Dr. Maria Kukuruzinska Receives NIH Grant

Dr. Maria Kukuruzinska, Professor in the Department of Molecular and Cell Biology and Director of Predoctoral Research Program, has been recently awarded funds by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to continue her research on submandibular gland (SMG) development for the next five years.

"In addition to advancing the knowledge in epithelial tissue development, the objective of this work is to enhance the efforts in the area of tissue regeneration for the treatment of salivary gland dysfunctions," said Dr. Kukuruzinska.

This award represents a competitive renewal of a RO1 grant entitled “Regulation of SMG Development by Adhesion Receptors.” Additional studies in Dr. Kukuruzinska’s laboratory, funded by another RO1 award, focus on the role of N-glycosylation of adhesion receptors in oral squamous cell carcinoma.