CAMRC Home Page I have been studying the interaction of bacterial proteinase found in periodontal disease with collagenase and other matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) attempting to understand the role of MMP activation and mRNA induction in this disease. Recently, in collaboration with our Department of Physiologic Optics we are beginning to study the potential role of MMPs in myopia and in corneal healing. Techniques used range from protein isolation and characterization to reverse transcriptase-PCR and Northern blots.
1996- Postdoctoral fellow, Department of Microbiology, Dr. Mike Russell
1994-Present. Assistant Professor, Department of Periodontics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
1994. Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics
1992. Certificate in Periodontics
1984. Doctor of Dental Surgery.
Honors: 1995 - Young Investigator Fellowship, American Academy of Periodontology; 1994 - Invited Speaker, Gordon Research Conference on Periodontal Diseases, New England College, Henniker, NH. "Collagen Degrading Behavior in Epithelial Cells Stimulated with Porphyromonas gingivalis: investigation of matrix metalloproteinase involvement."; 1994 - Billy Pennel Award Winner, first place, basic science category, Southern Academy of Periodontics; 1994 - IADR Hatton Award Winner, first place, post-doctoral category; 1990 - Dentist Scientist Award, Institutional Award, Department of Periodontics and Department of Biochemistry, University of Alabama at Birmingham