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

Gregory G. Oakley, PhD

Professor, Department of Oral Biology, UNMC College of Dentistry

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Gregory Oakley, PhD

Gregory Oakley, PhD, is a professor in the Department of Oral Biology at the UNMC College of Dentistry. With a PhD in Toxicology from the University of Kentucky, Dr. Oakley has built a distinguished career in research focused on the DNA damage response, replication stress and cancer biology. His research has been published in high-impact journals such as Cancer Research, Nucleic Acids Research and Scientific Reports. He has secured significant funding as both principal and co-investigator on NIH, American Cancer Society and institutional grants.

Dr. Oakley teaches pharmacology to residents, dental and dental hygiene students, while also directing graduate-level seminars and advising numerous masters and doctoral students. A dedicated mentor and educator, he has been recognized for both his scientific contributions and teaching excellence. His work bridges basic science and translational applications, contributing meaningfully to the advancement of cancer therapeutics and dental education.

Dr. Oakley has been recognized with the American Cancer Society Research Scholar Award and UNMC’s Most Promising New Invention Award. He has held national leadership roles, including co-chairing the American Cancer Society Cell Cycle & Growth Study Section and serving as a regular member of the NIH Cancer Drug Development and Therapeutics Study Section.

Education

PhD: University of Kentucky, 1997

Research Interests

Research focus: DNA replication stress and repair; therapeutic targeting in cancer.

Dr. Oakley’s research explores how cells respond to DNA damage, particularly during replication, and how failures in these repair processes contribute to cancer. His work focuses on key proteins like replication protein A (RPA) and their role in activating cell cycle checkpoints and repairing DNA in response to chemotherapy-induced stress.

By understanding these molecular pathways, Dr. Oakley aims to identify novel drug targets that can make cancer cells, especially those in oral, and head and neck cancers more sensitive to treatment. His long-term goal is to improve therapeutic strategies by exploiting cancer-specific weaknesses in DNA repair mechanisms.

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