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News & Events

Bacteria and Fungi Can ‘Walk’ across the Surface of Our Teeth

Clusters of bacteria and fungi seem to be capable of complex movement, setting tooth decay in motion. Most of us would rather not think about the cavity-causing microbes infesting our mouths. They coat our teeth, eat the same sugars we do and excrete acids that carve holes in our enamel. And the complete picture is even grosser. A new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA shows that conglomerations of fungi and bacteria can work together to “walk” and “leap” across the surface of teeth, spreading decay much faster than either organism alone.

Four Penn Dental Medicine Faculty Issued Patents in FY22

Penn Dental Medicine faculty members were recognized for their research and innovation as part of the Penn Center for Innovation’s (PCI) 7th annual Celebration of Innovation. This annual event celebrates Penn researchers and innovators who were named as inventors on patents issued to Penn this past fiscal year and highlights significant commercialization achievements. The celebration was held December 6 at the Singh Center for Nanotechnology. Those Penn Dental Medicine faculty issued patents in FY22 included CiPD's Dr. Henry Daniell, Vice Chair and W.D. Miller Professor, Dept. of Basic & Translational Sciences and Dr. Michel Koo, Professor, Dept. of Orthodontics and Divs. of Pediatrics and Community Oral Health.

Dr. Zhi Ren Awarded the 2022 American Society for Microbiology Best ECS Presentation Award

Dr. Zhi Ren, a current NIDCR R90 postdoctoral trainee within the Center for Innovation & Precision Dentistry (CiPD) – Penn Dental Medicine’s collaborative center with Penn Engineering — was awarded the 2022 American Society for Microbiology (ASM)’s Early Career Symposium (ECS) Best Presentation Award.

Dr. Michel Koo Named a 2022 Highly Cited Researcher

Dr. Michel Koo, Penn Dental Medicine Professor, Department of Orthodontics, Division of Community Oral Health, Division of Pediatric Dentistry and Co-Founding Director of the Center for Innovation & Precision Dentistry (CiPD), has been recognized for the scope and depth of his research — named on the Highly Cited Researchers™ 2022 list from Clarivate in the microbiology category.

Dr. Dennis Sourvanos Awarded the 2022 American Society for Photobiology Frederick Urbach Student Travel Award

Penn Dental Medicine postdoctoral student Dr. Dennis Sourvanos, (GD’23, DScD’23) was awarded the 2022 American Society for Photobiology (ASP) Frederick Urbach Student Travel Award, enabling him to present his research at the ASP Biennial Meeting, held in Albuquerque, NM, this fall.

A group from the University of Pennsylvania used SIS stem cells derived from gingival tissue to treat transected facial nerve and sciatic nerve crush injuries in rats

Current interventions are limited in their ability to stimulate regeneration and functional recovery of severe injuries, lending to the need for better treatment options. It is known that Schwann cells and macrophages in the local injury microenvironment play critical roles in nerve repair and regeneration following injury, so one promising treatment strategy may focus on a means to manipulate the plastic phenotype of the macrophage into the pro-regenerative (M2) phenotype and away from the pro-inflammatory (M1) phenotype.

Creepy Crawlies on the Teeth

This creeping creature did not walk out of a sci-fi film—it actually plays a starring role in the mouth. It’s composed of cavity-causing bacteria (green) that piggyback on fungi (blue), forming superorganisms with unusual powers—“walking” and “lunging” on tooth-like surfaces.

Dentistry: An Oral History of Disruption

Michel Koo, Co-Director and Co-Founder of CiPD, is featured in the episode of the Trailblazers with Walter Isaacson Podcast, "Dentistry: An Oral History of Disruption." Now, researchers, engineers, and business founders are developing new forms of dental treatments and tools to make quality dental care more accessible and affordable and even create truly regenerative and preventative solutions. Hear all about these innovations on this toothsome episode of Trailblazers.

2022 CAREER Award Recipient: Michael Mitchell

Michael Mitchell, J. Peter and Geri Skirkanich Assistant Professor of Innovation in the Department of Bioengineering, is one of this year’s recipients of the National Science Foundation’s CAREER Award.

Mobile microbes

Michel Koo and postdoctoral fellow Zhi Ren from the School of Dental Medicine and colleagues found that the bacteria and fungi responsible for a severe form of childhood tooth decay together form “superorganisms” with unexpected properties. The cross-kingdom groupings were more resistant to antimicrobials and physical removal than either species alone, sprouting “limbs” to move as a group and spread rapidly on teeth.

Dr. Marshall Padilla Selected for AADOCR MIND the Future Program

Dr. Marshall Padilla, a current NIDCR T90 postdoctoral fellow within CiPD has been selected to be part of the American Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research’s Mentoring an Inclusive Network for a Diverse Workforce of the Future program.

Chewing to curb COVID

Penn Medicine will conduct a new clinical trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of a chewing gum designed by School of Dental Medicine researchers to trap SARS-CoV-2 in the saliva.

Intervening to stop bone loss

A study led by Shuying (Sheri) Yang of the School of Dental Medicine identified a new role for a protein that keeps osteoclasts—the cells that break down bone—in check, and may guide the development of new therapies to counter bone loss.

New Recruit Dr. Kyle Vining Strengthens Dental, Engineering Interface

Adding to the depth of research at the dental medicine and engineering interface, Penn Dental Medicine welcomes recent recruit Dr. Kyle Vining, who joined Penn Dental Medicine and its Center for Innovation & Precision Dentistry (CiPD) on July 1.

Penn Dental Medicine Study Applies Microrobotics in Endodontic Treatment, Diagnostics

In a proof-of-concept study, researchers from Penn Dental Medicine and its Center for Innovation & Precision Dentistry (CiPD), have shown that microrobots can access the difficult to reach surfaces of the root canal with controlled precision, treating and disrupting biofilms and even retrieving samples for diagnostics, enabling a more personalized treatment plan.

Shapeshifting Microrobots Can Brush and Floss Teeth

In a proof-of-concept study, researchers from the School of Dental Medicine and School of Engineering and Applied Science shows that a hands-free system could effectively automate the treatment and removal of tooth-decay-causing bacteria and dental plaque.

CiPD Holds Inaugural Symposium

This inaugural symposium, held June 2, brought together dentists, scientists, and engineers to share their work and identify new opportunities to advance oral health innovation at the intersection of dental medicine and engineering.

CiPD Welcomes Inaugural Class to Training Program

With one of its key missions to develop a new generation of scientists at the interface of dental medicine and engineering, the Center for Innovation & Precision Dentistry (CiPD) has selected its inaugural class of fellows for its new postdoctoral training program.

Inspiring Impact Faculty Lecture Series: Transforming the Future of Oral Health

Dr. Michel Koo, co-director of the CiPD, will be the featured speaker April 5, 2022, noon-1 pm, in this virtual lecture. Learn more and register.

Dr. Michel Koo, Co-Director of CiPD, Discusses the Need for Innovation in Oral Health

Behind Biotech Podcast talks with Dr. Michel Koo on innovation in oral health.

HealthCall Live Interview with Dr. Henry Daniell

Chewing gum could be a new tool to block the spread of COVID-19. Dr. Henry Daniell from Penn Dental Medicine tells HealthCall's Lee Kelso how his lab has infused chewing gum with a plant-based enzyme that acts like flypaper to trap the virus, plus block the receptor so it can't enter your body.

Dr. Henry Daniell's Lab Shows Gum Laced with Plant-Grown Protein May Reduce SARS-CoV-2 Transmission

In experiments using saliva samples from COVID-19 patients, the gum, which contains the ACE2 protein, neutralized the virus.

Debulking SARS-CoV-2 in saliva using angiotensin converting enzyme 2 in chewing gum to decrease oral virus transmission and infection

Overview of attention for article published in Molecular Therapy.

Penn Dental Medicine, Penn Engineering Award First IDEA Prize

The Center's first IDEA Prize was awarded to Dr. Henry Daniell at Penn Dental Medicine, and his collaborator, Dr. Daeyon Lee, at Penn Engineering.

New Engineering Approaches to Address Unmet Oral Health Needs

With a new training grant, awards, and new faculty and publications, the Center for Innovation & Precision Dentistry is leveraging technological advancements to improve oral health.

Dr. Eugene Ko Awarded Inaugural Advancing Oral, Craniofacial Health Award for New Biodevices

The inaugural Advancing Oral & Craniofacial Health Award was awarded to Penn Dental Medicine’s Dr. Eugene Ko for a project titled “Baby Seal: Promoting Intrinsic Sucking in Cleft Palate Infant Bottle Feeding.” Dr. Ko is collaborating with Dr. Shu Yang at Penn Engineering.

Grant Programs Launched to Advance Innovation in Oral and Craniofacial Health

Two new research grant programs have been launched in partnership with the CiPD to help advance innovative breakthroughs in dental medicine, with Penn Health-Tech and the Penn Medicine Center for Health Care Innovation.

Penn Dental, Penn Engineering Unite to Form CiPD

The official launch of the CiPD brought together partners across Penn and invited guests to share the goals and vision of this unique collaboration.

An Army of Microrobots Can Wipe out Dental Plaque

A productive collaboration between the School of Dental Medicine and School of Engineering and Applied Science led to the microbe-killing robots for biofilm elimination.

Everyday Enzymes, Now Grown in Plants

Myriad industrial processes rely on enzymes, from making orange juice to manufacturing denim jeans. Research emerging from the School of Dental Medicine is transforming how these enzymes get made

More News

Dr. Henry Daniell Recognized with Named Professorship »

Fostering Interdisciplinary, Patient Centered Care »

IADR Recognizes Dr. Michel Koo with Dental Caries Research Award »

Accelerating Translational Research: Multidisciplinary Research Approach to Meet the Unmet Clinical Need »

Dr. Michel Koo Named to 2016 Penn Fellows Cohort »

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The Robert Schattner Center, University of Pennsylvania, School of Dental Medicine 240 South 40th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6030