Rose-Anne Romano

Rose-Anne Romano

Rose-Anne Romano

Contact Information
515 Biomedical Research Building
Buffalo, New York 14214
Phone: 716-829-3665
rromano2@buffalo.edu



Professional Summary:

Our research interests are broadly centered on studying the transcriptional regulatory mechanisms governing the development and differentiation of epithelial rich tissues. Our lab focuses on the lineage-specific master transcription factor, p63, which is a member of the p53 family of proteins. Using transgenic and knockout mouse models generated in the lab, we have demonstrated a critical role for p63 in directing stem/progenitor cell function and lineage choices, important for proper development of various tissues and organs including the skin and its appendages, the oral epithelium, and salivary glands.

One current area of interest in the lab is to investigate the role of p63 in various facets of salivary gland development, stem cell renewal, organ homeostasis and repair. p63 is highly expressed in the myoepithelial cells of the salivary gland and in its absence, this organ fails to develop. We are currently using fluorescent reporters in transgenic mice to track, isolate and characterize the p63+ salivary gland stem cells. Our long term goals are to identify p63 driven signaling pathways and transcriptional networks that mediate stem/progenitor cell function in the salivary gland as well as the oral epithelium, using molecular, biochemical and genomic approaches.

Education and Training:

  • PhD, Biochemistry, State University of New York at Buffalo (2008)
  • BS, Biology, University of Pittsburgh (2000)

Employment:

  • Associate Professor, Biochemistry, State University of New York at Buffalo, Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Department of Biochemistry (2015-present)
  • Associate Professor, Oral Biology, State University of New York at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine, Department of Oral Biology (2020-present)
  • Associate Professor, State University of New York at Buffalo, Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Department of Biochemistry (2015–2020)
  • Assistant Professor, Oral Biology, State University of New York at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine, Department of Oral Biology (2014–2020)
  • Research Assistant Professor, Biochemistry, State University of New York at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (2011–2014)
  • Post Doctoral Fellow, Biochemistry, State University of New York at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (2008–2011)

Awards and Honors:

  • United University Professions Individual Development Award (2023)
  • Gordon Research Conference- Salivary Glands and Exocrine Biology Travel Award Recipient. (2023)
  • United University Professions Individual Development Award (2021)
  • Cover of the Year Award- Journal of Dental Research (2019)
  • United University Professions Individual Development Award (2017)
  • Gordon Research Conference- Salivary Glands and Exocrine Biology Travel Award Recipient (2017)
  • United University Professions Individual Development Award (2016)
  • United University Professions Individual Development Award (2015)
  • Society for International Investigative Dermatology World Travel Fellowship (2013)
  • Society for Investigative Dermatology Albert M. Kligman Travel Fellowship Award (2010)
  • Department of Biochemistry Dissertation Recognition Award Award (2008)
  • Dean's Travel Award (2005)

Research Expertise:

  • Computational Biology
  • Epithelial Development
  • Genetics and Genomics
  • Stem Cell Biology


Professional Memberships:

  • American Association of Dental Research (2014–present)
  • Society for Investigative Dermatology (2011–present)

Presentations:

  • "Cellular Plasticity and Diversity that Underlie Salivary Gland Homeostasis and Regeneration" 2023 AADOCR Session - Cellular Diversity of Salivary Gland Regeneration; Invited Speaker (2023)
  • "Spitting out New Transcriptomic Circuitries in the Salivary Gland One Cell At a Time" 2023 Gordon Research Conference Salivary Gland and Exocrine Biology; Invited Speaker (2023)
  • "A Genomic Tapestry of the Cell Fate Choices and Trajectories of the Salivary Gland" 2021 IADR/AADR Session on New Insights Into Salivary Gland Biology and Regeneration; Invited Speaker (2021)
  • "Spitting Out New Transcriptional Networks in the Salivary Gland- A Genetic Study One Cell at a Time" State University of New York at Buffalo, Department of Biochemistry Seminar; Invited Speaker (2019)
  • "Delineating the p63-driven Network that Directs Stem and Progenitor Cell Fate Decisions in the Mouse Salivary Gland" 3rd Annual Stem Cells in Regenerative Medicine Symposium; Invited Speaker (2019)
  • "Getting to the Core of the Transcriptional Networks in the Salivary Gland One Cell at a Time" Next-Generation Sequencing Technologies with Illumina and 10X Genomics; Invited Speaker (2019)
  • "Chromatin Fingerprinting of Enhancers and Super-Enhancers in the Control of Cell Fate and Identity in the Salivary Gland" 2017 Gordon Research Conference Salivary Gland and Exocrine Biology; Invited Speaker (2017)
  • "New Insights from Functional and Genomic Studies of Immortalized Mouse Salivary Gland Stem Cells in Culture" 2017 AADR/CADR Annual Meeting; Invited Speaker (2017)
  • "It’s a Mouthful: New Strategies for Stem Cells in Tissue Regeneration and Repair" Innovations and Controversies in Oral Health…Connecting the Dots from Research to Practice; Invited Speaker (2016)
  • "Redefining the developmental transcriptome of mouse salivary glands by RNA-sequencing" 2016 AADR/CADR Annual Meeting; Invited Speaker (2016)
  • "A Direct Role for DeltaNp63 in Regulating the Pruritogenic Cytokine IL-31 and Alarmin IL-33, in the Pathogenesis of Atopic Dermatitis" Society for Investigative Dermatology Annual Meeting; ; Invited Speaker (2014)
  • "p63: A Master Regulator of Epithelial Morphogenesis and Disease" Developmental Genomics; State University of New York at Buffalo; Invited Speaker (2014)
  • "The Many Faces of p63" ; University of Rochester, Department of Dermatology; Invited Speaker (2013)
  • "DeltaNp63 is a Key Driver of Inflammatory Signaling in Atopic Dermatitis" International Investigative Dermatology Meeting; ; Invited Speaker (2013)
  • "p63 and Epithelial Morphogenesis: The Master at Work" Developmental Genomics; State University of New York at Buffalo; Invited Speaker (2012)
  • "An Inducible Inflammatory Response in Transgenic Mice Reveals a Pro-tumorigenic Role for DeltaNp63 in Skin Carcinogenesis" Society for Investigative Dermatology Annual Meeting; ; Invited Speaker (2011)
  • "The Complexity of p63 Function in the Epithelium: Lessons from Transgenic Mice" ; ; Invited Speaker (2010)
  • "The DeltaNp63 Isoform is an Essential Regulator of Epithelial Development and Stem Cell Renewal" Society for Investigative Dermatology Annual Meeting; ; Invited Speaker (2010)
  • "Transgenic mice delineate the functional properties of p63 isoforms in regulating keratinocyte differentiation" Society for International Investigative Dermatology Annual Meeting; ; Invited Speaker (2009)
  • "Abnormal Hair Follicle Development and Follicular Keratinocyte Transformation in Transgenic Mice Expressing DeltaNp63" International Investigative Dermatology Meeting; ; Invited Speaker (2008)
  • "Transgenic Mice Reveal Novel Roles for DeltaNp63 in Skin and Hair Follicle Morphogenesis" Great Lakes Mammalian Development Meeting; ; Invited Speaker (2008)
  • "Transgenic Mice Reveal Novel Roles for DeltaNp63 in de novo Hair Follicle Formation and Sebaceous Gland Development" Society for Investigative Dermatology Annual Meeting; ; Invited Speaker (2007)
  • "Transgenic Mice Reveal Unique Roles for DeltaNp63 in Epidermal Cell Lineage Commitment" 3rd International p63/p73 Workshop; ; Invited Speaker (2007)
  • "Keratin14 is a Direct Target of DeltaNp63 in Keratinocytes" Society for Investigative Dermatology Annual Meeting; ; Invited Speaker (2006)
See all (14 more)

Service Activities:

  • Nature Communications Journal of Dental Research; Reviewer (2023)
  • State University of New York at Buffalo, School of Dental Medicine, Research Day Poster Judge (2023–present)
  • Vice President of the Voting Faculty, School of Dental Medicine; Vice President of the Voting Faculty, School of Dental Medicine (2023–present)
  • Secretary to the Voting Faculty, School of Dental Medicine; Secretary to the Voting Faculty, School of Dental Medicine (2021–2023)
  • Medical Research Council (MRC), UK; Grant Reviewer (2019)
  • Genome, Environment and Microbiome, UB (2019)
  • Member, PPBS Curriculum/Steering Committee (2018–2019)
  • President, American Association for Dental Research, Buffalo Section (2017–2018)
  • Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), UK; Grant Reveiwer (2017)
  • Co-Director of Graduate Studies, Department of Oral Biology (2017–present)
  • Member, State University of New York at Buffalo, School of Dental Medicine Student Progress and Promotions Committee (SPPC) (2016–2022)
  • Treasurer, American Association for Dental Research, Buffalo Section (2016–2017)
  • Member, Faculty Search Committee, Department of Oral Biology (2016)
  • The Genome, Environment and Microbiome (GEM) Community of Excellence; Reviewer (2016)
  • Member, Department of Oral Biology Admissions Committee (2016–present)
  • Member, PPBS Admissions Committee (2015–2018)
  • Secretary, American Association for Dental Research, Buffalo Section; Secretary, American Association for Dental Research, Buffalo Section (2015–2016)
  • Member, Faculty Search Committee, Department of Oral Biology (2015)
  • Member, State University of New York at Buffalo, School of Dental Medicine Student Research and Honors Committee (2015–present)
  • Nature Communications Journal of Dental Research Journal of Investigative Dermatology Journal of Biotechnology International Journal of Molecular Sciences American Journal of Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology PLOS ONE FEBS Letters BMC Genomics Cell Death and Differentiation Cell Death and Disease Experimental Dermatology Journal of Periodontology Molecular Carcinogenesis Journal of Histochemistry and Cytochemistry (2014–2023)
  • British Skin Foundation;; Grant Reviewer

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Contact Information

515 Biomedical Research Building
Buffalo, New York 14214
Phone: 716-829-3665
rromano2@buffalo.edu