Hyuk-Jae (Edward) Kwon
Hyuk-Jae (Edward) Kwon
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; NCATS UL1) and by Colgate-Palmolive (C.A.R.E. Award).
Education and Training:
- Fellowship, 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, Department 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:
- Individual Development Award (2023)
- Colgate Award for Research Excellence (C.A.R.E.) (2022)
- 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 Research Symposium (2015)
- 2nd Place Poster Award, “Developmental Mechanisms, Organogenesis, and Stem Cells” Cincinnati Children‘s Hospital Medical Center Annual Retreat (2015)
- Most Outstanding Student-Dentist Award, Yonsei University College of Dentistry, Seoul, Korea (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:
- 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)
- Society for Developmental Biology (SDB); Professional organization for developmental Biologists (2019–present)
- American Society of Craniofacial Surgery (2016–present)
- Korean-American Scientists and Engineers Association (KSEA) (2014–present)
- Society for Developmental Biology (SDB); SDB ID: 11572 (2013–2016)
Presentations:
- "MLL4 regulation of palate development" 15th World Congress of the International Cleft Lip and Palate Foundation (ICPF 2023); International Cleft Lip and Palate Foundation (ICPF); Basic Science Studies (2023)
- "Epigenetic regulation of palate formation" 20th International Federation of Associations of Anatomists (IFAA 2022); International Federation of Associations of Anatomists (IFAA); “Craniofacial Development and Regeneration” Symposium (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.; UB Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (2022)
- "Understanding morphogenesis through tooth development" UB Biological Sciences Department Seminar (virtual); UB College of Arts and Sciences (Department of Biological Sciences) (2020)
- "Tooth development: Understanding the odontogenic potential" Invited seminar; Yonsei University College of Dentistry [Brain Korea (BK) 21 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); Korean Basic Dental Science Society Association (KBDSSA) (2019)
- "Tooth morphogenesis: Genetic interaction between Msx1 and Sostdc1 during mouse" Invited seminar; Pusan National University School of Dentistry (Dental and Life Science Institute) (2019)
- "Using mouse developmental genetics to study tooth agenesis" Invited 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; American Association of Dental Research; Buffalo section, American Association of Dental Research (2018)
- "Using tooth development as a model for understanding signaling interactions between tissues during organogenesis" UB JSMB BCH Seminar Series; University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences; UB JSMB 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; Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center (2016)
- "Activin and Bmp4 signaling converge on Wnt pathway activation to drive tooth organogenesis" Seminar Series; Kyungpook National University; School of Dentistry (2015)
- "Activin and Bmp4 signaling converge on Wnt pathway activation to drive tooth organogenesis" Seminar Series; Yonsei University; College of Dentistry (2015)
Service Activities:
- PPBS Admission Committee; Committee Member (2020–present)
- PPBS Admission Committee; Alternate Member (2018–2020)
- School of Dental Medicine, Graduate Committee, Admissions; Alternate Member (2018–2020)
- UB HR search committee member (Kirkwood lab) UB HR search committee member for position Research Technician II (Posting Number: R1800176) in Dr. Kirkwood‘s lab; Member (2018)
- Oral Biology Research Equipment Purchase Committee Oral Biology Shared Histology Research Equipment Purchase Committee; Member (2017–2020)