Recent Grants and Awards

College of Dentistry researchers received $6.39 million in funding for new and continuation grants and contracts in the last year (July 1, 2022 – June 30, 2023).

Homa Amini, DDS, MS, MPH
Dental faculty loan repayment program; Health Resources & Services Administration: $50,486

Natalie Andras
The role of bone sialoprotein in modulating periodontal development and repair; National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research: $53,494

Shereen Azer, BDS, MSc, MS
A prospective, observational, multicenter study of the integration success of the Eztetic™ dental implant system in immediate loading cases; Zimmer, Inc.: $32,215

Shereen Azer, BDS, MSc, MS
Post market safety studies; International Consulting Associates, Inc: $200,882

John Bartlett, PhD
Enamelysin processing mechanisms in amelogenesis; National Institute of Dental & Craniofacial Research: $541,620

Albert Chan, DDS, MS
Microsurgery for Socket Healing; Delta Dental Plan of Michigan, Inc: $45,600
Ultrasonic imaging of bone graft healing in extraction sockets for precise and personalized implant therapy; University of Michigan: $289,481

Michael Chavez, BS
Functional domains of bone sialoprotein in dentoalveolar development and healing + Child care supplement; National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research: $50,094

Brian Foster, PhD
Functions of extracellular matrix proteins in dental and skeletal mineralization; National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research: $370,500
Identifying novel mechanisms for dentoalveolar mineralization defects in x-linked hypophosphatemia; National Institute of Dental & Craniofacial Research: $523,543
Exploratory therapy for the skeletal/dental phenotype in PHOSPHO1 deficiency; Sanford-Burnham: $23,625
Effects of KRN23 on dental mineralization in X-linked hypophosphatemia (XLH); Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical Inc.: $6,973

Ann Griffen, DDS, MS
Microbial sequencing and bioinformatics analysis of salivary and plaque samples; Boston Children’s Hospital: $25,000

Kim Hammersmith, DDS, MPH, MS 
Postdoctoral Training in General, Pediatric and Public Health Dentistry and Dental Hygiene; Health Resources and Services Administration: $450,000

Justin Kaspar, PhD
Interactions of Streptococcus mutans in supragingival biofilms; National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research: $157,500
Correlation of streptococcus mutans microcolony size to disease potential and therapeutic tolerance; Colgate-Palmolive Company: $30,000

Rachel Kearney, BSDH, MS (Johanna Owen)
Factors that predict burnout or intention to leave the dental hygiene profession; National Center for Dental Hygiene Research and Practice, Inc: $2,500

Rachel Kearney, BSDH, MS (Elizabeth Chartier, BSDH, MS)
Community Oral Health Outreach Program; Delta Dental Plan of Michigan, Inc: $3,000

Ching-Chang Ko, DDS, PhD 
Bone morphology characterization of Paget’s disease and osteoporosis by artificial intelligence (AI); American Association of Orthodontists Foundation: $5,802
TRPV1 expressing afferents mediate orthodontic tooth movement via Piezo2z; American Association of Orthodontists Foundation: $5,000

Binnaz Leblebicioglu, DDS, PhD 
E-cigarettes and perturbations in the subgingival ecosystem; National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research; University of Michigan: $90,314
A prospective, observational clinical study of the safety, effectiveness and clinical performance of the TSX dental implant system; Biomet, Inc: $90,272

Damian Lee, DDS, MS, (Brandon Yeager, DMD)
Error Analysis of Stages Involved In CBCT-Guided Implant Placement with Surgical Guides When Different Printing Technologies Are Use; American Academy of Fixed Prosthodontics: $5,000

Eugene Leys, PhD
Diabetes reversal and the subgingival microbiota; University of Pennsylvania: $226,607

Susan R. Mallery, DDS, PhD
Assessment of chemopreventive effects of a mucoadhesive fenretinide patch on premalignant oral epithelial lesions; National Cancer Institute: $475,395
Formulation, evaluation, and Phase 0 trial of nanoparticle releasing oral thin film for OSCC chemoprevention; National Cancer Institute: $583,736
Chemoprevention by Black Raspberry of Oral Cancer Induced by Tobacco Carcinogens: Translational Studies; University of Pennsylvania: $12,732

Luiz Meirelles, DDS, MS, PhD
Bone healing and peri-implant health around a novel implant system; an experimental study in dogs: Zimmer, Inc $37,314

Leonardo Nassani, DMD, MBA
Impact absorption power of polyofin fused filament 3D printed mouthguards; Academy for Sports Dentistry: $7,500

Kazune Pax
Mommyomics and Babyomics - Effect of Gestational Diabetes on the Developing Infant Microbiome; National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research: $72,449

Sarah Peters, PhD
Mechanisms regulating afferent innervation in the dental pulp; National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research: $243,608
Mechanisms regulating afferent innervation in the dental pulp (Supplement); National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research: $67,382
2023 AADOCR William Butler Fellowship; International Association of Dental Research and American Association of Dental Research: $8,000

Michelle Scott, MS, PhD
E-cigarettes and oral wound healing: an integrated omics approach; National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research: $53,494

John Sheridan, PhD
Multidisciplinary Research Training in Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Sciences (MARTDOCS); National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research: $525,379
Dynamic cellular interactions associated with inflammatory monocyte accumulation in the neurovasculature with social stress; National Institute of Mental Health: $515,642

Carroll Ann Trotman, BDS, MA, MS
3D dynamic and patient-centered outcomes of facial reanimation surgery in patients with facial paralysis; National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research: $513,684

Previous grants and awards