Dana Graves

Dr. Kanhaiya Singh is an Associate Professor at the Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh. Dr. Singh received his doctoral degree in Biotechnology from Banaras Hindu University, India. Prior to joining University of Pittsburgh, Dr. Singh served as an Assitant Professor at Indiana University. His research focus is on epigenetic mechanisms of gene expression during diabetic vasculopathy and includes single-cell transcriptomics and single-cell ATAC sequencing approaches to investigate the molecular pathways that are compromised. His laboratory is also investigating the epigenetic mechanisms such as DNA methylation as a proxy for abnormal gene–environmental interactions in diabetic ischemic wounds. Current line of study aims to develop a simple and point of care approach to achieve targeted epigenetic editing of adult diabetic ischemic tissue in vivo. To that end, his team is employing Tissue Nanotransfection (TNT) technology as a delivery platform to administer combination gene therapy for diabetic ischemic tissue rescue. This research is funded through peer-reviewed grants from Department of Defense (DoD) and NIH-NIDDK. Dr. Singh has authored more than 50 peer reviewed publications. Dr Singh has been an Editorial Boards peer reviewed journals such as Scientific Reports, Plos One, Frontiers in Endocrinology and Heliyon. In this role, he has edited more than 200 publications and 4 special issues. He serves as active member of Wound Healing Society and American Diabetes Association.

Dr. Luis Garza is a Professor & Daniel Nathans Scholar at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine Department of Dermatology. He is a physician scientist who sees Dermatology patients and also conducts research on skin disease. His laboratory is interested in regenerative medicine, innate immunity and the disease Hidradenitis Suppurativa. Besides directing the Hidradenitis Suppurative clinic and conducting research, Dr. Garza is also committed to teaching and is the PI/PD of an NIH T32. Finally, he also works as a Vice-Chair of the department of Dermatology.

Dr. Dana T. Graves is Professor in the Department of Periodontics and Vice Dean for Scholarship and Research at the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine, where he also directs the Doctor of Science in Dentistry program. Dr. Graves received his DDS degree from Columbia University and his DMSc degree in Oral Biology and Certificate in Periodontics from Harvard University. His research focus includes the cellular and molecular mechanisms that regulate normal and diabetic wound healing, with particular emphasis on how diabetes-induced inflammation alters epithelial, fibroblast, and mesenchymal responses. His laboratory has defined important roles for FOXO1, TNF, and related inflammatory pathways in impaired diabetic tissue repair and has used genetic models, and single-cell transcriptomics to identify mechanisms and potential therapeutic targets. This research is supported by multiple NIH R01 grants. Dr. Graves has authored more than 250 peer-reviewed publications and has received research honors including the IADR Distinguished Scientist Award in Basic Research in Periodontal Disease, the Wound Healing Research Scholarship Award, and the IADR/PRG Award in Regenerative Periodontal Medicine. He serves as an Associate Editor of the Journal of Dental Research.