Dobrawa Napierala

Dr. Dobrawa Napierala is an Associate Professor in the Department of Oral and Craniofacial Sciences at the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine, with a joint appointment in the Department of Periodontics and Preventive Dentistry. She also serves as a faculty member of the Center for Craniofacial Regeneration and the McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine, and co-directs the Pittsburgh Center for Interdisciplinary Bone and Mineral Research. Dr. Napierala holds a PhD in Biochemistry from the Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, and conducted postdoctoral training in molecular and human genetics at Baylor College of Medicine.

Her research focuses on understanding molecular mechanisms underlying mineralization processes in skeletal and dental tissues, including phosphate signaling, TRPS1 transcription factor regulation, and matrix vesicle biogenesis. Key interests include diseases linked to defective endochondral ossification, tooth formation defects, and ectopic mineralization. Her work bridges basic science and translational medicine, aiming to develop therapies for bone and dental tissue regeneration.

Dr. Napierala has been recognized with the ASBMR Esteemed Award and has contributed to numerous grants and collaborations. Her lab integrates genetic models, biochemical analysis, and advanced imaging to study mineralization pathways, with recent findings on TRPS1's role in cementogenesis and osteogenic cell function.