Professional Memberships:

• Society for Leukocyte Biology (2014–present)
• American Association for Dental research (2013–present)
• ASM WNY branch (2013–present)
• Canadian Association for Dental Research (2013–2014)
• International Association for Dental Research (2013–present)
• American Society for Microbiology (2010–present)
• American Society for Cell Biology (2009–present)

Presentations:

• "Lipid Metabolite Regulation and Impairment of neutrophil chemotaxis by Treponema denticola" UB Honors Research Student Symposium (2017)
• "OncostatinM induction from Immune cells by Treponema denticola with implications for matrix-metalloprotease production" Buffalo Conference on Microbial Pathogenesis (2017)
• "Outer membrane vesicles and variation in the outer membrane sheath protein of Treponema denticola alter neutrophil function" Buffalo Conference on Microbial Pathogenesis (2017)
• "Lipid Metabolite Regulation and Impairment of neutrophil chemotaxis by Treponema denticola." UB Celebration of Student Academic Excellence. (2017)
• "Oral Spirochetes and neutrophils: surviving under the radar in the oral cavity" Invited seminar Series; Oklahoma State University (2017)
• "Characterizing the Treponema denticola Major outer sheath protein region responsible for neutrophil impairment" UB School of Dental Medicine Research Day (2017)
• "Host Microbe Interactions Oral session chair" IADR; IADR; Microbiology/Immunology (2017)
• "Major Outer Sheath-Like Proteins of Oral Spirochetes Impair Neutrophil Function." International Association of Dental Research Annual Meeting; IADR (2017)
• "Microbial Virulence Poster session chair" IADR; IADR; Microbiology/ Immunology (2017)
• "The effect of oncostatinM in matrix metalloprotease activation in gingival fibroblasts" UB School of Dental Medicine Research Day (2017)
• "Insights into Oral spirochete neutrophil interactions" 16th Annual Mark Wilson Conference (2017)
• "Treponema denticola impairment of neutrophil chemotaxis" Gordon research conference on Directed Cell Migration (2017)
• "Biological active regions of the Treponema denticola outer sheath protein (Msp) modulate neutrophil function" Buffalo Conference on Microbial Pathogenesis; The Witebsky Center for Microbial Pathogenesis and Immunology (2016)
• "Oncostatin M induction from immune cells by Treponema denticola" American Association for Dental Research General Session and Exhibition (2016)
• "Treponema denticola induction of oncostatin M from immune cells" Gordon Research Conference on Biology of Spirochetes (2016)
• "Major outer sheath (Msp)-like proteins of oral spirochetes impair neutrophil chemotaxis" Buffalo Conference on Microbial Pathogenesis; The Witebsky Center for Microbial Pathogenesis and Immunology (2015)
• "PREVENTION OF DRY SOCKET USING DOXYCYCLINE/LOCAL ANAESTHETIC IN A GELFOAM SCAFFOLD" Buffalo Conference on Microbial Pathogenesis; The Witebsky Center for Microbial Pathogenesis and Immunology (2015)
• "The effect of Treponema denticola on oncostatinM expression and production from neutrophils" UB dental student research day; University at Buffalo (2015)
• "Oral Spirochetes…. Surviving the Immune system" AADR Buffalo Section Lunch and Learn; University at Buffalo; AADR Buffalo Section (2014)
• "Neutrophil mediated transcriptional responses to Treponema denticola exposure." Gordon Research Conference Biology of Spirochetes (2014)
• "Development of oral microbe-induced periodontitis and fluorescent Treponema denticola." U of T Faculty of Dentistry Annual Research Day.; University of Toronto (2013)
• "Neutrophil chemotaxis regulatory pathways perturbed by the major outer sheath protein of Treponema denticola" SickKids-McMaster University-University of Toronto Research Day (2013)
• "Oral spirochetes and innate immune interactions in periodontal disease" Invited Seminar Series; University of Manitoba; Oral Biology (2013)
• "Oral spirochetes and innate immune interactions in periodontal disease" Invited Seminar Series; University of Louisville; Center for Oral Health and Systemic Disease (2013)
• "Oral spirochetes and innate immune interactions in periodontal disease" Invited seminar series; University at Buffalo; Oral Biology (2012)
• "Mechanisms of innate immunity evasion by oral spirochetes in periodontal disease" Invited seminar series; University of the Pacific; Biomedical Sciences (2012)
• "Treponema denticola Msp activates lipid phosphatase and actin-uncapping, inhibits PMN-chemotaxis." International Association for Dental Research General Session; International Association for Dental Research (2012)
• "The involvement of lipid phosphatase activation in perturbation of neutrophil functions by the major outer sheath protein of Treponema denticola" Gordon Research Conference on Biology of Spirochetes; Gordon Research Conferences (2012)
• "Development of oral microbe-induced periodontitis mouse model and fluorescent Treponema denticola for future investigations using intravital microscopy." Farncombe/Toronto Research Day (2011)
• "The major outer sheath protein of Treponema denticola induces actin filament assembly by a PIP-2 dependent uncapping mechanism in fibroblasts" U of T Infectious Diseases/Microbiology Research Day; University of Toronto (2011)
• "The major outer sheath protein of Treponema denticola induces actin filament assembly by a PIP-2 dependent uncapping mechanism in fibroblasts" ASM General meeting; American Society of Microbiology (2011)
• "The major outer sheath protein of Treponema denticola induces actin filament assembly by a PIP-2 dependent uncapping mechanism in fibroblasts" UofT Faculty of Dentistry Research Day; University of Toronto; Faculty of Dentistry (2011)
• "Impact of Treponema denticola major outer sheath protein (Msp) on small GTPase associated signaling pathways in fibroblasts" Canadian Connective Tissue Conference; Canadian Connective Tissue Society (2010)
• "Microbiology and cell biology of spirochete - host cell interactions" Invited Seminar Series; University of Toronto; Oral Microbiology (2010)
• "Treponema denticola major outer sheath protein (Msp) impacts small GTPase signalling pathways differently in fibroblasts and neutrophils" University of Toronto Faculty of Dentistry Research Day; University of Toronto (2010)
• "Treponema denticola major outer sheath protein (Msp) inhibits Akt activation without affecting the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway in neutrophils" Gordon Research Conference on Biology of Spirochetes; Gordon Research Conferences (2010)
• "Leukocyte infiltration and the role of IL-6 during the development of oligofructose induced laminitis." AAEP Equine Laminitis Research Workshop; American Association of Equine Practitioners (2009)
• "Temporal changes in basement membrane proteolysis and protease expression during laminitis development" AAEP Equine Laminitis Research Workshop; American Association of Equine Practitioners (2009)
• "Investigation of the signaling pathways involved in the perturbation of neutrophil chemotaxis and actin dynamics by Treponema denticola" University of Toronto Infectious Diseases/Microbiology Research Day; University of Toronto (2009)
• "Temporal changes in the expression of basement membrane components and matrix metalloproteases during the development of equine laminitis." Gordon Research Conference on Basement Membranes; Gordon Research Conferences (2008)
• "Degradation of basement membrane components occur prior to changes in the expression of matrix metalloproteases during the development of equine laminitis." Australian Equine Science Symposium (2008)
• "Distribution of Laminin 5 in equine tissues and a potential linking factor in laminitis" Faculty of Natural resources, Agriculture and Veterinary Science Research Conference; University of Queensland (2005)
• "A Sensitive Luminescence Reporter System for Detection of N-acylhomoserine Lactones in Tissue and Clinical Samples." ASM Conference on Cell-Cell Communication in Bacteria; American Society of Microbiology (2004)
• "Identification of CepR Regulated Genes using the cep Box Consensus Sequence to Search the Burkholderia cenocepacia J2315 Genome" ASM Conference on Cell-Cell Communication in Bacteria; American Society of Microbiology (2004)
• "The CepIR quorum sensing system contributes to virulence in Burkholderia cepacia respiratory infections." Eighth Meeting of the International Burkholderia cepacia Working Group (2003)
• "The importance of the ornibactin and pyochelin siderophore transport systems in Burkholderia cenocepacia lung infections." ASM Northwest Branch Meeting; American Society of Microbiology (2003)
• "N-acyl homoserine lactone mediated interspecies communication between Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Burkholderia cepacia" ASM Conference on Cell-Cell Communication in Bacteria; American Society of Microbiology (2001)
• "N-acyl homoserine lactone mediated interspecies communication between Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Burkholderia cepacia" ASM Conference on Cell-Cell Communication in Bacteria; American Society of Microbiology (2001)
• "Complex regulation of a potential antibacterial target, the Pseudomonas aeruginosa Tol-OprL cluster." Canadian Bacterial Diseases Network Annual General Meeting; Canadian Bacterial Diseases Network (2000)

Service Activities:

• CIHR; Catalyst grant: Institute of Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis; virtual review;; Grant Reviewer (2017)
• School of Dental Medicine, Graduate Committee, Preliminary Exams; Member (2017–present)
• SLB website committee; Committee Member (2017–present)
• School of Dental Medicine, Graduate Committee, Thesis; Member (2016–present)
• AADR Buffalo Section; Secretary (2016–2017)
• ABRCMS abstract review review of abstracts for the Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority students; Reviewer (2016–present)
• School of Dental Medicine, Graduate Committee, Preliminary Exams; Member (2016)
• SDM Research and Honors Committee; Member (2016–present)
• ASM Undergraduate Research Fellowship; Reviewer (2016–present)
• School of Dental Medicine, Graduate Committee, Preliminary Exams; Member (2015)
• School of Dental Medicine, Graduate Committee, Thesis; Member (2015–present)
• AADR Edward H. Hatton Awards Committee; Committee Member (2015–2018)
• School of Dental Medicine, Infection Control/Biohazard Committee; Member (2014–present)
• School of Dental Medicine, Graduate Committee, Thesis; Member (2014–2015)
• PPBS admission committee; Member (2014–present)
• UB Postdoctoral Research Symposium Judge; Judge (2014)
• UB School of Dental Medicine Research Day Poster Judge; Judge (2014–present)
• PPBS admission committee; Alternate Member (2013–2014)
• Journal Review Invited to review manuscripts for the International Journal of Oral Science, Journal of Leukocyte Biology, Canadian Journal of Microbiology, The Equine Veterinary Journal, PLos ONE, Microbial Cell Factories, Archives of Oral Biology, Stem Cell and Development, BMC Medical Education, Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences, J of periodontology, Infection Immunity; Ad Hoc Reviewer (2011–present)