• Rena D’Souza, D.D.S., Ph.D., professor of orthodontics, Dental Branch (DB), and a faculty member in the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences (GSBS), served on the scientific board for the Eighth International Conference on Tooth Morphogenesis and Differentiation July 17-22 at the University of York, United Kingdom. D’Souza chaired the Genetics Anomalies Session that included a presentation of her research on “How Transcription Factors Control the Patterning of Dentition through Protein-Protein Interactions.” She also presented a short talk on “Use of Autologous Cell Therapy for the Treatment of Gingival and Periodontal Regeneration.” Other presenters from the laboratory were Hitesh Kapadia, D.D.S., who is training toward a certificate in orthodontics and a Ph.D. from GSBS, and Julia Javarone, who is enrolled in Year 2 of the integrated D.D.S./Ph.D. Program.

• C.D. Johnson, D.D.S., associate professor of restorative dentistry and director of recruiting, DB, chaired a session July 30 at the National Dental Association’s Minority Faculty and Administrator’s Forum. Rena D’Souza, D.D.S., Ph.D., professor of orthodontics, DB and GSBS, was invited to speak at the session on “Creative Ways to Fund Dental Education.” D’Souza was invited by the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research to speak Sept. 16 on “Protein-Protein Interactions that Control the Patterning of Dentition.”

• Colin Lathrop, a first-year student in the D.D.S./Ph.D. program at The University of Texas Dental Branch at Houston won the award for the most outstanding basic science presentation at the 10th Annual Hinman Student Research Symposium, Oct. 29-31, at the Peabody Hotel in Memphis.

  Lathrop presented information he spent a year researching during a fellowship at the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research. His talk, “FGF-7, FGF-10, and MMPs Regulate Mouse Submandibular Gland Branching,” reported on his findings regarding salivary glands and ways to potentially regrow them. For the rest of the eflash story.

• Cynthia E. Jackson presented "Distraction Osteogenesis of the Facial Middle Third", "Computerized Planning for Orthognathic Surgery", and "A new Paradigm in the Treatment of Mandibular Fractures". V National and International Meeting of the Mexican Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, celebrating the 50th anniversity of their association. Huatulco, Mexico, November 25, 2004.

• Jaime Gateno presented "A new Paradigm in the Treatment of Mandibular Fractures". V National and International Meeting of the Mexican Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, celebrating the 50th anniversity of their association. Huatulco, Mexico, November 26, 2004

• Jaime Gateno presented "Computerized Planning for Orthognathic Surgery". V National and International Meeting of the Mexican Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, celebrating the 50th anniversary to their association. Huatulco, Mexico, November 26, 2004

• Jaime Gateno presented "Distraction Osteogenesis of the Facial Middle Third". V National and International Meeting of the Mexican Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, celebrating the 50th anniversity of their association. Huatulco, Mexico, November 25, 2004

• Leaders at the Dental Branch and the UT Health Science Center were guest speakers during the American Dental Education Association Sixth National Minority Recruitment and Retention Conference.

Paula O’Neill, Ed.D., associate dean for Educational Research and Professional Development, focused on “Creating the Inclusive Environment.”

Douglas M. Simmons, D.D.S., associate professor of Restorative Dentistry, presented “Rx for Success: Sustainable Partnership Models.”

Ronald Johnson, D.D.S., professor of Pediatric Dentistry and a vice president of the health science center shared “Skills for Student Success — Once we get them, How do we keep them?”  

The presentations took place Oct. 26 in Chapel Hill, N.C.

• Jeffery C. Murray, Ph.D., professor in the Department of Pediatric Dentistry at The University of Iowa College of Dentistry, will speak at noon, Friday, Nov. 19, in the Institute of Biosciences and Technology Auditorium, 2121 W. Holcombe Blvd. Murray, an internationally renowned researcher, will speak on “Cleft Lip/Palate: From Epidemiology to Clinical Care.” A brief visit to the Dental Branch is also planned for Murray that day.

• Cynthia E. Jackson presented "Distraction Osteogenesis in Congenital Craniofacial Deformities" and "Computer Assisted Surgical Simulation" at the reunion of the Argentinean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Traumatology and the XIV South American Congress of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. Mar del Plata, Argentina, October 27, 2004.

• Jaime Gateno presented "Distraction Osteogenesis in Congenital Craniofacial Deformities". XX Reunion of the Argentinean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Traumatology and the XIV South American Congress of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. Mar del Plata, Argentina, October 27, 2004

• Jaime Gateno presented "Computer Assisted Surgical Simulation". XX Reunion of the Argentinean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Traumatology and the XIV South American Congress of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. Mar del Plata, Argentina, October 27, 2004

• John R. Klein, Ph.D., professor of diagnostic sciences, Dental Branch, gave two invited seminars: “T Cell Activation in the Intestinal Mucosa” at the Louisiana State University Medical School in New Orleans and Nov. 17 on “Immune- Endocrine Interactions of the Hypothalamus-Pituitary-Thyroid Axis: The Role of Thyroid Stimulating Hormone” at the Genzyme Corporation in Framingham, Mass.