Director, Graduate Program in Oral Biology

Scholarly Activities

Molecular genetic and epigenetic mechanisms of development, and developmental toxicology. Birth defects and congenital developmental disabilities constitute an underappreciated global pandemic. Eight million infants are born with birth defects each year – nearly forty percent of these infants and children die before the age of 5. Despite unprecedented strides in medicine and healthcare, birth defects remain the leading worldwide cause of infant mortality and childhood morbidity. These statistics notwithstanding, public health efforts in the United States and globally have failed to categorize the prevention and treatment of birth defects as national health priorities. Even international agencies such as the World Health Organization and the United Nations have failed to evolve an appreciation for the magnitude of the human health crisis associated with birth defects and developmental disabilities. In June of 2006, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a declaration urging the nations of the world to strengthen their battle against AIDS – a disease termed by then UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan as the “greatest challenge of our generation”. Indeed, 3 million adults and children die from AIDS annually – a sobering statistic, but one that is exceeded by the 3.3 million infants and children that die annually from birth defects and congenital developmental disabilities. Even in the United States, a country with one of the most advanced healthcare systems in the world, a child is born with a birth defect and two babies with low birthweight – every three minutes. Moreover, despite unprecedented intellectual and technological strides in the biomedical sciences, including sequencing of the human genome and advances in prenatal care/diagnostics – the overall incidence of birth defects and developmental disabilities is not declining and the underlying causes of nearly 70 percent of all birth defects remain unknown. In view of this, the research activities in our laboratory seek to provide a better understanding of the molecular, genetic, and epigenetic basis of normal development, as well as elucidate the genes and molecules that when altered result in the genesis of birth defects and infant low birthweight. Particular focus is centered on prenatal, maternal and child health issues relevant to the state of Kentucky. A combination of unique characteristics in the state, including socio-economic factors and an unusually high percentage of women who continue to smoke and drink during their pregnancy, contribute to an increased prevalence of major birth defects such as oro/facial clefting, neural tube defects, fetal alcohol- and maternal diabetes-induced embryopathies, as well as infant low birthweight and developmental disabilities.

Content Areas of Research Include: