Department faculty are actively involved in research in the areas of oral cancer of transplant patients, viral carcinogenesis, bone healing and regeneration, oral manifestations of systemic disease, tissue engineering, and dental genetics. The following listing provides a synopsis of current and ongoing research pursuits.

Dr. Bobby Collins:

Specialized Program of Research Excellence (SPORE) in Head & Neck Cancer

Primary Investigator: Jennifer Grandis, MD, director of the Head and Neck Cancer Program at the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute at UPMC

Supporting Organization: NIH funded, 2004-present

Comprehensive Oral Health Research Centers of Discovery, Core C: Tissue Procurement/Histopathology

Supporting Organization: NIH funded, 1999 – present                    

Regulation of Dendritic Cells in Oral SCC by CXCL14

Primary Investigator: Michael Shurin, MD, PhD, Associate Director of Clinical Immunopathology at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center

Supporting Organization: NIH funded, 2004 – present    

Molecular Characterization of Oral HIV Infection

Primary Investigator: Phalguni Gupta, PhD, Department of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology at the University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health

Supporting Organization: 10% funding provided by NIH, 2002 - present

Comprehensive Oral Health Research Centers of Discovery, Core C

Primary Investigator: Eugene Myers, MD, Eye & Ear Foundation, former Chair of the Department of Otolaryngology at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, and Professor Emeritus of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine

Co-Primary Investigator: Elaine Elder, PhD, researcher in the immunologic monitoring laboratory at the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute

Supporting Organization: 15% NIH    1999 - present

Dr. Kurt Summersgill:

Human papillomavirus (HPV) molecular epidemiology and oral cancer

Role: co-investigator in 2004-2005 unfunded research                                                                                                       

Genetic Analysis of Oral Preneoplasia and Carcinoma using Tissue Microarrays

Role: co-investigator in pending (unfunded) research, 2006-2010