Orofacial Medicine
Rachael Sugars
Rachael Sugars’ group focuses on developing clinical and histopathological models for oral lesion diagnostics. Principally, we are concerned with the manifestations that result following allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation in the form of Graft versus Host Disease. Oral complications in the mucosa and salivary glands are investigated to advance clinical and diagnostic criteria, and the search for predictive biomarkers. Further, machine learning, and in particular deep learning methodologies are being developed to provide unique tools to increase digital diagnostic capabilities, precision and accuracy. Deep learning algorithms are applied for predictive oral lesion (pre-malignant and malignant) diagnostics to create prognostic and treatment application models. The long-term aim is to strengthen pathologist/ clinician interactions by providing provide rapid accurate oral histological assessments for clinical decision-making and personalized medicine.
For information about individual projects, see Oral Biology and Medicine Group
Rachael Sugars
Senior LecturerKarin Garming Legert
Karin Garming Legert’s research takes a multi-disciplinary and translational approach to addressing diseases that affect the soft tissues of the mouth. Oral manifestations commonly occur with many systemic diseases and may be the first clinical sign of disease. As cancer treatments improve and survival rates increase, the disease itself may be cured but a variety of acute and delayed side effects may become apparent. The aim of the research is to gain knowledge and progress management of oral mucosal lesions/manifestations. Further, to evaluate toxicity and other risk factors of cancer treatment, and to follow and try to find methods to reduce those oral complications. Smoke-less tobacco causes oral manifestations, and the local and general effects of nicotine pouches are poorly researched. Histopathological evaluation and genetical analyses of the number of somatic mutations in smoke-less tobacco users are evaluated.
Karin Garming-Legert
Lecturer/Senior DentistRonaldo Lira Júnior
The group focuses on understanding the immune mechanisms underlying periodontal disease and its interplay with other chronic diseases. Primarily, we investigate how innate cells, such as neutrophils and monocytes, contribute to the development of periodontitis and how we can modulate their functions to improve treatment outcomes. We also work on the identification of potential biomarkers in saliva that could be used to screen and monitor chronic inflammatory diseases.
Ronaldo Lira Júnior
Research SpecialistMichał Jacek Sobkowiak
Michał Sobkowiak’s research interests include the immunology of the oral mucosal barrier, as well as the role of the oral microbiota in tumor development and immunotherapy, with a particular focus on pancreatic cancer.
Mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells are a uniquely specialized unconventional T cell population with broad antimicrobial reactivity and a key component in maintaining immune homeostasis at mucosal barriers. Their broad reactivity, lack of HLA restriction and ability to mount a rapid immune response make them well-suited as a potential platform for novel immunotherapeutic strategies.
The oral microbiota has long been associated with a variety of systemic diseases. The ability of oral microorganisms to colonize other tissues throughout the body and exert local effects through both direct infection and secreted factors establish the oral microbiome as both a source of novel diagnostic biomarkers, as well as a target for therapeutic strategies. Our investigation into the ability of tumor-associated bacterial factors to stimulate tumor progress and metastatic formation aims at identifying those novel diagnostic and therapeutic approaches.
Affiliated Researchers
Elisabeth Boström
Michal Jacek Sobkowiak
Lecturer;Research SpecialistGerodontology
Research at the Division in the field of Gerodontology is performed in collaboration with the Academic Center for Gerodontotology, ACT.
Inger Wårdh
Inger Wårdh’s research group focuses on oral health in older individuals that today keep their natural teeth, sometimes completed with advanced tooth replacements, up in high ages when multimorbidity and functional impairment increase. This new dental scenario places a great oral care burden both on the dental profession and individual level but also on health and nursing care. We try to identify efficient methods and routines for oral and dental care in this patient group to preserve oral functions as long as possible. This work is done in cooperation between dentists and dental hygienists but also include medical and nursing professions as well as professions that handle the social side of care for older people. Ongoing projects deal with masticatory ability, domiciliary oral care, dental fear and oral care education to older patients and nursing staff.
Inger Wårdh
Senior Lecturer/Senior DentistJesper Dalum
Jesper Dalum is engaged in research, teaching, and course development in gerodontology and holds a PhD with a focus on medical examination. His research in gerodontology covers both interventions in outreach dental care and municipally subsidised dental care for care-dependent older adults, as well as interdisciplinary studies on rehabilitation strategies to improve swallowing function after stroke.
In medical education, his work focuses on theoretical and practical examination methods in medicine, with a particular emphasis on evaluating knowledge assessments for healthcare professionals trained outside the EU. The evaluation of these examinations is an ongoing project, with forthcoming studies set to explore participants' experiences of undertaking the assessments.
Affiliated Researchers
Gunilla Sandborgh Englund
Jesper Dalum
LecturerOral Radiology
Reinhilde Jacobs
The research group on oral radiology is oriented towards multidisciplinary research and involved in international research projects, with a focus on the use of 2D and 3d imaging modalities for aiding diagnosis in other oral and maxillofacial specialties. Presently, there are collaborative projects with the Division of Orthodontics and Oral Maxillofacial Surgery within KI, and internationally with the respective research groups at the University of Bergen and the omfsimpath research group at KULeuven. Research is focused on 2D and 3D image segmentation for diagnosis, planning and outcome prediction, mainly addressing artificial intelligence applications. A second attention point is radiation dose reduction, with a specific focus on pediatric applications, such as for cleft lip and palate patients.
Reinhilde Jacobs
ResearcherOral and Maxillofacial Surgery
Bodil Lund
Research in oral and maxillofacial surgery focuses on antibiotic stewardship in dentistry, i.e. the optimal usage of antibiotics and temporomandibular joint disorders (TMJD). The research in antibiotics is translational collaborating to cover the identified knowledge gaps within antibiotic usage in dentistry by combining epidemiological studies with clinical trials and basic science. The TMJD research aims at characterizing the patients with TMJ disorders clinically and tissue based to improve diagnostics, treatment planning, prediction of outcome, and open for new non-surgical treatment options.
For more information about the projects, see Research in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
Affiliated Researchers
Carina Kruger Weiner
Robert Heymann
Mattias Ulmner
Robert Heymann
Mattias Ulmner