College of Dentistry

- Programs & Admissions Overview
- - DDS and Dual Degree
    Learn about the application process for our dentistry and dual-degree programs.
  - Dental Hygiene
    Find information about applying for our bachelor's program in dental hygiene.
  - Advanced Standing Dentistry
    Find details on the process of applying for our Advanced Standing Dentistry Program.
  - Residency Programs
    Find admissions details for our six postgraduate programs.
- - Academic Programs
    Find an overview of our academic programs and links to more detail.
  - Learning Spaces & Technology
    Technology is fully integrated into student education, with repeated hands-on access to the tools of modern dentistry.
  - Wellness
    Wellness is an imiportant aspect of the student experience at the College of Dentistry.
  - Student Resources
    Find links to resources within our college and across the university.
- Research Overview
- - Biomaterials
    Biomaterials research is one of the fastest growing areas at the College of Dentistry and actively collaborates with a multidisciplinary group of partners across UNMC.
  - Bioregulation
    Our Bioregulation Research Group is working to understand and manipulate the immune system, inflammation and bone physiology to lead to more effective treatment of numerous conditions.
  - Oral Cancer
    Researchers in our college are focused on oral cancer, one of the most common forms of cancer, with a goal of significantly advancing our understandingor oral cancer progression and drug resistance.
  - Clinical Research
    The Cruzan Center for Dental Research was established to conduct well-designed clinical trials and clinical studies. It receives funding from the NIH, private foundations and industry.
- - Research Tools
    Students and faculty in our college have access to resources to aid cutting-edge research.
  - Student Research
    Every student in our college completes does research with guidance from our faculty, gaining insight into how they can help shape the future of oral health.
  - About Our Research
    Our research team is collaborating across UNMC to strengthen the college's research portfolio and expand opportunities for innovation in biomaterials, regenerative therapies and drug delivery.
Patient Care
- Engagement Overview
- Patient Care Engagement
  We are part of the dental safety net for Nebraska, with outreach that allows our students, faculty and staff to provide care for underserved populations across the state.
- Educational Engagement
  From providing children's dental health starter kits to our Special Olympics Special Smiles Program, we provide community education about dental health.
- Extramural Rotations
  Our fourth-year dental students rotate to established dental practices with established dentists who serve as preceptors and mentors.
- Biomonitoring
  Dental practices rely on this service through our college to document the effectiveness of sterilization equipment.
- Vet Smiles Clinic
  The VETSmile Dental Clinic at the UNMC College of Dentistry addresses the urgent need for accessible dental services within the veteran community.
- Continuing Education
  We provide engaging courses that education dental professionals on the latest techniques and advancements in the field.
Our Faculty
News

Ali Nawshad, PhD

Professor, Department of Oral Biology, UNMC College of Dentistry

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Ali Nawshad, PhD

Ali Nawshad, PhD, is a professor for the Department of Oral Biology at the UNMC College of Dentistry. As a craniofacial developmental biologist, Dr. Nawshad has long experience in cell signaling that governs craniofacial primordia. Her current research investigates the mechanisms of molecular signaling and regulation of craniofacial tissue morphogenesis and regeneration, particularly palate development. The department has also conducted extensive research on environmental pollutants such as nicotine, cigarette smoke and their implications in craniofacial/ palate cleft defects.

Education

BDS: The University of Dhaka, Bangladesh, 1991
MDSc: The University of Queensland, Australia, 1996
PhD: The University of Queensland, Australia, 2000
Postdoctoral Fellowship: Harvard Medical School, 2001-2004

Research Interests

Craniofacial primordial generation, tooth morphogenesis, and their anomalies, such as cleft palate, mandibular defects, and tooth defects

Top Publications

Nawshad A, Hay ED. TGFbeta3 signaling activates transcription of the LEF1 gene to induce epithelial mesenchymal transformation during mouse palate development. J Cell Biol. 2003:pp1291. PMID: 14691138
Nawshad A, Medici D, Liu CC, Hay ED. (2007) TGFbeta3 inhibits E-cadherin gene expression in palate medial-edge epithelial cells through a Smad2-Smad4-LEF1 transcription complex. J Cell Sci. 2007:pp1646. PMID: 17452626
Nawshad A (2008). Palatal seam disintegration: to die or not to die? that is no longer the question. Dev Dyn. (10):pp2643. PMID: 18629865
Ozturk F, Sheldon E, Sharma J, Canturk KM, Otu HH, Nawshad, A (2016): Nicotine Exposure During Pregnancy Results in Persistent Midline Epithelial Seam With Improper Palatal Fusion. Nicotine Tob Res.;18(5) pp604. (PMID: 26443016)
Hu L, Liu J, Li Z, Ozturk F, Gurumurthy C, Romano RA, Sinha S, Nawshad A. (2015) TGFβ3 regulates periderm removal through ΔNp63 in the developing palate. J Cell Physiol. 230(6):pp1212; PMID: 25358290

Honors & Awards

Paul Harris Fellow, Rotary Foundation Scholar in the USA, 1995
New Investigator Award, UNMC, 2009
Inductee, UNMC Interprofessional Academy of Educators, 2020
Outstanding Teacher Award, UNMC Faculty Senate, UNMC, 2022
Honorary Member, Omicron Kappa Upsilon by Alpha Alpha Chapter, Honor Dental Society, 2024