculty Zumberge Research and members. She also teaches a Innovation Fund, USC’s own problem-based learning course for university-wide faculty research the Ostrow School of Dentistry. grant awarded to select new faculty Her teaching experience as a postto launch their research careers. doctoral fellow at UCSF and UCLA has been invaluable in She may only be in the infancy of engaging a small group of dental her career, but all signs point students who work through case towards a highly distinguished studies as part of the curriculum. future for Dr. Merrill-Brugger and In addition, she provides with it a chance to further advance opportunities for interested dental
the understanding of craniofacial disorders. Perhaps her efforts will lead to viable therapies for birth defects that can have such a devastating impact on the afflicted. CCMB is fortunate to have such a promising addition to its faculty; one that will support its mission to build on its strength as a worldclass leader in craniofacial molecular biology and help its expansion into translational research.
As challenging as her schedule can be, Dr. Merrill-Brugger balances rigors of her work schedule with the demands of a young family. She enjoys trips to the beach with her husband and 3-½ year old daughter, as well as baking and yoga.
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To find out more information about Dr. Merrill-Brugger, please visit CCMB's website at www.usc.edu/hsc/dental/ccmb/
THE JOY OF DISCOVERY Meet Dr. Ruchi Bajpai, another promising addition to CCMB's faculty whose deep appreciation for science and discovery fuels her fire to push the knowledge envelope. Dr. Ruchi Bajpai's enthusiasm was certainly abound when she discussed her research on early human development, specifically studying birth defects, pioneering the generation of human neural crests cells (NCC) from embryonic stem cells, and establishing methods to differentiate and isolate human cells representing distinct facial domains. Dr. Bajpai joined CCMB in 2011 as one of two new faculty additions after an exhaustive search involving 78 applicants. Her research is geared towards revealing the molecular basis of craniofacial malformations. Dr. Bajpai aims to find innovative ways to diagnose, manage and/or eradicate craniofacial birth defects powered by an understanding of the fundamental concepts of human development.
Ruchi Bajpai, Ph.D.
Dr. Bajpai received her Ph.D. in Developmental Genetics in 2003 from Jawaherlal Nehru University in New Delhi, India. She conducted research in the Center for Cellular and Molecular Biology studying tiny fruit fly embryos in Dr. Rhashidhara’s lab where she learned the basics of genetic analysis and felt the compelling need to extend her studies to understanding human development.
Assistant Professor Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC Keck School of Medicine of USC
NEW FACULTY SPOTLIGHT 35
To find out more information about Dr. Bajpai, please visit CCMB's website at www.usc.edu/hsc/dental/ccmb/
Homogeneous Neural During her postdoctoral "CCMB has provided me with the Precursor Cells (USPTO fellowship at The Burnham Institute for Medical opportunity to go on to the next step. I Pub No. US20080254004) and Methods For Culture Research in La Jolla, now have the opportunity to not only and Production of Single California, she had the learn how certain diseases develop, but Cell Populations of opportunity to initiate human find out what they really mean to Human Embryonic Stem embryonic stem cell research in Dr. Terskikh’s lab where patients. Having met children afflicted Cells (USPTO Pub No: US20080058221). she honed her skills in with birth defects, I have designed coaxing pluripotent cells into patient-oriented projects in my lab that For Dr. Bajpai, joining a single, therapeutically CCMB and its illustrious I would never have thought of before relevant, neural lineage until faculty has provided the coming to CCMB.” 2006. Realizing that early means for her to grow as a development is hugely scientist in ways that she influenced by epigenetic had not considered before. mechanisms, Dr. Bajpai joined Dr. Wysocka’s lab at CCMB has provided Dr. Bajpai with the opportunity to Stanford University in 2007 to study chromatin directly connect with patients through extensive remodeling which is a critical component of epigenetic collaboration with researchers and clinicians alike. Dr. regulation. In the Wysocka lab, she further refined stem Pedro Sanchez of Children’s Hospital, Los Angeles cell differentiation into neural crest cells while (CHLA) and Dr. Mathew Lee of CCMB have helped combining biochemical and embryological methods in further stoke the fires that drive Dr. Bajpai to continue understanding congenital diseases. Dr. Bajpai’s research her journey to discovery. has resulted in two patents as a joint inventor for
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Currently, the Bajpai lab is interested in testing the therapeutic potential of neural crest cells (NCC) derived from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSC) that can serve as a source for cell replacement therapy and as a model for studying craniofacial disease progression. Dr. Bajpai’s research focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms regulating neural Painted shoes depicting cellular crest development using an chromatin control of a developing embryo innovative combination of by Mallory Holland multidisciplinary methodology (combining hPSC differentiation neuroblastomas. Using lessons with cutting-edge epigenomic and learned from neural crests, their chromatin biology approaches and attempts are focused on identifying in vivo embryological functional and characterizing tumor initiating assays). Their goal of in vivo cells and metastatic cells that reside characterization of human within these extremely enhancers that drive expression in heterogeneous tumors. subsets of cranial neural crest (CNC) cells allows them to isolate "Thinking of stem cells in a distinct craniofacial precursor cells, transient developmental state, reveals gene regulatory mechanisms arrested in a dish, has allowed and their evolutionary us to gain in-depth molecular conservation, and serves as a insight into the dynamic powerful tool for genetic research processes occurring in an on craniofacial development. Additionally, Dr. Bajpai and her embryo. Now, that we have team are utilizing this developed unique research developmental information to gain tools, we are excited going insight into the growth and forward to learn how the face is metastasis of neural crest related formed”. tumors like oral cancers and As with all CCMB faculty, Dr. Bajpai is not just a researcher, but a teacher as well. She facilitates problem-based learning sessions and lectures in stem cell courses, as well as mentors trainees of all levels from high school students to postdoctoral fellows for the Ostrow
School of Dentistry. Even though she enjoys teaching and mentoring, the call of science is loudest to Dr. Bajpai. She states that she can peer into the microscope for hours and does not cease to be fascinated by any developing embryos telling a story.
“I have to emphasize that it was the joy of discovery that got me into science; and then to realize that we have the power to make a difference…it became a bigger responsibility. Together they are a driving force in my life now.” For one with such a passion for research, it is not surprising that Dr. Bajpai encourages others to share her fascination with the process and the potential of its results. Dr. Bajpai expressed a desire to organize events sometime in the future that will attract more dental students to basic research and let them see that it is possible to incorporate it with clinical practice. Though only in the infancy of her career, Dr. Bajpai is already poised to make an indelible mark in craniofacial development research. Her addition to CCMB only serves to preserve its status as an elite research organization well into the future.
Dr. Bajpai shares her home with a very supportive husband and two sons, ages 5 and 7. She draws inspiration from the excitement of children with whom she voluntarily conducts small science projects at her sons’ school when time permits. She also opens her home to children in her neighborhood and enjoys painting with them in her backyard on weekends. 37
Team FACULTY
ADMINISTRATION STAFF
ADMINISTRATION STAFF
Professor
Sr. Research Administrator
Administrative Assistant II
Yang Chai
Elsa Miranda
Magdalena Morales
Janet Moradian-Oldak
Senior Editor
Laboratory Manager
Michael Paine
Bridget Samuels
Pablo Bringas
Songtao Shi
Budget/Business Analyst
Edward Vaynman
Harold Slavkin
Zhounan Liu
Malcolm Snead
Project Specialist - Administrative
Clinical Office Manager (Translational Research)
Associate Clinical Professor Veronica Elizarraras Stephen Yen
Patricia Thompson
Research Associate Professor
Project Specialist - Administrative (CBY)
Mark Urata
Janice Bea
Denise Cortez Specialized Laboratory Technician Jianbao Xie
Assistant Professor Ruchi Bajpai Amy Merrill-Brugger Research Assistant Professor Matthew Lee Yan Zhou Clinical Assistant Professor Pedro Sanchez
CCMB ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM From left: Ed Vaynman, Pablo Bringas, Elsa Miranda, Jianbao Xie, Magdalena Morales, Zhounan Liu, Bridget Samuels, Veronica Elizarraras, Pat Thompson 38
Team LABORATORY STAFF
LABORATORY STAFF
LABORATORY STAFF
Sr. Research Associate
Postdoctoral Research Associate
Specialized Laboratory Technician
Carolina Parada
Julie Mayo
Richard Pelikan
Qing Wang
Qichao Ruan
Xingtian Xu
Soma Samanta
Research Lab Technician III/ Supervisor
Jun-ichi Iwata Rodrigo Sosa Lacruz Research Associate Victoria Gallon Zhan Huang Akiko Suzuki Yanmin Wang Xin Wen Hu Zhao Postdoctoral Research Associate Karthki Balakrishna Chandrababu Jifan Feng
Lei Wang Yinghua Zhao Zhe Zhong Research Lab Specialist Jianhua Fan Ya-Ping Lei Susan Smith
Lisha Chen Thach-Vu Ho Research Lab Technician II Brian Idoni Shihong Shi Research Lab Technician I Shiyu Liu Ruili Yang
Arum Han Jingyuan Li Yi Liu Sowmya Bekshe Lokappa Yudai Nishino
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Events & Activities
Team Building
Events
Celebrations
"Teamwork is the ability to work together toward a common vision. The ability to that allows common people to attain uncommon results."
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Events & Activities
Gatherings
Fun
Camaraderie
direct individual accomplishments toward organizational objectives. It is the fuel
- Andrew Carnegie
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2012
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Center for Craniofacial Molecular Biology 2250 Alcazar Street Los Angeles, CA 90033 Mail Code: 9062 Phone:(323)442-3170 Fax: (323) 442-2981 Web: www.usc.edu/hsc/dental/ccmb
CCMB - where innovative basic science research in craniofacial biology merges with cutting edge clinical practice.
Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC University of Southern California University Park Los Angeles, CA 90089-0641 ostrow.usc.edu