Isra Ibrahim
Doctor of Philosophy in Craniofacial Science (PhD)
The role of small Rho GTPases in normal and abnormal lip fusion
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The Faculty of Dentistry contributes to our profession’s body of knowledge through our active faculty research, outstanding curriculum and amongst the most technologically advanced dental clinics in the world, the Nobel BioCare Oral Health Centre.
There have been remarkable changes in dentistry in almost 60 years since the first class began, and the UBC Faculty of Dentistry has been instrumental in these advances in the oral health sciences. The Faculty of Dentistry is particularly well prepared to continue making significant contributions to our profession’s body of knowledge through our active faculty research, outstanding curriculum and amongst the most technologically advanced dental clinics in the world, the Nobel BioCare Oral Health Centre.
UBC Dentistry is committed to delivering outstanding research-intensive MSc and PhD graduate studies in the field of Craniofacial Science. Studies can be done in the areas of population health, oral health-related clinical research including both interventional and observational studies, and basic science research in the areas of biomaterials, cell biology, developmental biology, microbiology and molecular biology.
Our training programs include endodontics, orthodontics, pediatric dentistry, periodontics, and prosthodontics. Specialty training must be completed in combination with an MSc or PhD degree. These programs complement our General Practice Residency Program and Oral Medicine and Oral Pathology Residency Program. Our combined educational approach ensures that newly graduated clinicians are well prepared to critically evaluate new treatment modalities as they are developed, and participate actively in clinical research.
Mission
To advance oral health through outstanding education, research, and community service.
Research Facilities
Opened in March 2006, the Nobel Biocare Oral Health Centre is the hub of UBC Dentistry patient care and clinical learning. The 39,000 sq. ft clinical facility accommodates 144 operatories, a state-of-the-art central sterilization dispensary, as well as a suite of seminar rooms, clinical laboratories and radiology units. A networked chairside software system manages patient information and stores digital images. The Nobel Biocare Oral Health Centre uses state-of-the-art technology and an innovative architectural design to create a modern, efficient space for clinical learning, community service and research.
Research Highlights
UBC Dentistry’s areas of excellence are grouped in three research clusters:
- Clinical Research, Technology Transfer & Dental Materials Sciences: Applied research in cancer diagnosis and prevention, biomaterials, forensic dentistry, dental sleep medicine, microbial biofilms and hygiene.
- Community & Educational: Quantitative and qualitative research on oral health promotion, healthcare services and educational studies.
- iMatrix: Basic science research in microbial, biomedical, cellular and developmental biology.
Schools / Departments
Graduate Degree Programs
Research Supervisors in Faculty
| Name | Research Interests |
|---|---|
| Aleksejuniene, Jolanta | Theory-based behavioural management, Evidence-based Practice, Caries risk assessment, ePortfolio learning, Oral Epidemiology |
| Almeida, Fernanda | Dentistry and oral health; Sleep and Sleep Disorders; craniofacial characteristics in sleep apnea; diagnosis; edentulism; oral appliances for snoring and sleep apnea; sleep apnea |
| Bromme, Dieter | Lysosomal proteases, centre for blood research |
| Brondani, Mario | Dentistry and oral health; Community Health / Public Health; Dental Health; social determinants of health; Health Policies; Quality of Life and Aging; Adult Education and Continuing Education; Epidemiology; Access to care; Dental Education; Dental Geriatrics; Dental Public Health; Epidemiological data; Health Policy; Qualitative research |
| Bryant, Ross | Prosthodontics, Geriatrics, Patient-based assessments, Oral implants, Jawbone densitometry |
| Carvalho, Rick | Other health sciences, n.e.c.; Biomaterials; materials interfaces; bonding to hard tissues; materials development |
| Coil, Jeffrey Martin | Pulp Biology, Endodontic Materials |
| Donnelly, Leeann | Oral Malodor, Special Care Populations, Community Oral Health Education and Program Development |
| Ford, Nancy | Medical physics; Medical biotechnology diagnostics (including biosensors); Dental materials and equipment; micro-computed tomography; physiological gating; contrast agents; models of respiratory disease; image-based measurements; dental imaging; x-ray imaging |
| Gebril, Mohamed | |
| Graf, Daniel | Bone, skin and cartilage science; Cell differentiation, proliferation and death; Developmental genetics (including sex determination); Developmental and degenerative pathologies associated with cartilage, bone, and teeth |
| Grazziotin Soares, Renata | Dentistry and oral health; Endodontics - materials and techniques, digital technologies, micro-CT and synchrotron images; Dental Education |
| Hakkinen, Lari | Dentistry and oral health; Cell signaling; Cell therapy; Cell to cell communication; Connective Tissue; Extracellular matrix; Fibroblasts, MSC; Oral mucosa and skin; Tissue regeneration; Wound Healing |
| Hieawy, Ahmed | Endodontics; Dental Trauma; Endodontic Treatment Outcome; Endodontic Microsurgery; Endodontic Instrumentation; Pediatric Endodontics; Endodontic Treatment for Medically Compromised Patients |
| Kim, Hugh | platelet biochemistry |
| Larjava, Hannu | Wound healing |
| Laronde, Denise | Cancer; oral cancer screening; malignant transformation; early detection; oral premalignant lesions |
| MacDonald, David | Systematic review, Diagnostic radiology, particularly of the Hong Kong Chinese |
| Macdougall, Mary | molecular mechanisms associated with epithelial mesenchymal interactions, identification of critical signaling pathways, matrix formation and biomineralization |
| Mathu-Muju, Kavita | Public Health Dentistry, Clinical Pediatric Dentistry |
| Matthew, Ian | Dental Education, biomaterials; implantology |
| Overall, Christopher Mark | Basic medicine and life sciences; protease; Viral Protease; Inflammation; Immunodeficiency; one health; Proteomics; Terminomics; Human Proteome Project |
| Pigozzo Manso, Adriana | Dentistry and oral health; Color shade in resin composite; Dental adhesive interfaces; Resin dentin bond stability |
| Pliska, Benjamin | Dentistry and oral health; Sleep and Sleep Disorders; Oro-Dental Disorders; Facial growth and development; sleep medicine |
| Poh, Catherine | Optical Techniques and oral precancer management |
Pages
Recent Publications
This is an incomplete sample of recent publications in chronological order by UBC faculty members with a primary appointment in the Faculty of Dentistry.
Publication: Bioactive Materials
UBC Author(s): Ya Shen (Oral Biological & Medical Sciences / Faculty of Dentistry), Lari Hakkinen (Oral Biological & Medical Sciences / Faculty of Dentistry)
ISSN: 2452199X
Volume: 48
Page Range: 257-272
Publication Date: June 2025
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UBC Author(s): Ya Shen (Oral Biological & Medical Sciences / Faculty of Dentistry), Lari Hakkinen (Oral Biological & Medical Sciences / Faculty of Dentistry)
ISSN: 2452199X
Volume: 48
Page Range: 257-272
Publication Date: June 2025
View Publication
Publication: International Endodontic Journal
UBC Author(s): Ya Shen (Oral Biological & Medical Sciences / Faculty of Dentistry)
ISSN: 01432885
Volume: 58
Page Range: 674-684
Publication Date: May 2025
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UBC Author(s): Ya Shen (Oral Biological & Medical Sciences / Faculty of Dentistry)
ISSN: 01432885
Volume: 58
Page Range: 674-684
Publication Date: May 2025
View Publication
Publication: Cancer Cell
UBC Author(s): Fang-Yeu Poh (Oral Biological & Medical Sciences / Faculty of Dentistry)
ISSN: 15356108
Volume: 43
Page Range: 587-592
Publication Date: 14 April 2025
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UBC Author(s): Fang-Yeu Poh (Oral Biological & Medical Sciences / Faculty of Dentistry)
ISSN: 15356108
Volume: 43
Page Range: 587-592
Publication Date: 14 April 2025
View Publication
Publication: Journal of Prosthodontics
UBC Author(s): Fernanda Almeida (Oral Health Sciences / Faculty of Dentistry)
ISSN: 1059941X
Volume: 34
Page Range: 62-79
Publication Date: April 2025
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UBC Author(s): Fernanda Almeida (Oral Health Sciences / Faculty of Dentistry)
ISSN: 1059941X
Volume: 34
Page Range: 62-79
Publication Date: April 2025
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Publication: Journal of Prosthodontics
UBC Author(s): Fernanda Almeida (Oral Health Sciences / Faculty of Dentistry)
ISSN: 1059941X
Volume: 34
Page Range: 62-79
Publication Date: April 2025
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UBC Author(s): Fernanda Almeida (Oral Health Sciences / Faculty of Dentistry)
ISSN: 1059941X
Volume: 34
Page Range: 62-79
Publication Date: April 2025
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Publication: Journal of Biological Chemistry
UBC Author(s): Christopher Mark Overall (Oral Biological & Medical Sciences / Faculty of Dentistry)
ISSN: 00219258
Volume: 301
Publication Date: April 2025
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UBC Author(s): Christopher Mark Overall (Oral Biological & Medical Sciences / Faculty of Dentistry)
ISSN: 00219258
Volume: 301
Publication Date: April 2025
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Publication: International Journal of Molecular Sciences
UBC Author(s): Lari Hakkinen (Oral Biological & Medical Sciences / Faculty of Dentistry)
ISSN: 16616596
Volume: 26
Publication Date: April 2025
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UBC Author(s): Lari Hakkinen (Oral Biological & Medical Sciences / Faculty of Dentistry)
ISSN: 16616596
Volume: 26
Publication Date: April 2025
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Publication: eClinicalMedicine
UBC Author(s): Christopher Wyatt (Oral Health Sciences / Faculty of Dentistry)
Volume: 81
Publication Date: March 2025
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UBC Author(s): Christopher Wyatt (Oral Health Sciences / Faculty of Dentistry)
Volume: 81
Publication Date: March 2025
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APOL1 Genotype and HIV Infection: 20-Year Outcomes for CKD, Cardiovascular Disease, and Hypertension
Publication: Kidney International Reports
UBC Author(s): Christopher Wyatt (Oral Health Sciences / Faculty of Dentistry)
ISSN: 24680249
Volume: 10
Page Range: 855-865
Publication Date: March 2025
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UBC Author(s): Christopher Wyatt (Oral Health Sciences / Faculty of Dentistry)
ISSN: 24680249
Volume: 10
Page Range: 855-865
Publication Date: March 2025
View Publication
Publication: Dental Materials
UBC Author(s): Ya Shen (Oral Biological & Medical Sciences / Faculty of Dentistry)
ISSN: 01095641
Volume: 41
Page Range: 347-355
Publication Date: March 2025
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UBC Author(s): Ya Shen (Oral Biological & Medical Sciences / Faculty of Dentistry)
ISSN: 01095641
Volume: 41
Page Range: 347-355
Publication Date: March 2025
View Publication
Publication: AIDS
UBC Author(s): Christopher Wyatt (Oral Health Sciences / Faculty of Dentistry)
ISSN: 02699370
Volume: 39
Page Range: 123-132
Publication Date: 1 February 2025
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UBC Author(s): Christopher Wyatt (Oral Health Sciences / Faculty of Dentistry)
ISSN: 02699370
Volume: 39
Page Range: 123-132
Publication Date: 1 February 2025
View Publication
Publication: BMC oral health
UBC Author(s): Ya Shen (Oral Biological & Medical Sciences / Faculty of Dentistry)
Volume: 25
Page Range: 95
Publication Date: 18 January 2025
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UBC Author(s): Ya Shen (Oral Biological & Medical Sciences / Faculty of Dentistry)
Volume: 25
Page Range: 95
Publication Date: 18 January 2025
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Publication: Nature
UBC Author(s): Christopher Mark Overall (Oral Biological & Medical Sciences / Faculty of Dentistry)
ISSN: 00280836
Volume: 637
Page Range: E22
Publication Date: 16 January 2025
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UBC Author(s): Christopher Mark Overall (Oral Biological & Medical Sciences / Faculty of Dentistry)
ISSN: 00280836
Volume: 637
Page Range: E22
Publication Date: 16 January 2025
View Publication
Recent Thesis Submissions
Doctoral Citations
A doctoral citation summarizes the nature of the independent research, provides a high-level overview of the study, states the significance of the work and says who will benefit from the findings in clear, non-specialized language, so that members of a lay audience will understand it.
| Year | Citation | Program |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Dr. Maragha uncovered the various domains that contribute to students' wellbeing, in addition to the challenges they experience and their support needs. These studies can guide educators, administrators, and students themselves in examining the curriculum and the learning environment in dental education, using a wellbeing lens that can support students. | Doctor of Philosophy in Craniofacial Science (PhD) |
| 2023 | Sleep apnea risks include life-threatening breathing interruptions. Dr. Alshhrani compares Tongue-Stabilizing Device (TSD) to Mandibular Advancement Device (MAD). TSD equals MAD in apnea improvement but falls short in quality-of-life and daytime sleepiness. TSD, while effective long-term, has lower acceptance. | Doctor of Philosophy in Craniofacial Science (PhD) |
| 2023 | Dr. Datta examined how DNA image Cytometry can serve as an early detection tool for oral cancer. DNA image Cytometry uses cells from oral precancerous lesion brushing to estimate the amount and organization of DNA. This work showed how this tool can be used to screen patients for oral cancer and identify oral precancers at a high-risk of turning into cancer. | Doctor of Philosophy in Craniofacial Science (PhD) |
| 2022 | Dr. Urbanetto Peres investigated the role of adhesion molecules and oxidative stress markers in sleep apnea patients. These long-term follow-up studies help us understand how can we better identify which patients are at increased risk of serious adverse consequences of obstructive sleep apnea. | Doctor of Philosophy in Craniofacial Science (PhD) |
| 2022 | Dr. Hamoda's research focused on the management of Obstructive Sleep Apnea or OSA. She conducted clinical trials to compare the effectiveness of the two main OSA therapies. She also explored the combination of these two therapies. Her work is a step towards providing a personalized treatment approach and an improved overall management of OSA. | Doctor of Philosophy in Craniofacial Science (PhD) |
| 2022 | Dr. Alwafi introduced novel methods to assess three-dimensional tooth movement for the maxillary and mandibular dentitions. These methods help clinicians and researchers in assessing tooth movement and planning treatments. | Doctor of Philosophy in Craniofacial Science and Diploma in Orthodontics (PhD/Dip. Orthodontics) |
| 2022 | Dr. Gazzaz studied how social factors influence oral health in children and adolescents. She found that several psychosocial factors associate with oral health providing insights into the pathways potentially linking social factors and oral health. Her research contributes to our understanding of oral health inequalities. | Doctor of Philosophy in Craniofacial Science (PhD) |
| 2022 | Dr. Alawaji studied the factors that could impact the risk of having gum diseases in a group of never treated individuals. She found many factors contributed to having the gum disease such as the increased age, male sex, low education, low income, cigarette smoking and diabetes mellitus. | Doctor of Philosophy in Craniofacial Science (PhD) |
| 2022 | Dr. Liu examined the biological signatures of tumour spread to neck lymph nodes in early-stage oral cancer. Her work revealed micro-RNA and immune genes, and nuclear phenotype that can identify high-risk patients. This contributes to translating clinical biomarkers for the decision of early neck management and preventing under- and over-treatment. | Doctor of Philosophy in Craniofacial Science (PhD) |
| 2021 | Dr. Adeniyi explored the views of healthcare providers and pregnant women in British Columbia on integrated prenatal oral care. Her results show the need for a clear referral process for prenatal oral care, oral health funding, and interprofessional collaboration. A model to guide healthcare providers, policymakers, and advocates was produced. | Doctor of Philosophy in Craniofacial Science (PhD) |