University at Buffalo (UB)
Hyuk-Jae (Edward) Kwon D.D.S., Ph.D.
Hyuk-Jae (Edward) Kwon
D.D.S., Ph.D.
Assistant Professor HS
Specialty/Research Focus
Oral Biology; Oral Biology
Professional Summary:
I am a dentist-scientist with a unique background of a combination of dual doctoral degrees (a D.D.S. and a Ph.D. in Dental/Craniofacial Development). My research activities focus on the genetic and epigenetic control of mammalian dental and craniofacial development and pathogenesis, with a specific emphasis on congenital dental anomalies and orofacial clefts. My lab uses developmental mouse genetics, experimental embryology, molecular biology, and genomic approaches to dissect the molecular mechanisms that control dental and craniofacial organogenesis. My research is currently supported by the NIH (NIDCR R03; NIDCR R01).
Education and Training:
- Fellowship, Research Fellow in the Division of Developmental Biology, Cincinnati Children‘s Hospital Medical Center (2017)
- PhD, Oral Biology/Developmental Biology, Yonsei University (2011)
- DDS, Dentistry, Yonsei University College of Dentistry (2006)
Employment:
- Assistant Professor, Oral Biology, State University of New York at Buffalo, School of Dental Medicine, Buffalo, NY (2017-present)
- Research Fellow, Division of Developmental Biology, Cincinnati Children‘s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH (2012–2017)
- Lecturer, Yonsei University College of Dentistry, Seoul, South Korea (2011–2012)
- Teaching Assistant, Oral Biology, Yonsei University College of Dentistry, Seoul, South Korea (2006–2011)
Awards and Honors:
- UUP Individual Development Award (2023)
- Colgate Award for Research Excellence (C.A.R.E.) (2022)
- CSHL Tuition Support Award to attend Advanced Sequencing Technologies & Bioinformatics Course (2021)
- UB Clinical & Translational Science Institute (CTSI) K Scholar Program Award (5KL2TR0013-05) (2020)
- 1st Place Poster Award, 5th Annual Craniofacial and Skin Sciences Research Symposium (2016)
- 2nd Place Poster Award, 4th Annual Craniofacial and Skin Sciences Research Symposium (2015)
- 2nd Place Poster Award, “Developmental Mechanisms, Organogenesis, and Stem Cells” Cincinnati Children‘s Hospital Medical Center Annual Retreat (2015)
- KMHW Clinical Biomedical Scientist Fellowship Award (2011)
- KMHW Clinical Biomedical Scientist Fellowship Award (2009)
- Medical Research Center (MRC) DDS-PhD Fellowship (2006)
- Most Outstanding Student-Dentist Award, Yonsei University College of Dentistry (2006)
- ADA/Dentsply Student Clinician Research Program (SCADA) Travel Award (2004)
- 1st Place Award, National Dental Student Research Award Competition of Korea (2003)
Research Expertise:
- Dental and Craniofacial Developmental Biology: Studying the genetic basis and molecular mechanisms underlying dental and craniofacial development and disorders using molecular, genetic, and genomic approaches.
Research Centers:
- Clinical and Translational Research Center (CTRC)
Professional Memberships:
- American Dental Education Association (ADEA) (2023–present)
- Colgate Dental Educator Network (CDEN) (2022–present)
- International Association for Dental Research (IADR) (2021–present)
- American Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research (AADOCR) (2021–present)
- Society for Craniofacial Genetics and Developmental Biology (SCGDB) (2020–present)
- American Association for Anatomy (AAA) (2020–present)
- Korean-American Scientists and Engineers Association (KSEA) (2014–2017)
- Society for Developmental Biology (SDB); SDB ID: 11572 (2013–2019)
Presentations:
- "Molecular basis of dental development and genetics" Graduate course, OB611: Craniofacial Development and Genetics; Harvard University School of Dental Medicine (2024)
- "Novel palate and craniofacial defects identified in a unique Kabuki syndrome mouse model for Kmt2d (Mll4)" 5th Annual Kabuki Syndrome Foundation (KSF) Scientific Symposium; Virtual (2023)
- "MLL4 regulation of palate development" 15th World Congress of the International Cleft Lip and Palate Foundation (ICPF 2023); Seoul National University School of Dental Medicine (2023)
- "Molecular basis of dental development and genetics." Graduate course, OB611: Craniofacial Development and Genetics; Harvard University School of Dental Medicine (2023)
- "Epigenetic regulation of palate formation" 20th Congress of the International Federation of Associations of Anatomists (IFAA 2022) (2022)
- "A dentist-scientist's career path: Searching for a better treatment for dental diseases" Graduate and Professional Careers in Biomedical and Behavioral Sciences Forum; University at Buffalo (UB) Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (JSMBS) and Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI) (2022)
- "Using developmental mouse genetics for dental, oral and craniofacial research" INNO-Dent Convergence Bioscience 1 Graduate Course Lecture; Yonsei University College of Dentistry (Virtual) (2021)
- "Understanding morphogenesis through tooth development" Biological Sciences Department Seminar; University at Buffalo (UB) College of Arts and Sciences (Department of Biological Sciences) (2020)
- "Tooth development: Understanding the odontogenic potential" Special seminar; Yonsei University College of Dentistry [Brain Korea 21 (BK21) and the Taste Research Center] (2019)
- "Tooth morphogenesis: a model for understanding cell-cell signaling interaction during organogenesis" 18th Annual Meeting of the Korean Basic Dental Science Society Association (KBDSSA); Seoul National University School of Dental Medicine (2019)
- "Tooth morphogenesis: Genetic interaction between Msx1 and Sostdc1 during mouse" Special seminar; Pusan National University School of Dentistry (Dental and Life Science Institute) (2019)
- "Using mouse developmental genetics to study tooth agenesis" Special lecture; Yonsei University College of Dentistry (Department of Orthodontics) (2019)
- "Understanding dental development and birth defects using mice" AADR Buffalo Section Lunch and Learn Seminar Series (2018)
- "Using tooth development as a model for understanding signaling interactions between tissues during organogenesis" Biochemistry Seminar Series; University at Buffalo (UB) Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (Department of Biochemistry) (2017)
- "The Bmp4-Msx1 pathway controls early odontogenesis through regulation of expression of secreted Wnt antagonists" 5th Annual Craniofacial and Skin Sciences Research Symposium; Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center (CCHMC) (Division of Developmental Biology) (2016)
- "Activin and Bmp4 signaling converge on Wnt pathway activation to drive tooth organogenesis" Special Seminar; Kyungpook National University School of Dentistry (2015)
- "Activin and Bmp4 signaling converge on Wnt pathway activation to drive tooth organogenesis" Special Seminar; Yonsei University College of Dentistry (2015)
Service Activities:
- PLOS Genetics; ad hoc Manuscript Reviewer (2023–present)
- American Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research (AADOCR) Buffalo Section; Secretary/Treasurer (2023–present)
- Student Competition for Advancing Dental Research Application (SCADA), co-sponsored by Dentsply Sirona and the American Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research (AADOCR); Vice-President, Board of Directors (2023–present)
- Journal of Dental Research; ad hoc Manuscript Reviewer (2023)
- Journal of Visualized Experiments; ad hoc Manuscript Reviewer (2023)
- Development; ad hoc Manuscript Reviewer (2023–present)
- 15th World Congress of the International Cleft Lip and Palate Foundation (ICPF); Seoul, Korea; Session Chair and Referee (2023)
- Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology: 'Morphogenesis and Patterning' specialty section; Review Editor (2023–present)
- Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) Self-Study Research Standard Sub-Committee; Member (2023–present)
- 20th Congress of the International Federation of Associations of Anatomists (IFAA); Istanbul, Turkey — Plenary Lecture session (by Professor Kyung Ah Park) and Symposium (entitled "Craniofacial Development and Regeneration"); Session Chair and Symposium Chair (2022)
- Journal of Tissue Engineering; ad hoc Manuscript Reviewer (2022)
- National Foundation for Ectodermal Dysplasias (NFED); Member (2022–present)
- Kabuki Syndrome Foundation (KSF); Member (2022–present)
- Clinical Oral Investigations; ad hoc Manuscript Reviewer (2021–2022)
- UB Clinical Research Office — Served as Protocol Reviewer; Protocol Reviewer (2021)
- UB VITAL (Visiting Future Faculty) Program — Served as the SDM Representative Coordinator; School of Dental Medicine Coordinator (2021–2022)
- FEBS Letters; ad hoc Manuscript Reviewer (2021)
- Development; ad hoc Manuscript Reviewer (2021)
- Journal of Dental Research; ad hoc Manuscript Reviewer (2020)
- Oral Biology Seminar Series; Coordinator (2019–2023, Primary Coordinator; 2023–Present, Organizing Committee Member) (2019–present)
- SDM Student Research Day; Poster Judge (2019–present)
- PhD Program in Biomedical Sciences (PPBS) Admissions Committee — Currently serving as Member (2018–2020, Alternate Member; 2018–2023, Primary Member); Member (2018–present)
- Journal of Dental Research; ad hoc Manuscript reviewer (2018)
- SDM Dental Student Summer Research Program; Student Research Proposal Reviewer (2018–present)
- Oral Biology Shared Histology Research Equipment Purchase Committee; Member (2017–present)