Congratulations

CCMB researcher Maggie Zeichner-David received a grant from the Sturge -Weber Foundation for her study entitled Molecular Insight into Sturge-Weber's Oral Manifestations.

The study focuses on Sturge-Weber syndrome a poorly understood non-hereditary genetic vascular disorder  that’s physical manifestations include epileptic seizures, glaucoma and a tell-tale port-wine stain around the forehead and eyes.  Those afflicted may also suffer from varying degrees of mental retardation.

The disease also has oral manifestations including increased vascularity of the oral hard and soft tissues, oral tissue swelling, premature loss of teeth, unilateral jawbone enlargement, high arched palate and irregular tooth eruption. 

With the newly funded research Zeichner-David hopes to bring more attention to the oral manifestations of this syndrome and to establish cell lines from Sturge-Weber patients to identify the gene mutation responsible for the affliction.

"There is still very little known about the causes of Sturge-Weber in general and publications related to the oral manifestations are mostly case studies. There is a need for further research in this area," says Zeichner-David.

For more on Sturge-Weber syndrome visit: http://www.sturge-weber.com/

Doctoral dental sophomore Rita Chuang was chosen as one of only 11 doctoral dental students in the United States and Canada to receive the Academic Dental Careers Fellowship, a joint fellowship of the American Dental Education Association and American Association for Dental Research. The yearlong fellowship begins this July and was designed to encourage interested dental students to pursue a career in academic dentistry. Participants will receive hands-on experiences in research, teaching and other aspects of an academic career in dental school.

As an ADCFP fellow, Chuang will have the opportunity to teach in a classroom and laboratory setting, as well as conduct research to be presented at the ADEA/AADR conference next spring. Chuang will also work closely with her mentors and will be required to interview faculty and administrators at the dental school to obtain different perspectives on the academic career experience.

"It's a very comprehensive program," Chuang says. "There is a projected shortage of educators in our great profession, and I am delighted that they are taking steps to address this problem by training us to become well-rounded dental educators. This is a real honor and I am very excited, very thrilled to have this opportunity.”

Faculty member Michael Paine has been named director of the dental school's Graduate Program in Craniofacial Biology (CBY).  Created in 1974, CBY was the first graduate program in craniofacial biology in the United States. 

Michael Paine, USC Associates Professor of Dentistry, joined the dental school faculty in 1998. He completed his undergraduate work at Macquarie University and his doctoral dental training (1988) and doctorate in oral pathology (1993) at Sydney University in his native Australia.   He obtained his certificate in advance periodontics from USC  in 1999.