Recent Awards Granted to Faculty

PROJECT: “Importance of Post-translational modifications in Streptococcus mutans pathophysiology”

NIH/NIDCR R01DE022559
$1,925,705 for Five Years

CO INVESTIGATORS
Dr. Luiz Fernando Wurdig Roesch, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Department of Microbiology Cell Science

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
Dr. Jacqueline Abranches, Department of Oral Biology

PROJECT: “Evaluation of Microplastic Generation During Toothbrushing”

UFCD Student Seed Grant
$3,000 for One Year

MENTOR
Dr. David K. Langford, Department of Pediatric Dentistry

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
Victoria Polishuk, 3^rd Year DMD Student

PROJECT: “Mechanisms of Integrative and Conjugative Elements in Oral Bacteria”

NIH/NIDCR R01DE33403
$1,071,636 for Three Years

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
Dr. Robert Shields, Department of Oral Biology

PROJECT: “Harnessing High-Resolution Proteomics to Uncover and Target Neoepitopes in Sjogren’s Disease”

NIH/NIDCR R56DE028544
$16,910 for Two Years

CO INVESTIGATORS
Dr. Indraneel Bhattacharyya, Department of Oral Diagnostic Sciences
Dr. David Ostrov, College of Medicine, Department of Pathology

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
Dr. Cuong Nguyen, College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Infections Disease and Immunology

PROJECT: “Emergency department provider centered intervention for non-traumatic”

NIH/NIDCR R00DE031723
$735,222 for Three Years

CO INVESTIGATORS
Dr. Megan E. Gregory, College of Medicine, HOBI, Department of Biomedical Informatics
Dr. Guogen Shan, College of Public Health and Health Professions, Department of Biostatistics
Dr. Michael R. Marchick, College of Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
Dr. Tumador Khouja, Department of Community Dentistry and Behavior Science

PROJECT: “Innervation of the knee and TMJ”

NIH/NIAMS UC2AR082196
$1,178,766 for Two Years

CO INVESTIGATORS
Dr. Margarete Ribeiro Dasilva, Department Restorative Dental Sciences
Dr. Melvin F. Dolwick, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
Dr. Hernan Augusto Prieto Saavedra, College of Medicine, Department of Orthopedics Rehabilitation

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATORS
Dr. Robert M. Caudle, Multi PI, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
Dr. Yenisel Cruz-Almeida, Multi PI, Department of Community Dentistry and Behavior Science.
Dr. Kyle D. Allen, Multi PI, College of Engineering, Department of Biomedical Engineering

PROJECT: “ACCELERATE-BASSO: Coordinating Center for Accelerating Behavioral and Social Science through Ontology”

Indiana University/NIH/NIA U24AG088019
$87,612 for Four Years

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATORS
Dr. William D. Duncan, Department of Community Dentistry

PROJECT: “Elucidating the effects of sublingual tablets containing buprenorphine on dental caries, and development of a novel formulation”

NIH/NIDCR F30DE035751
$144,363 for Three Years

MENTOR
Dr. Jacqueline Abranches, Department of Oral Biology
Dr. Christopher McCurdy, College of Pharmacy, Department of Medicinal Chemistry

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATORS
Kyle Kasparian, 5^th Year DMD/PhD Candidate

PROJECT: “Semantics Standards and Tools for Spatial and Contextual Exposome Data”

Indiana University/NIH/NIEHS R24ES036131
$65,818 for Four Years

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATORS
Dr. William D. Duncan, Department of Community Dentistry

PROJECT: “Expression of markers of type 2 diabetes-induced premature cellular senescence in gingival biopsies of individuals with periodontal health and periodontitis”

NIH/NIDCR R03DE034007
$307,000 for Two Years

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
Dr. Poliana Mendes Duarte Reis, Department of Periodontology

PROJECT: “Oral Cancer Diagnosis and Outcomes: Role of Medicaid Dental Coverage and Dental Utilization”

NIH/NIDCR R01DE035198

$2,243,996 for Five Years

CO INVESTIGATORS
Dr. William D. Duncan, Community Dentistry and Behavioral Science
Dr. Yi Guo, College of Medicine, Department of Health Outcomes & Biomedical Informatics
Dr. Provita Rahman, College of Medicine, Department of Health Outcomes & Biomedical Informatics

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
Dr. Astha Singhal, Community Dentistry and Behavioral Science

PROJECT: “The effect of clinical consultation methods on the acceptance of the Invisalign treatment plan”

Align Technology, Inc. AGR00034723

$24,999 for One Year

UF PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
Dr. Calogero Dolce, Department of Orthodontics

PROJECT: “Viral mechanism for engaging lytic cycle promoting host transcription factors”

NIH/NIDCR R21AI188702

$402,150 for Two Years

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
Dr. Bernadett Papp, Multi PI, Department of Oral Biology
Dr. Zsolt Toth, Multi PI, Department of Oral Biology

PROJECT: “Mechanisms sustaining lytic herpesviral infection in the oral cavity”

NIH/NIDCR R01DE034280

$2,350,692 for Five Years

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
Dr. Bernadett Papp, Multi PI, Department of Oral Biology
Dr. Zsolt Toth, Multi PI, Department of Oral Biology

PROJECT: “Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Promotes Vaccine Antibody Responses” Alpha-1 Foundation/AGR00034348
$20,208 for Two Years
CO-PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
Dr. Nadeem Khan, Department of Oral Biology

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
Dr. Emily K. Moser, College of Medicine Department of Pulmonary Medicine

PROJECT: “Utilizing AI to Develop a Clinical Decision Support Tool for Interceptive Orthodontics”

$40,000 for One Year
CO-PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
Dr. Nadeem Khan, Department of Oral Biology

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
Dr. Divakar S. Karanth Huttinagadde, Department of Orthodontics

PROJECT: “Mechanisms of Mindfulness Meditation and Self-Hypnosis for Pain in Older Adults with Chronic Pain”

$83,137 for One Year
UF PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
Dr. Roger B. Fillingim, Department of Community Dentistry and Behavioral Science

PROJECT: “YAP-regulated Differentiation of PDLSCs with Extracellular Vesicles Under Mechanical Forces

American Association of Orthodontists Foundation/AGR00034429”

$30,000 for One Year
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
Dr. Xianrui (Sherry) Yang, Department of Orthodontics

PROJECT: “A pilot study to evaluate the physiochemical properties of saliva and oral microbiome from patients taking sublingual formulations containing buprenorphine”
Dentes Bio Pilot Study
$8,136 for one year

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
Kyle Kasparian, 4th Year DMD/PhD Student

MENTORS
Dr. Christopher R. McCurdy, Mentor, College of Pharmacy, Department of Medicinal Chemistry
Dr. Jacqueline Abranches, Co-Mentor, College of Dentistry, Department of Restorative Dental Sciences

PROJECT: “Preliminary Study of a Single-Session Group Breathwork Intervention for Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain”
UFCD Faculty Seed Grant
$20,000 for one year

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
Dr. Steven Pratscher, Department of Community Dentistry and Behavioral Science

PROJECT: “Effects of L – arginine and non-organic nitrates in mouthwash on the Nitric oxide system – A Feasibility Study”
UFCD Faculty Seed Grant
$12,666 for one year

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
Dr. Joseph Katz, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Diagnostic Sciences

PROJECT: “Structural insights into KH domain RNA-binding proteins and Ribonuclease P from Streptococcus mutans”
UFCD Post-Doc Seed Grant
$5,000 for one year

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
Dr. Thiago Machado Pasin, Department of Oral Biology

MENTOR
Dr. Linda Brady, Department of Oral Biology

PROJECT: “Targeting GTP Cyclohydrolase 1 for treating chronic orofacial pain”
NIH/NIDCR R21DE033640
$419,375 for two years

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATORS
Dr. Niall Murphy, Multi-PI, Department of Orthodontics
Dr. Basak Ayaz, Multi-PI, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

PROJECT: “HB-EGF as a Potential Therapeutic Target for Osteoarthritis-Related Pain”
UFCD Post-Doc Seed Grant
$5,000 for one year

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
Dr. Muhammad Abbas, Department of Community Dentistry and Behavioral Science

MENTOR
Dr. Yenisel Cruz-Almeida, Department of Community Dentistry and Behavioral Science

PROJECT: “Promoting Health Aging through Semantic Enrichment of Solitude Research (PHASES)”
SUNY Buffalo/NIH/NIA U01AG088074
$924,171 for five years

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
Dr. William D. Duncan, UF PI, Department Community Dentistry and Behavioral Science

PROJECT: “AHEC (R1) Tobacco Training and Cessation Program”
UF AHEC Program Office, FLDOH/COPTHI
$13,975 for one year

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
Dr. Olga Ensz, PI, Department Community Dentistry and Behavioral Science

CO INVESTIGATOR
Dr. Karin Schey, Department of Periodontology

PROJECT: “Developing an Ontology for Dental Care-Related Fear and Anxiety: Toward an Understanding of Problems in Dental Care Utilization”
NIH/NIDCR U01DE033978
$2,461,887 for five years

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATORS
Dr. William D. Duncan, Multi PI, Department Community Dentistry and Behavioral Science
Dr. Daniel W. McNeil, Multi PI, Department Community Dentistry and Behavioral Science

CO INVESTIGATORS
Dr. Astha Singhal, Department Community Dentistry and Behavioral Science
Dr. Olga S. Ensz, Department Community Dentistry and Behavioral Science

PROJECT: “Administrative Supplement: Comparing pain phenotypes across lower back, knee, and TMJ”
NIH/NIAMS UC2AR082196-01S3
$426,010 for one year

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATORS
Dr. Yenisel Cruz-Almeida, Multi-PI, Department Community Dentistry and Behavioral Science
Dr. Kyle Allen, Multi PI, College of Engineering, Department of Biomedical Engineering

PROJECT: “Efficacy of 33F immunization against systemic protection”
Merck AGR00033186
$11,895.00 for two years

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
Dr. Nadeem Khan, PI, Department of Oral Biology

PROJECT: “Psychometric Reliability and Validity for Behavioral Metrics of Osteoarthritic Pain in Horses (GALLOP)”
NIH/NIAMS R01AR08334
$202,286 for three years

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATORS
Dr. Yenisel Cruz-Almeida, Multi PI, Department Community Dentistry and Behavioral Science
Dr. Kyle Allen, Multi PI, College of Engineering, Department of Biomedical Engineering
Dr. Samantha Ann Brooks, Multi PI, Institute of Food and Agriculture Sciences, Department of Animal Sciences
Dr. Adam Henry Biedrzycki, Multi PI, College of Veterinarian Medicine, Department of Animal Sciences

PROJECT: “Mechanisms underlying Cryptococcus neoformans-induced meningoencephalitis and neurotoxicity in a CD4 T cell-deficient mouse”
NIH/NIAID Ro1AI187391
$2,592,794 for five years

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATORS
Dr. Luis R. Martinez Torres, PI, Department of Oral Biology

CO INVESTIGATORS
Dr. Karina A. Alvina, College of Medicine, Department of Neuroscience
Dr. Habibeh Khoshbouei, College of Medicine, Department of Neuroscience

PROJECT: “A randomized clinical trial to compare the influence of optimized attachments, IPR, and a combination of both techniques on the rotational accuracy of canines with clear aligners”
Align Technology, Inc./AGR00031545
$24,999 for one year

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
Dr. Sarah H. Abu Arqub, Department of Orthodontics

CO INVESTIGATOR
Dr. Shyamaly Premaraj, Resident, Department of Orthodontics

PROJECT: “Functional amyloid formation in streptococcus mutans”
NIH/NIDCR R56DE021789
$505,530 for one year

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATORS
Dr. L. Jeanine Brady, Multi PI, Department of Oral Biology
Dr. Joanna R. Long, Multi PI, College of Medicine, Biochemistry/Molecular Biology

CO INVESTIGATOR
Dr. Jacqueline Abranches, Department of Oral Biology

PROJECT: “Diversity Supplement for Cilia Zayas: Effects of pregnancy and postpartum Medicaid dental benefit of dental science”
NIH/NIDCR R03DE033075-02S1
$176,280 for two years

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
Dr. Astha Singhal, Department of Community Dentistry and Behavioral Science

PROJECT: “Temperature changes and inflammatory response in pulpal and gingival tissues surrounding dental restorative treatments performed using blue and red wavelengths: an invivo and exvivo study”
NIH/NIDCR K23DE034470
$776,611 for five years

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
Dr. Dayane C. Oliveira, PI, Department of Restorative Dental Sciences

MENTORS
Dr. Josephine F. Esquivel-Upshaw, Mentor, Department of Restorative Dental Sciences
Valeria V. Gordan, Co-Mentor, Department of Restorative Dental Sciences
Shannon M. Wallet, Mentor, Department of Oral Biology

Project: “Implementing evidence-based behavioral skills in pediatric oral health care providers”

NIH/NIDCR UH3DE032004

$3,644,529 for five years

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATORS
Dr. Daniel W. McNeil, Multi PI, Department of Community Dentistry and Behavioral Science
Dr. Cheryl B. McNeil, Multi PI, College of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry

PROJECT: “Artificial intelligence passport for biomedical research (AIPassportBMR): digital experiential learning community for upskilling in artificial intelligence for biomedical, behavioral and clinical research
NIH/NIGMS R25GM155478
$74,396 for five years

CO INVESTIGATOR
Dr. Roger B. Fillingim, Department of Community Dentistry and Behavioral Science

INVESTIGATORS
Dr. Azra Bihorac, Multi PI, College of Medicine, Department of Medicine Quantitative Health
Dr. Benjamin P. Shickel, Multi PI, College of Medicine, Department of Medicine Quantitative Health
Dr. Yulia A. Strekalova, Multi PI, College of Public Health and Health Professions, Department of Health Services Research, Management & Policy
Dr. Barbara Janet Evans, Co-Investigator, College of Law
Dr. Wei Shao, Dr. Pinaki Sarder, & Dr. Tezcan Ozrazgat Baslanti , Co-Investigators, College of Medicine, Department of Medicine Quantitative Health
Dr. Li Chen, Co-Investigator, College of Public Health and Health Professions & College of Medicine, Department of Biostatistics
Dr. Jie Xu & Dr. Yonghui Wu, Co-Investigator, College of Medicine, Department of Health Outcomes & Biomedical Informatics
Dr. Ruogu Fang, Co-Investigator, College of Engineering, Department of Biomedical Engineering
Dr. Elizabeth Palmer, Co-Investigator, College of Medicine, Office of Research
Dr. Francisco Martinez-Wittinghan, Co-Investigator, College of Medicine Jacksonville, Department of Community Medicine
Dr. Tyler J. Loftus, Co-Investigator, College of Medicine, Department of Surgery – Trauma

PROJECT: “ACCELERATE-BASSO: coordinating center for accelerating behavioral and social through ontology”
NIH/NID U24AG08819
$76,983 for five years

CO INVESTIGATOR
Dr. William D. Duncan, Department of Community Dentistry and Behavioral Science

INVESTIGATORS
Dr. Jiang Bian, PI, College of Medicine, Department Health Outcomes & Biomedical Informatics
Dr. Xing He, Co-Investigator, College of Medicine, Department Health Outcomes & Biomedical Informatics

PROJECT: “Virtual reality treatment for chronic pain and OUD in opioid treatment programs: a randomized controlled trial”
Albert Einstein College of Medicine, NIH/NIDA R01DA060796
$104,879 for five years

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
Dr. Emily J. Bartley, PI, Department of Community Dentistry and Behavioral Science

PROJECT: “Semantics standards and tools for spatial and contextual exposome data”
NIH/NIEHS R24ES036131
$88,543 for five years

CO INVESTIGATOR
Dr. William D. Duncan, Department of Community Dentistry and Behavior Science

PRINICPAL INVESTIGATOR
Dr. Jiang Bian, College of Medicine, Department of Health Outcomes & Biomedical Informatics

OTHER CO INVESTIGATORS
Dr. Jingchuan Guo, College of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacy Outcomes and Policy
Dr. Xing He, College of Medicine, Department of Health Outcomes & Biomedical Informatics

PROJECT: “Deciphering the neurobiological role of sleep quality and pain in mobility decline in older adults” Claude D. Pepper Older American Independence Center (OAIC) Junior Scholar Pilot Award
Pilot Award/NIH/NIA P30AG028740
$99,196 for two years

PRINICPAL INVESTIGATOR
Dr. Soamy Montesino Giocolea, Department of Community Dentistry and Behavioral Science

CO INVESTIGATORS
Dr. Zhiguang Hou, College of Public Health and Health Professions and College of Medicine, Department of Biostatistics

MENTORS
Dr. Yenisel Cruz-Almeida, Mentor, Department of Community Dentistry and Behavior Science
Dr. Roger B. Fillingim, Co-Mentor, Department of Community Dentistry and Behavior Science

PROJECT: “Role of FOXK subfamily in KSHV infection”
NIH/NIDCR F31DE034303
$138,421 for three years

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
Marley Palmer, 4th year PhD candidate, Department of Oral Biology

MENTOR
Dr. Bernadett Papp, Department of Oral Biology

PROJECT: “Exploring the role of C. albicans oxidative stress pathways in S. Mutans reactive oxygen species tolerance”
NIH/NIDCR F30DE034286
$83,225 for two years

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
Callahan Katrak, 7th year DMD/PhD Candidate, Department of Oral Biology

MENTOR
Dr. Jacqueline Abranches, Department of Oral Biology

PROJECT: “Employing artificial intelligence to associate various milling conditions with chemical, optical, and fatigue strength in zirconia crowns”
Academy of Operative Dentistry Ralph Phillips Student Research Award LTR DTD 05-13-2024
$3,000 for one year

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
Dr. Ian Daulton, Department of Restorative Dental Sciences

MENTOR
Dr. Mateus Garcia Rocha, Department of Restorative Dental Sciences

PROJECT: “University of Florida partnerships across interdisciplinary networks: training through engineering, epidemiology and addiction medicine (UF PAIN TEAM)”
NIH/NIAMS T90AR085527
$1,816,167 for Five Years
NIH/NIAMS R90AR085802
$1,704,895 for Five Years

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATORS
Dr. Yenisel Cruz-Almeida, Multi PI, Department of Community Dentistry and Behavioral Science
Dr. Kyle Allen, Multi PI, College of Engineering, Department of Biomedical Engineering

OTHER FACULTY
Dr. Wayne T. McCormack, College of Medicine, Department of Pathology