Research Scientists & Staff

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Dr. Carla Alvarez Rivas holds a DDS and a Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences (Immunology) from the Universidad de Chile. She is an R90 Postdoctoral Fellow in Immunology. Her research interests focus on the interplay between T cell immune responses, bone metabolism, and the resolution of inflammation during periodontal disease.

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Maria Aragao currently works on the understanding of dental caries with a focus on cariogenic carbohydrates and antibiofilm strategies. Maria is particularly interested in studying the structural organization of the biofilm matrix and how it modulates the onset and progression of caries disease. Maria’s research also focuses on developing novel strategies to prevent biofilm initiation and disrupt the biofilm matrix production using naturally occurring products.  

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I have a broad interest in science, and I love having new experiences with laboratory or research techniques. I currently supervise the Flow Cytometry Core and help as a technician for the Multiplex and Micro-CT Cores.

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I have worked in several fields since my PhD: mainly psychophysics, optometric and ophthalmological research. Most recently I worked at a contract research organization where I analyzed clinical trial data, mainly for phase 2 and 3 oncology or rare disease pharmaceutical agents. The thread binding these diverse activities is my interest in data analysis and reporting.

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I am a student at the Harvard School of Dental Medicine interested in how microbial agents create disparities in oral health outcomes. Working with Dr. He, I study selective antimicrobial compounds as a novel approach to caries prevention.

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Focused on designing a rapid, point-of-care diagnostic for oral microbial pathogens using CRISPR-Cas based technology.

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Lujia Cen is the lab manager and research associate of He/Shi Lab. She has accumulated years of research experience in oral microbiome. Her research mainly focuses on studying multiple oral microbes and their roles in oral health and disease.

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My PhD research was focused on gastric microbes associated gastric diseases in Trivandrum, Kerala population. We reported for the first time, existence of M. abscessus in gastric epithelium. My primary research focus in Bor lab is to understand the impact of TM7 and its host bacteria on innate immunity, both at the cellular and organism level.

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I joined The Forsyth Institute in March 2012, coming back to bench science and my earlier roots in bacterial genetics after raising 2 sons, teaching chemistry and music. As a member of the Mark Welch lab, I isolate and grow a multitude of bacteria which make up the fascinating and complex world of the oral microbiome.

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A BIG fun of microbes and imaging :). My research interest lies in utilizing advanced imaging techniques to unravel microbe-microbe interactions. Outside of my research, I love to spend time with my family, listening to music, playing piano, cooking, and reading.

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I have a bachelor’s in dental surgery (BDS) from October 6 University in Egypt. In 2017, I was awarded Clinical Medical Doctorate in periodontology from Sudan Medical Specialization Board in Sudan. I planned and conducted a clinical trial using pomegranate peel extract as a complementary therapy to manage gingival inflammation. The research was published in Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice in 2021. I have worked in my private practice and established a free dental care program for low-income patients. I was a volunteer dentist that participated in many community outreach programs, a student coordinator at the Sudan Medical Specialization Board, a Sudanese Dental Association Journal Editorial Coordinator for the (SDA) 8^th Conference, and a teaching assistant in the Department of Periodontology at Karary University in Sudan. Currently, I am a DMSc student in the Research Academy program at HSDM.

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My work focuses on the investigation of biominerals, analyzing mechanisms behind biomineral properties and applying knowledge of natural materials to the design and creation of novel materials. Currently, this work involves the analysis of tooth interfaces and the development of materials to prevent dental caries and promote healthy oral microenvironments.

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I’m passionate about studying oral diseases and how they can affect the rest of the body.

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Michael is passionate about applying his knowledge of biology to benefit others. With his time off, he loves to spend his time off cooking up delicious meals and working out with friends. 

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As a postdoc in Dr. Mark Welch’s lab, I am studying the ecology of the human oral microbiome, taking a systematic “omics” approach to explore genetic variation that drives species’ ecology and evolution. The major question we are exploring is how have different bacteria evolved to proliferate in different niches in the human oral cavity? Ultimately, the goal of my research is to bridge the microbial ecology of the human mouth across biological levels of organization, including molecular, organismal, species interactions and community networks. 

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As the core manager I am responsible for the usage, maintenance and training of several shared microscopes and a microCT instrument. My passion for microscope technologies motivates my work collaborating with investigators to design and execute microscopy experiments. My primary research focus is in collaboration with Drs. Gary Borisy and Jessica Mark Welch to investigate multi-species biofilms employing various imaging approaches. Mainly we utilize a spectral imaging and unmixing technique to visualize more than 8 FISH (fluorescence in situ hybridization) probes simultaneously and evaluate the biofilm’s spatial organization.

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I obtained my Ph.D at University of Adelaide, Australia, majoring in Genetics. I joined Forsyth in 2022. And my current research focuses on understanding the regulatory mechanism underlying skeletal and craniofacial development and to study skeletal stem cells in calvaria sutures.

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My research expertise is related to in vitro and in vivo models, as well as clinical studies in Orthodontics, Periodontics and Immunology.

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In the Bidlack lab, Hakan primarily investigates Molar Hypomineralization, furthering his passion in dental hard tissue biology. As a dentist by training, he also seeks to translate the basic science findings into clinical applications.

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Prior to joining the Bidlack lab, I studied biochemistry at Brandeis University. Here at Forsyth, I study the effect of various stress exposure on our teeth development. I observe the developmental structures of enamel and dentine through advanced microscopy as well as analyzing the properties of the enamel using 3-dimensional visualization software.

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Dr. Dongfang Li earned his PhD degree from Shandong university and joined the Forsyth Institute in 2021. A current area of interest is in new molecular and cellular targets for the therapeutics in Sjögren’s syndrome, which is a prevalent and systemic autoimmune disorder characterized by immune system attacking self-salivary and lacrimal glands, leading to xerostomia and keratoconjunctivitis sicca as major clinical manifestations.

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Kai graduated from Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU) with a Ph.D. degree in dental science. Before that, he finished his master’s study and worked as an orthodontist in China. Kai was attracted to stem-cell and craniofacial development research. He moved to Boston and joined Dr. Hsu’s lab in 2022. He is now working on the role of lamin A in progeria and skeletogenic signaling pathways in development and deformity.

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I work on CRISPR-Cas detection systems and community dynamics of ultra-small bacteria!

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I am a materials scientist. Working with Drs. Jirun Sun and Xuesong He, I am developing pH-responsive nanomaterials for selective targeting and killing of acid-producing bacteria.

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I manage the mouse colony, conduct micro-CT analysis, histology, and other experiments for the current papers. I am currently applying for my PhD, and I enjoy playing the piano. 

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Orthodontic resident and Doctor of Science in Dentistry (DScD) candidate at Boston University Henry M. Goldman school of dentistry. 

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My research interest is in diseases associated with aging. I enjoy Boston because there are so many things to do within walking distance.

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I use imaging and bioinformatics techniques to study the spatial and ecological structure of bacterial communities within the human oral microbiome.

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I’m periodontist. My field of research is on bone regeneration. I am doing a project regarding the tissue engineering in rats to evaluate synthetic grafts for bony lesions.

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Fabiola joined the Forsyth Institute in December 2019 to investigate the assembly and development of the bacterial community from the supragingival plaque on different platforms. From studying the diversity and structure of rhizobia in legume rhizospheres for her Ph.D. to studying the active growing bacterial fraction in an estuary for her first postdoc, Fabiola has been always captivated by the microbial communities. She was born and raised in Mexico. In her free time, you can see her listening to new music and podcasts. She loves reading novels and discovering new places.

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I have more than ten years’ experience in human stem cell culture, biomaterials, drug delivery, genetic/molecular biology, imaging techniques.  I embrace new challenges, and I am always looking for new opportunities to grow, learn, and collaborate. The main goal of my research is to understand the process of biomineralization using bioengineering principles.

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My research expertise is related to in vitro and in vivo models, as well as clinical studies in Periodontics, Implantology, and Immunology. Titanium surface analysis, bone graft evaluation, periodontal disease’s randomized clinical trial, and translational research are the main topics assessed.

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As a visiting researcher, I am employed by the lab of Dr. Yu. My research focuses on the stem cells in the salivary gland and how they operate in patients with Sjogren syndrome.

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I’m married with 2 daughters.  I have worked at Forsyth in various labs for over 23 years. I have been a part of the Multiplex Core team since 2017.

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Dr. Yaser Peymanfar is a medical researcher and bone biologist, passionate about bone, bone marrow, and cancer research. He earned his PhD from University of South Australia in 2021. Currently, he is investigating the role of osteoblast dopamine receptor in diabetic bone disease. He has published several articles in the field and received outstanding awards and grants during his PhD. He is a young investigator member of ASBMR, ANZBMS and ORS.

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My research focuses on understanding the ecological implications of the spatial organization of microbes in relation to the micron-scale features of their environment using the human oral cavity as model. I spend my free time tasting wine with my partner and meeting friends. I enjoy reading/watching videos about psychology, philosophy, art and creativity.

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I study the physiology of Porphyromonas gingivalis, which is an oral bacterium implicated in the etiology of periodontal disease. More specifically, I am characterizing and investigating the function of a predicted fimbriae-forming lipoprotein in context of surface translocation.

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I work on determining the frequency, abundance, and inter-species dynamics of specific oral and nasal microbes by using various sequencing and molecular techniques.

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I started at Forsyth in 2011 as a Research Assistant, established the Multiplex Core in 2013 with Dr. Alp Kantarci, and now oversee operations of 7 of Forsyth’s Research Core Facilities. I work very closely with Forsyth’s Core Managers to provide services to a wide variety of researchers, academics, pharmaceuticals, start-ups, and others.

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I am passionate about science. I am interested in understanding how microbes are structured in different environments such as food and the human body. Our mouth is the door to millions of microbes every day which are mixed by saliva. My research focuses on understanding why particular microbial species inhabit particular sites of the human oral cavity at the population and individual level by combining metagenomics and pangenomics. Aside from work I enjoy spending time with my partner, taking care of my plants, reading crime fiction novels, and tasting wine and cheese (products of microbial fermentation).

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My mixed background in both clinical dentistry and molecular genetics fueled my curiosity in the oral microbiome’s effect on overall health, which has led me to my current position in the Jessica Mark Welch lab. I cultivate and isolate bacteria to contribute to their characterization for the enrichment of HOMD.

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Yu-Chiao (Joe) is an endodontist pursuing a doctoral degree of medical science at Harvard School of Dental Medicine. He is conducting research on the application of SPMs in endodontic disease mouse models and tissue regeneration. 

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My project is focusing on how host-derived small RNA modulating the growth of Fusobacterium nucleatum.

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My career at Forsyth began 37 years ago in the biochemistry department when Forsyth was located in their original building at 140 Fenway in Boston. I have learned and shared many skills, traveled to Dental Research meetings and hope I’ve helped to positively impact research in dental and oral care. I have had the pleasure of meeting and working with many amazing scientists, dentists, students and people from all over the world and have made many lasting friendships and memories!  I have always been thankful for the opportunity to be able to have worked and to continue to work at such an incredible institution.

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I’m a postdoc from Japan. My research field is stem cell biology and currently focused on adult stem cells in articular cartilage and dental pulp. Happy to be here!

Li Zhen researches biomimetic mineralization of dental hard tissues and applied dental materials. Her current work centers around biomimetic peptides and mussel-inspired adhesive materials. Li finished her master’s degree in Dentistry and residency training in Endodontics and Operative Dentistry in China. She won the third prize of Dentsply Global Clinical Contest (GCCC) 2019-2020.

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I manage the lab and help researchers with various projects!

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I am a clinician-scientist with an interest in host-microbial interactions in periodontal disease and periodontal regeneration. In my spare time, I like doing Charles River running and watching basketball games for NCAA and NBA. 

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I’m an Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology resident at HSDM and a DMSc candidate in Oral Biology. I went to the dental school of Universidad Francisco Marroquin in Guatemala, where I found my passion in Oral Pathology. My research interest focuses on resolution of acute and chronic inflammation in various oral mucosal and bone diseases.

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I currently work as a professor and researcher at Guarulhos University (Brazil), my research focuses on understanding dental implant-related infections and seeking novel therapeutic strategies to prevent, control and treat peri-implantitis. 

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Dr. Vaibhav Sahni holds dual specializations in the fields of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery as well as Periodontics. He also holds the MFDS RCPS (Glasg) and MFDS RCSEd. At Forsyth his research involves studying the resolution of inflammation utilizing animal models.

Qualifications: BDS, MDS(OMFS), MDS(Periodontics), MFDS RCPS (Glasg), MFDS RCSEd