Feng joins biomedical sciences faculty

Baylor College of Dentistry’s Department of Biomedical Sciences welcomed Jian “Jerry” Feng, M.D., Ph.D., as professor in January 2007.

Dr. Feng comes to BCD from the dental school at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, where he had been an associate professor in the Department of Oral Biology since 1998. Prior to his appointment at UMKC, he served as an instructor – and later assistant professor – in pediatric dentistry for the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio School of Dentistry. He also served as an assistant professor in the endocrinology division of the Department of Medicine at the UTHSCSA School of Medicine. He began his teaching career as an instructor at the Medical College of the University of Qindao in Qindao, China.

Feng earned a Medical degree in 1976 and a master’s degree in physiology in 1982 from Qindao Medical College before earning his doctorate in physiology from the University of Connecticut in Storrs, Conn. He held postdoctoral appointments at the University of Michigan Medical School in Ann Arbor, Mich., and the School of Medicine at the UTHSCSA.

An author of dozens of journal articles, Feng serves as a referee for multiple publications including the Journal of Dental Research and Developmental Biology.  He has been a member of a number of grant review study sections for the National Institutes of Health and has presented 32 invited talks since 1999.  Feng’s research focuses on the roles played by several signaling and regulatory agents in directing the appropriate formation and mineralization of a tooth.  Throughout his career, Feng has maintained extramural funding for his research; he is currently the principal investigator for three concurrent grants from the NIH.

Ruest joins biomedical sciences faculty

Baylor College of Dentistry’s Department of Biomedical Sciences welcomes Louis-Bruno Ruest, Ph.D., as assistant professor. He began work at the college in October 2006.

Dr. Ruest – known as “Bruno” – comes to BCD from the University of Louisville School of Dentistry in Louisville, Ky., where he was a postdoctoral research associate in the Birth Defects Center and Department of Molecular, Cellular and Craniofacial Biology from 2002 to 2006. His research focuses on the function of endothelin-A receptor signaling in neural crest cells during craniofacial and cardiovascular development.

Ruest earned his doctorate in experimental medicine at McGill University in Montréal, Canada, in 2002. While a graduate student, he worked as a researcher at the Bloomfield Center for Research in Aging at the Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research in Montréal and later as a research associate in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of Louisville School of Medicine.

The recipient of multiple research awards, Ruest was supported during his training by a fellowship from the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada. He has twice served as a judge for Research!Louisville, an annual celebration of health-related research at the U of L Health Sciences Center.  He was a finalist at that event for his scientific poster presentation in 2002. He has been published in numerous peer reviewed publications in addition to cover features in Developmental Biology and Cell & Tissue Research. His research has been presented at meetings of the American Society of Cell Biology, Society for Developmental Biology, and Experimental Biology.  

At BCD, Ruest will participate in the physiology and cell/molecular biology courses for dental students and also will participate in graduate and resident teaching in the area of developmental biology. His research mentor will be Dr. Bob Schwartz at the Institute for Biosciences and Technology in Houston.  Dr. Bob Hutchins will serve as his mentor for teaching. 

Dr. Rena D’Souza, professor and chair of biomedical sciences, notes, “Bruno is a young scientist with superior training and great promise. His expertise in developmental biology will add a valuable dimension to the existing spectrum of craniofacial biology research in the department and at the college. We are extremely pleased to have him join our faculty.”

Qin joins biomedical sciences faculty

Baylor College of Dentistry’s Department of Biomedical Sciences welcomed Chunlin Qin (pronounced Chin), D.D.S., M.S., Ph.D., as assistant professor on Aug. 1, 2006.

Since 2005, Dr. Qin has been assistant professor of endodontics at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston - Dental Branch. Prior to that, he held an appointment as research assistant professor at the Houston dental school between 2002 and 2005.

Qin’s journey in academia includes numerous degrees and teaching appointments. He earned his dental degree in 1983 from Harbin Medical University School of Dentistry in Harbin, China, after which he completed a residency in the Department of Endodontics and Periodontics while simultaneously serving as assistant professor. Qin’s endodontics/periodontics residency was followed by a master’s degree in oral surgery (histopathology) in 1989 and then a three-year residency in oral and maxillofacial surgery.  Between 1992 and 1994, Qin completed two year-long appointments as a visiting scientist at two dental schools in Japan. He then earned a doctorate in histopathology/biochemistry in 1998 at the Okayama University Graduate School of Dentistry in Okayama, Japan. He served as a postdoctoral fellow at the UTHSC-Houston Dental Branch from 1998 to 2002.

Qin’s current research interest is investigating the molecular mechanisms associated with osteogenesis and dentinogenesis, specifically tooth matrix biology and the function of candidates genes for dentinogenesis imperfecta.  He is supported by a $1 million, four-year R01 grant from the National Institutes of Health.

Qin is a member of the Ethics Committee of the American Association for Dental Research. The recipient of both research and teaching awards during his career, he currently is honorary professor and visiting director at the Harbin Medical University School of Dentistry, Oral Science Research Institute in Harbin, China.

At BCD, he will participate in the biochemistry and oral histology courses for dental students and also will be involved in shaping the biomedical sciences course offerings for clinical residents. Dr. Qin will be co-mentored by Dr. Robert Hinton, professor and vice chair of the biomedical sciences department, and Dr. John Wright, professor in the Department of Diagnostic Sciences. 

“We are very excited about Chunlin’s arrival because, as an outstanding clinician-scientist, he combines strong scholarship in dentin matrix genes with an ability to fill needs in our teaching program,” notes Hinton. “He is a great addition to our department.”

Kapadia joins biomedical sciences faculty

Baylor College of Dentistry’s Department of Biomedical Sciences welcomes Hitesh P. Kapadia, D.D.S., Ph.D., as assistant professor on July 15, 2006.

Kapadia comes to BCD from the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, where he was recently appointed as clinical/research assistant professor in the dental school’s Department of Orthodontics. He earned his dental degree, orthodontic certificate and doctorate in biomedical sciences from UTHSC-Houston.

In 1997, Kapadia received the award for Most Outstanding Basic Sciences Presentation at the National Hinman Student Research Symposium, and he received the Summer Dental Student Award from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research in 1999. Active in the Student Research Group as a dental student, he served terms as vice president and secretary of the organization.

Kapadia was a 2001 recipient of a National Institutes of Health Mentored Clinical Scientist Development Award. This $515,000 grant supported his orthodontic education and his doctorate under the supervision of mentor Dr. Rena D’Souza, who is now professor and chair of biomedical sciences at BCD. Kapadia also is principal investigator on a two-year $74,250 grant from NIDCR received February 2005 titled “Molecular Studies on Transactivation Potential of PAX9.”

The mentor for several undergraduate and dental students since 2001, Kapadia has authored or co-authored multiple manuscripts and peer-reviewed abstracts. In addition to serving as an orthodontics clinic instructor, he has lectured on oral biology and craniofacial growth and development.

Kapadia’s research interests are focused on the molecular and genetic basis for agenesis (congenital absence) of teeth. At BCD, he will participate in the biochemistry and general histology courses for dental students and will also be involved in shaping the biomedical sciences course offerings for clinical residents. In addition to interfacing his clinical and translational research activities with the Department of Orthodontics, Kapadia will associate in a private practice dedicated to the orthodontic management of patients with craniofacial anomalies.  

Kapadia will be co-mentored by Dr. Kathy Svoboda, professor of biomedical sciences, and Dr. Emile Rossouw, professor and chairman of orthodontics.

“Hitesh represents the prototype of a clinician-scientist who can bridge the perceived gap between the basic and clinical sciences,” notes D’Souza. “He adds a valuable dimension to our biomedical sciences department.”

Reuben joins biomedical sciences faculty

Baylor College of Dentistry’s Department of Biomedical Sciences welcomes Jayne Stewart Reuben, Ph.D., as assistant professor. She began work at the college on May 8, 2006.

Dr. Reuben comes to BCD from the Department of Pathology at the University of Michigan, where she worked as a postdoctoral research fellow since October 2001. While at Michigan, she was a 2002 United Negro College Fund-Merck Postdoctoral Science Research Fellow and member of the executive board of the National Postdoctoral Association. Reuben earned her doctorate in pharmaceutical sciences with specialization in pharmacology and toxicology from Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University in August 2001. Prior to her matriculation at FAMU, she worked as a biologist in the neuroimmunology branch at the National Institutes of Health’s National Institute of Neurological Disease and Stroke. 

Reuben has served as a curriculum adviser and instructor of Kaplan preparatory courses for the medical and dental school admission tests. As a current member of the Minority Access to Research Careers Advisory Board of the Federation of American Societies of Experimental Biology, she has been instrumental in developing the Postdoctoral Preparation Institute. Her research presentations have included meetings such as Experimental Biology, the Society for Neuroscience and the American Society of Neurochemistry. She has been published in Oxygen and Nitrogen Radicals, the Journal of Immunology and the Journal of Neurochemistry.

At BCD, Reuben will continue her research on neuroimmune mechanisms of lung injury, as well as lend her talents to the group of biomedical sciences faculty investigating factors regulating the inflammatory response in the temporomandibular joint. Her primary teaching responsibility will be in the third-year medical pharmacology course. Dr. Rena D’Souza, chair of biomedical sciences, remarks, “Jayne’s warm and vibrant personality will serve her well in teaching, and her research expertise should strengthen our TMJ inflammation group. In addition, she will serve as a superb role model for our dental and graduate students.” 

:: New Facilities

By Spring 2005, some researchers from the Department of Biomedical Sciences and other units will take up residence in a newly remodeled building across the street from the College. The new facility will provide almost 15,000 ft2 of space devoted to laboratories, core equipment rooms, and faculty offices.  Within 2-3 years, it is anticipated that this two story building will be expanded to five stories outfitted with state-of –the-art equipment and casework. This will permit consolidation of virtually all research functions and personnel at one site, while freeing up space in the main building for new classrooms, clinics, and faculty offices.