About
The Department of Diagnostic and Biological Sciences is a vibrant and diverse academic department engaged in research, teaching and clinical care. The Department is comprised of four divisions including Basic Sciences, Oral Medicine, Diagnosis and Radiology, Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, and TMD and Orofacial Pain. Research in the department covers broad areas in basic, translational and clinical sciences that complement the department's clinical and teaching programs. Our basic and translational scientists contribute new biomedical knowledge in specific areas of microbiology, virology and oral cancer, bone biology, the neurobiology of pain, and craniofacial development. Our investigators share an overall goal of identifying mechanisms of medical and craniofacial disorders and discovering new treatments. Our clinical scientists investigate new approaches to craniofacial imaging, diagnosis and treatment of orofacial pain, molecular and genetic characterization of oral lesions and cancer, and assessment of outcomes of oral treatments. Our faculty contribute broadly to the School of Dentistry’s educational programs. They provide mentored research for learners at all levels. The department's clinical services provide state of the art patient care and draw upon the unique research expertise of the faculty.
Mission
The Department of Diagnostic & Biological Sciences is an academic center of national and international excellence with strengths in basic, translational and clinical research, state of the art clinical diagnosis, and outstanding patient care.
Donald Simone
Chair, Department of Diagnostic and Biological Sciences
[email protected]
Andrea MacDonald, Department Administrator
[email protected]
Divisions
The department includes four divisions engaged in teaching, research and service.
Basic Sciences
The Division of Basic Sciences consists of entrepreneurial and collaborative scientists who produce new knowledge in diverse areas related to oral and systemic health. Research programs include microbiology and mechanisms of bacterial resistance, mucosal immunology and periodontitis, and molecular biology of oral cancer. Our virology faculty are investigating viral structure and assembly, DNA packaging, virus mutagenesis, and virus-host interactions. Developmental biologists study genetic and epigenetic mechanisms of neural crest and craniofacial development. The neuroscience group studies the neurobiology of pain, and neuroimmunology following virus infection. Our faculty utilize cutting-edge approaches in genetics, molecular biology, microscopy, imaging and electrophysiology using in vitro and in vivo models.
Faculty
Kristin Artinger, PhD
Professor
David Bereiter, PhD
Professor
Massimo Costalonga, DMD, PhD
Professor
Sven Gorr, PhD
Professor
Mark Herzberg, DDS, PhD
Professor
Paul Jardine, PhD
Professor
Serhii Khasabov, MD, PhD
Research Assistant Professor
Iryna Khasabova, PhD
Research Assistant Professor
Bruno Lima, DDS, PhD
Assistant Professor
Louis Mansky, PhD
Professor
Julie Olson, PhD
Associate Professor
Donald Simone, PhD
Professor
Chong Wang, PhD
Assistant Professor
Wei Zhang, PhD
Research Professor
Oral Medicine, Diagnosis and Radiology
The Division of Oral Medicine, Oral Diagnosis and Oral and Maxilliofacial Radiology Is dedicated to teaching, research and service in those disciplines. Our faculty and staff serve and support all school clinic diagnostic functions. We collaborate with other academic health disciplines including the medical school, public health and cancer center. We teach eleven courses to pre DDS, dental hygiene, dental therapy and graduate resident programs. We have several funded research projects. Our faculty engage in university and community service as well as many national and international dental organizations.
Faculty
Mansur Ahmad, PhD
Associate Professor
Keta Desai, DDS
Clinical Assistant Professor
Laurence Gaalaas, DDS
Clinical Assistant Professor
Mike John, PhD, DMD, MPH
Associate Professor
Nelson Rhodus, DMD, MPH
Professor
Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology
Oral and maxillofacial pathology is a specialty of dentistry and pathology which deals with the nature, identification, and management of diseases affecting the oral and maxillofacial regions. Faculty in the division of oral and maxillofacial pathology at the school of dentistry are involved in teaching dental, dental hygiene, dental therapy, graduate students and residents how to diagnose and manage oral and maxillofacial diseases. Faculty within the division are also engaged in cutting edge research examining the causes, processes and effects of various oral diseases, and investigating the molecular aspects of oral cancer. Faculty are also engaged in clinical and surgical oral pathology practice serving patients, dentists and dental specialists within the school of dentistry, the Twin Cities metro area community, the state of Minnesota and the upper midwest as a whole.
Faculty
Rajaram Gopalakrishnan, BDS, PhD
Professor
Eric Jensen, PhD
Assistant Professor
Ioannis Koutlas, DDS
Associate Professor
Kristine Woronzoff-Dashkoff, MD
Clinical Assistant Professor
TMD and Orofacial Pain
The Division of TMD and Orofacial Pain is equally engaged in all aspects of the tripartite academic mission, that is excellence in teaching, research and service through patient care related to TMD and orofacial pain. Our teaching spans from dental student education, to graduate resident training (supporting a two-year specialty program in Orofacial Pain) and continuing dental education. Our research is clinical in nature, that is focusing on humans as participants, and it spans from foundational knowledge such as exploring pain-related brain circuits, to clinical trials to assessment outcomes of various treatments, and diagnosis/classification that ranges from advanced imaging techniques to development of questionnaires and refinement of clinical evaluations. Our specialty patient care activities are multidisciplinary in nature within our TMD, Orofacial Pain and Dental Sleep Medicine Clinic where there is an integration of education and research so as to bring the latest science-based knowledge for the betterment of the patient we serve.
Faculty
Shanti Kaimal, BDS
Clinical Associate Professor
Estephan Moana Filho, DDS, PhD
Assistant Professor
Donald Nixdorf, DDS, MS
Professor
Eric Schiffman, DDS, MS
Professor