Dr. Lawrence A. Tabak has been named director of the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research of the National Institutes of Health.
"It will be my privilege to work together with the scientific community, public and outstanding members of NIDCR to improve oral health," says Dr. Tabak, formerly director of the Center for Oral Biology, Aab Institute of Biomedical Sciences at the University of Rochester in New York.
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Dr. Lawrence Tabak
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"We are delighted at the selection of Dr. Tabak," says ADA President Dr. Richard F. Mascola. "We wanted a dentist with his research background and interests of the practicing dentist in mind so that the NIDCR focus would encourage research to help practitioners and benefit the dental profession."
Dr. Tabak received his D.D.S. from Columbia University and his Ph.D. and a certificate of proficiency in endodontics from State University of New York at Buffalo. He has been actively involved in research, receiving his first NIH grant in the late 1970s, and is the principal investigator on four NIDCR grants. He also has served as an ad hoc research reviewer of NIDCR intramural research and as planning co-chair of a workshop on saliva and other fluid-based diagnostics.
"Dr. Tabak’s remarkable history of interdisciplinary research will enhance dental practice," says ADA Executive Director Dr. John S. Zapp. "His appointment presents many scientific opportunities at a very opportune time."
At UR, Dr. Tabak oversaw research on molecular and genetic aspects of craniofacial oral-dental conditions, mucinglycoproteins (mucins) that protect mucosal surfaces and salivary gland disease and dysfunction. He also directed graduate research training programs and held professorships in dentistry, biochemistry and biophysics.
"As NIH focuses on racial and ethnic health disparities, we are fortunate to have someone who has designed and managed a successful training program aimed at recruiting and developing minority investigators," says NIH Acting Director Ruth Kirschstein, M.D.
Dr. Tabak began his tenure at NIDCR on Sept. 1. He leads more than 400 scientists and administrators, as well as hundreds of Institute grantees around the world, in conducting research in such areas as oral cancer, chronic pain conditions, salivary function and dysfunction, craniofacial development and genetics, biomimetics and tissue engineering.
