College of Dentistry and Dental Clinics

Dr. Jeffrey Marschall, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon dually appointed at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics and the University of Iowa College of Dentistry, has been recognized as a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (ACS).

Steven Levy and Shaoping Zhang are contributing to a new NIDCR-funded study developing statistical tools to explore links between dental caries and periodontal disease. The project uses national oral health data and will produce an open-source software package to help researchers improve analysis and support better patient outcomes.

The College of Dentistry is pleased to announce that Dr. Liu Hong has been appointed interim director of the Iowa Institute for Oral Health Research, where he will oversee daily operations of the college’s research laboratories and facilities. Dr. Hongli Sun has been named Director of the Graduate Program in Oral Science. A nationally recognized researcher and educator, Sun brings expertise in nano-biomaterials and regenerative medicine, along with a strong commitment to graduate training and mentorship.

University of Iowa researchers, led by Dr. Brad Amendt, successfully tested a nano-sized packet that released a single gene to prevent craniosynostosis. The research team aims to begin human clinical trials in the next one to two years.

Dr. Marcela Hernandez was honored with the 2025 James H. and Hermine E. McLeran Faculty Award at the All College Conference on August 18.

The University of Iowa College of Dentistry has received a competitive renewal of a grant from the CareQuest Institute for Oral Health to expand its Patient-Centered Dental Home (PCDH) project. Led by Dr. Julie Reynolds and Dr. Pete Damiano, the project will pilot new adult-focused quality measures, test care delivery standards, and explore patient-reported outcomes to improve dental care quality and integration with broader health systems.

Dr. Huojun Cao (Endodontics) and Dr. Eric Van Otterloo (Periodontics) have been awarded a $3 million NIH R01 grant to investigate how genetic programs guide the development of oral, dental, and skin tissues in the lower jaw.

Professor Emeritus Bruce Justman joined an international volunteer team providing free dental care to more than 600 patients across St. Lucia, West Indies.

Dr. Jeff Banas was appointed the UI College of Dentistry's next Associate Dean for Research.

Dr. Franciele Floriani, clinical assistant professor in the department of prosthodontics, has published a new book designed to help educators, and professionals bring their research ideas to life.