Kevin Matthew Byrd Email & Phone Number

Durham, Nc, Us

Richmond, Va, Us

As an Assistant Professor of Oral and Craniofacial Molecular Biology at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), my research centers on understanding the hologenomics of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs). Our lab specializes in using spatial and single-cell multiomics to explore the complex interactions between tumor cells, their surrounding microenvironment, and microbial ecosystems. By integrating advanced tools in spatial biology, transcriptomics, and proteomics with microbiome and host-pathogen interaction studies (hologenomics), I aim to uncover how genetic ancestry and microbial communities influence tumor progression, immune responses, and treatment outcomes. My work is driven by a passion for bridging oral biology, cancer research, and health disparities, with a focus on the 3D architecture of tumor microenvironments and holobiont dynamics. At VCU, I am excited to collaborate with diverse teams to advance precision medicine in cancer research while fostering innovation and inclusivity in the next generation of scientists.

Bethesda, Md, Us

As part of continued support of oral and overall health research initiatives in the DMV area, this position will further support collaborations between our growing program and the NIH/NIDCR, whose aligned vision is "to improve oral, dental, and craniofacial health through research, research training, and the dissemination of health information."

Chapel Hill, Nc, Us

Chapel Hill, Nc, Us

As part of continued support of oral and overall health research initiatives on the east coast of the US, this position will further support collaborations between our growing program and the UNC, whose aligned vision is "to transform dentistry for better health and to be the global model for oral health education, in care and discovery."

Chapel Hill, Nc, Us

I am a clinician-scientist at the University of North Carolina, looking to continue collaborating across disciplines and universities--from basic science discoveries to clinical applications to benefit human health related to oral and gastrointestinal diseases. I am currently interested in 1) how the lining of the oral cavity protects the head and neck from microbes, toxins, and injury, 2) technologies for better post-operative wound healing and soft tissue grafting, and 3) continuing work to contribute to the human cell atlas for categorizing the unique and undiscovered cell types that contribute to oral and craniofacial diseases.

Chapel Hill, Nc, Us

Chapel Hill, Nc, Us

The paucity of oral epithelial mouse models has resulted in minimal characterization of oral epithelial differentiation networks, and a poor understanding of oral epithelial stem cells and their niches. This research project will focus on oral epithelial differentiation, which is critical in understanding how the oral cavity heals in response to injury. This project will create three novel, oral epithelial mouse models and surrogate ex vivo human models to assess the role of oriented cell divisions in oral epithelial differentiation (Aim 1 and 2), and will utilize a unbiased, genetic label retaining cell model to identify and profile quiescent cells from oral basal epithelial cells (Aim 3). This research will inform the basis of a future project on reserve stem cell function in oral epithelial wound healing.Role: Principal Investigator, Mentor/Co-Mentor: Scott Williams/Jennifer Webster-Cyriaque

Chapel Hill, Nc, Us

Oral mucosa is lined by incredibly diverse epithelia, divided into non-keratinized, keratinized, and specialized tissues in humans. My interest is to use the developing mouse as a model organism to understand how these epithelial compartments are established and eventually maintained. In the Williams lab, I utilize a novel, in utero lentiviral RNAi delivery system to overexpress and knockdown key spindle orientation, stem cell, and polarity genes to understand the development of the murine epithelia in terms of spindle orientation influence on epithelial morphogenesis, oral epithelial stem cells and their associated niches, and models of palatogenesis.

The Human BioMolecular Atlas Program aism to tools to create an open, global atlas of the human body at the cellular level. These tools and maps will be openly available, to accelerate understanding of the relationships between cell and tissue organization and function and human health. HuBMAP is a consortium composed of diverse research teams funded by the Common Fund at the National Institutes of Health. HuBMAP values secure, open sharing, and collaboration with other consortia and the wider research community.

The Human Cell Atlas is an international collaborative consortium that charts the cell types in the healthy body, across time from development to adulthood, and eventually to old age. This enormous undertaking, larger even than the Human Genome Project, will transform our understanding of the 37.2 trillion cells in the human body. It is only possible now thanks to global collaboration, technological and computational breakthroughs, and science at great scale. The HCA Oral & Craniofacial Biological Network aims to create comprehensive and integrated cell atlases to understand the common and unique cell types that support these niches in health and uncover which cell types and networks are affected in disease. This level of cell annotation and integration will be critical for understanding oral and craniofacial diseases across the lifespan. In tandem, due to the growing body of literature displaying interconnected roles for oral and systemic health, findings from this network will be critical to future meta-analyses with other tissue and organ atlases for precision diagnostics and treatments.

Arcato Laboratories, Inc. develops oral health products intended to treat oral pain The company's products offer a patented formulation that has an anesthetic incorporated into its matrix to provide sustained relief. This startup company remains focused on creating novel compounds to eliminate the need for opioid use after oral surgeries such as third molar extractions.

The aim of the Journal of Clinical Periodontology is to provide a platform for the exchange of scientific and clinical progress in the field of periodontology and allied disciplines, and to do so at the highest possible level. The Journal also aims to facilitate the application of new scientific knowledge to the daily practice of the concerned disciplines and addresses both practicing clinicians and members of the academic community.

Baltimore, Maryland, Us

As part of continued support of oral and overall health research initiatives in the DMV area, this position will further support collaborations between our growing program and the University of Maryland School of Dentistry, whose aligned vision is "to achieve preeminence through excellence and innovation in education, patient care, research, public service, and global engagement."

Chicago, Il, Us

Chicago, Il, Us

The ADA Science & Research Institute, LLC (ADASRI) is a research center of excellence devoted to all aspects of oral health. Our research delivers key insights for health professionals and policymakers, driving quality and innovation in dental care.

Chicago, Il, Us

Ann Arbor, Mi, Us

During my dental training, I became interested in oral pathology, particularly the diversity of epithelial oral pathologies, and sought out Dr. Theodora Danciu, an oral pathologist with a research lab at the School of Dentistry for a research project. Quickly, we were writing an AADR Student Research Fellowship based on my literature search of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in OSCC. In the Danciu lab, I developed a theoretical set of biomarkers that could comprise a mathematical risk assessment model to identify aggressive cancer cases. The selected biomarkers comprised a timeline of cancer: a) initiation (loss of membranous E-cadherin), b) stemness (BMI1), c) migration (TWIST1 and SNAI2), and d) transendothelial migration (N-cadherin). Through immunohistochemical grading, we found that, independently and in combination, some of these were predictive of overall survival and recurrence in a group of 94 patients with annotated clinical characteristics. This led to many national meetings and research awards. After I joined, this group of interested clinical scientists continued to grow, and I co-mentored a student further in this project after I left for the University of North Carolina.

Ann Arbor, Mi, Us

I worked as part of the clinical research team with the mission to provide accurate and unbiased research data. My specific goals were to investigate test subject safety and product efficacy claims for our sponsors. I accomplished thus by delivering the highest quality service, adhering to all protocol specifications and completing all projects on-budget & on-time.

Fort Wayne, Indiana, Us

Phd In Oral Biology, Developmental And Stem Cell Biology

Dds

Dds, General Dentistry

Bachelor Of Arts (Ba), Biology, Spanish