Hope Amm

Dr. Hope Amm is an Assistant Professor in the Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Department at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) School of Dentistry, with a secondary appointment in the School of Medicine's Otolaryngology Department. She also holds scientist positions at UAB's Global Center for Craniofacial, Oral and Dental Disorders (GC-CODED) and the O'Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Dr. Amm's educational background includes:

• Ph.D. in Pharmacology and Toxicology from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (2010)
• Bachelor of Science in Biology from Saint Mary's College (2002)

Dr. Amm's research focuses on the molecular and genetic basis of oral cancers and odontogenic tumors, particularly ameloblastomas and keratocystic odontogenic tumors. Her work centers on identifying key signaling pathways including hedgehog, EGFR, and NOTCH that drive tumor pathogenesis, with the goal of developing targeted therapies and diagnostic tools. She has established multiple primary cell culture models of odontogenic tumors and has pioneered imaging techniques for pre-surgical assessment of tumor margins. Her research has important implications for improving surgical outcomes and reducing recurrence rates in patients with these challenging tumors.

Analysis of Dr. Amm's publication record reveals consistent progression from basic characterization of molecular pathways in odontogenic tumors to developing targeted imaging and therapeutic approaches. A notable trend is her increasing focus on fluorescence-guided surgery and molecular imaging techniques to improve tumor margin assessment during surgical resection, with significant work on EGFR-targeted imaging agents for ameloblastoma.

Dr. Amm has successfully secured research funding from multiple competitive sources including:

• Department of Defense
• Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Foundation
• National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR)

As an educator, Dr. Amm has served on numerous thesis and dissertation committees, and has taught DENT2120 - Genetics for multiple fall terms from 2017 through 2024. She previously developed a Cancer Biology course, demonstrating her commitment to integrating her research expertise into the classroom and mentoring the next generation of researchers.

Dr. Amm's laboratory work includes establishing and characterizing primary cell populations from various odontogenic tumors, developing patient-derived xenograft models, and investigating novel imaging techniques for surgical guidance. Her research team collaborates across disciplines, including dentistry, oncology, and biomedical engineering, to address complex challenges in oral cancer diagnosis and treatment through translational research approaches.