College of Dentistry and Dental Clinics

Aline Petrin, assistant professor of orthodontics, received a CRISP grant to complete genetic screening of patients with Van der Woude syndrome. Her study will help clarify how genetic mutations influence disease severity and support future research into epigenetic factors that shape cleft phenotypes and guide individualized treatment strategies.

Olujitan receives Fellowship to support final stages of her dissertation by providing protected time for research and writing.

Garland Hershey, Eric teDuits, and Sara Stuefen, were recognized as Iowa's Educator of the Year, Alumnus of the Year, and Rising Star Awardee on September 12, 2025 at The Graduate Hotel in downtown Iowa City.

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.