Scott Williams

Scott Williams is an Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Biology Department and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He is affiliated with the Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, Center for Gastrointestinal Biology & Disease, and several curricula including Oral Biology and Genetics. His research focuses on stratified epithelia, stem cell biology, and developmental processes, particularly in oral and skin epithelia. He investigates division orientation mechanisms, oral cancer pathogenesis, and cleft palate formation using advanced mouse models and genetic techniques. His lab employs tools like LUGGIGE (Lentiviral Ultrasound-Guided Gene Inactivation and Gene Expression) for high-efficiency gene manipulation during embryonic development.

Research interests include understanding how cell-cell adhesion molecules influence spindle orientation, the role of p53 mutations in oral cancer, and the stem cell niches in oral tissues. His work bridges developmental biology and oncology, with implications for cancer therapy and birth defect prevention. The lab actively explores the interplay between cell polarity, adhesion, and division orientation in maintaining tissue architecture and promoting differentiation.

Publications highlight discoveries in spindle orientation regulation, mouse models of HPV-driven cancers, and genetic mechanisms underlying cleft palate. Collaborations include studies on adherens junction proteins and their impact on epithelial development. Scott Williams’ lab is part of a vibrant research community at UNC, contributing to both basic science and translational medicine.