معرفی
Dr. Pamela Yelick is a tenured full Professor in the Department of Basic and Clinical Translational Sciences at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine. She also holds professorial appointments in Biomedical Engineering at Tufts University School of Arts and Sciences and serves as a Graduate Biomedical Sciences Member in both the Genetics, Molecular and Cellular Biology and Pharmacology Programs at Tufts Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences. As Director of the Division of Craniofacial and Molecular Genetics, she leads significant research efforts in dental and craniofacial tissue engineering.
Dr. Yelick received her Bachelor of Arts from Smith College in 1979 and her Ph.D. from Tufts University in 1989, followed by postdoctoral training in Molecular Biology at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (1989-1991).
Her research focuses on mineralized tissue development, homeostasis, disease, and regeneration. Her laboratory employs diverse models including zebrafish (Danio rerio), mammalian models (pig, mouse, rat), human healthy and diseased tissues, and 2D/3D in vitro and in vivo tissue engineering models for human cartilage, bone and tooth tissue engineering. She has pioneered work in dental tissue engineering and craniofacial development, establishing herself as an internationally recognized leader in these fields.
Analysis of Dr. Yelick's recent publications reveals a strong focus on translational dental research, particularly in tooth regeneration, pulp regeneration, and biomaterial development. Her work increasingly integrates advanced technologies like 3D printing, hydrogel development, and zebrafish modeling to address fundamental questions in craniofacial development and to develop clinical solutions for dental tissue repair.
- Distinguished Scientist Award - Isaac Schour Memorial Award (2017)
Dr. Yelick has secured substantial research funding from multiple sources including the National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), Department of Defense, and various foundations. Her grants portfolio demonstrates sustained research productivity and leadership in dental tissue engineering. She has mentored numerous graduate students through her roles in the Graduate Biomedical Sciences programs and provides extensive service to the scientific community through editorial work (Journal of Dental Research, 2016-2019) and grant review for NIH and other agencies.
Her laboratory operates at the intersection of developmental biology, tissue engineering, and regenerative dentistry, with particular emphasis on creating bioengineered solutions for tooth and bone regeneration. The research team employs cutting-edge approaches to understand craniofacial development while developing clinically relevant tissue engineering strategies.
