UB oral biologists recognized for research and mentorship from AADR and AAID

BUFFALO, N.Y. – Two faculty members in the University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine were honored for their outstanding efforts in the areas of research, training and mentorship.

Frank A. Scannapieco, DMD, PhD, professor and chair of oral biology and associate dean for faculty and professional development, was awarded the 2020 Irwin D. Mandel Distinguished Mentoring Award from the American Association for Dental Research (AADR).

The award provides national recognition for efforts to foster research training and career development of students, trainees and junior faculty.

Rosemary Dziak, PhD, professor of oral biology, received the 2019 Isiah Lew Memorial Research Award from the American Academy of Implant Dentistry (AAID) Foundation. She was honored for her significant contributions to the field of implant dentistry.

About Frank A. Scannapieco

An internationally recognized scholar in the field of oral biology, Scannapieco’s research focuses on the mechanisms of dental plaque formation and their implications on health and disease, the interactions between saliva and bacteria, and the relationships between oral and systematic disease.

Over his career, he has mentored numerous junior faculty, postdoctoral fellows, and graduate, dental and college students.

Scannapieco, who has served on the UB faculty since 1991, has received more than $13 million in grant funding, edited several books and journal supplements, and published more than 160 research articles and book chapters.

A fellow of the AADR, Scannapieco has received numerous awards, including the State University of New York Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Scholarship and Creative Activities, Distinguished Scientist Award in Oral Biology from the International Association for Dental Research, and the William J. Gies Award for Achievement from the American Dental Education Association.

Scannapieco received a bachelor’s degree in biology and doctorate in dental medicine from the University of Connecticut, a master’s degree in biology from Northeastern University, and a doctorate in oral biology from UB.

He resides in Clarence.

About Rosemary Dziak

A faculty member in the Department of Oral Biology, Dziak’s research centers on the physiology of bone cells. She has conducted studies on the development of bone cells, tissue engineering and the design of new materials for bone regeneration.

She is also a partner in UB startup ProOsseous, a company focused on the commercialization of a novel nano-sized bone graft.

Dziak has received more than $3 million in grant funding and has published more than 100 journal articles, books and book chapters. She also holds two patents in the areas of tissue engineering of bone graft materials and the development of calcium sulfate nanoparticles that support the replacement of lost bone.

Dziak earned a doctorate and master’s degree in radiation biology from the University of Rochester, and a bachelor’s degree in biology from Misericordia University.

She resides in Amherst.