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Periodontal Research Group (PRG)

The Periodontal Research Group (PRG) investigates fundamental mechanisms of how gum diseases develop and their links to general health and diseases like diabetes, kidney disease, rheumatoid arthritis and other diseases of ageing. Using knowledge from their discovery science, the PRG translate their work into new diagnostic and therapeutic approaches.

Principal Investigators and Group Leads

  • Professor Iain Chapple

    Professor of Periodontology and Consultant in Restorative Dentistry

    Principal Investigator & Group Lead

Professor Thomas Dietrich

Principal Investigator

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Professor Mike Milward

Principal Investigator

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Professor Moritz Kebschull

Principal Investigator

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Dr Sarah Kuehne

Principal Investigator

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Dr Praveen Sharma

Principal Investigator

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Dr Josefine Hirschfeld

Principal Investigator

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Dr Zehra Yonel

Principal Investigator & Doctoral Fellow

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Our research group

The periodontal research group (PRG) focus on unravelling the complex pathobiological pathways that govern periodontal inflammation at the molecular, cellular and clinical levels. Identifying mechanisms underpinning disease pathogenesis and the inter-relationships between periodontal inflammation and other chronic inflammatory diseases (such as rheumatoid arthritis and chronic kidney disease) and the ageing immune system are key goals. We have a particular interest in neutrophil biology and host-microbial interactions.

We are increasingly adopting a stratified medicine approach to common disease pathways that may explain periodontal-systemic links through our expertise in analytical epidemiology. We work with large cohorts and datasets, employing bioinformatics approaches to understand the complex bio-clinical datasets we create.

Our work includes a multi-omics approach in the area of periodontal infection and immunity and we have expertise in proteomics, lipidomics, transcriptomics and the oral microbiome. These fundamental approaches allow us to work with rare diseases like Epidermolysis Bullosa, Papillon-Lefevre Syndrome and Myelomatosis.

Translation into improved care is a priority and achieved through clinical trials to provide novel diagnostics and host-modulating therapies. Indeed, we have spun out 2 companies in the risk and diagnostics arena, and filed 10 patents (2019-2020) in the saliva diagnostics space.

Current projects

  • Development of a three-dimensional model for neutrophil migration and chemotaxis. Josefine Hirschfeld. ACADEMY OF MEDICAL SCIENCES. 01/08/18 → 31/12/21
  • Investigating functional responses of neutrophils to microbial biofilms. Josefine Hirschfeld, Sarah Kuehne. 01/06/19 → 31/05/23
  • The role of free light chains in neutrophil activation and local autoimmune responses. Josefine Hirschfeld, Melissa Grant & Iain Chapple. THE ORAL & DENTAL RESEARCH TRUST. 01/01/17 → 30/06/22
  • A novel spray delivery system for the treatment of mucosal scarring in epidermolysis bullosa. Iain Chapple, Tony Metcalfe & Liam Grover. DEBRA UK. 1/01/20 → 31/12/21
  • Serum and salivary immunoglobulin levels to SARS-COV-2 in dental health professionals. Adrian Shields, Thomas Dietrich, Iain Chapple, Alex Richter 04/06/20 → 30/05/21
  • Are there systemic effects associated with periradicular disease? Iain Chapple & Phillip Tomson. BRITISH ENDODONTIC SOCIETY. 1/12/19 → 30/11/21
  • Characterisation of the skin microbiome and investigation of neutrophil function in Epidermolysis Bullosa patients. Sarah Kuehne, Melissa Grant, Josefine Hirschfeld & Iain Chapple DEBRA UK. 1/01/18 → 31/12/20
  • INtroducing DIabetes Checks in A denTal practice Environment: INDICATE. Zehra Yonel, Thomas Dietrich, Iain Chapple, Laura Grey NIHR Diabetes UK Doctoral Fellowship, Ref: NIHR300171. 1/02/20 → 31/01/23
  • Pathobiology of skin blistering in EB. Iain Chapple, Adrian Heagerty, Sarah Kuehne, Melissa Grant & Josefine Hirschfeld. DEBRA UK. 1/09/19 → 31/08/23
  • Full mouth subgingival microbial sampling. Praveen Sharma, Melissa Grant, Iain Chapple & Sarah Kuehne. THE ORAL & DENTAL RESEARCH TRUST. 1/01/19 → 31/12/20
  • Screening for Underlying Chronic Conditions in dental SettingS (SUCCeSS). Thomas Dietrich, Zehra Yonel & Iain Chapple. THE ORAL & DENTAL RESEARCH TRUST. 1/09/15 → 30/09/21
  • INfluence of Successful Periodontal Intervention on REnal Disease (INSPIRED) Trial. Praveen Sharma, Thomas Dietrich & Iain Chapple. NIHR Doctoral Research Fellowship (Ref:DRF-2014-07-109) 01/04/15-31/03/18 THE ORAL & DENTAL RESEARCH TRUST. 13/03/15 → 31/12/20

Recent and selected projects

  • Bardhan A, Bruckner-Tuderman L, Chapple ILC et al. 2020. Epidermolysis bullosa. Nature Reviews, Disease Primers. 6:78. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41572-020-0210-0

  • Ademowoa OS, Sharma P, Cockwell P, Reis A, Chapple ILC, Griffiths HR, Dias IHK. Distribution of plasma oxidised phosphocholines in chronic kidney disease and periodontitis as a co-morbidity. Free Radical Biol & Med. 2019, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2019. 10.012.

  • Chicca IJ, Milward MR, Chapple IL, Griffiths G, Benson R, Dietrich T, Cooper PR. Development and application of high-content Biological screening for Modulators of NET Production. Frontiers in Immunol 2018, 9, 337. https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2018.00337

  • Roberts H, White P, Dias I, McKaig S, Veeramachaneni R, Thakker N, Grant M, Chapple I. Characterisation of neutrophil function in Papillon-Lefevre Syndrome. J Leukocyte Biology. 2016, 100; 433-444. https://doi.org/10.1189/jlb.5A1015-489R

  • Spengler J, Lugonja B, Ytterberg AJ, Zubarev RA, Creese A, Pearson M, Grant M, Milward M, Lundberg K, Buckley C, Filer A, Raza K, Cooper P, Chapple ILC, Scheel-Toellner D. Release of active peptidyl arginine deiminases by neutrophils can explain production of extracellular citrullinated autoantigens in RA synovial fluid. Arthritis & Rheumatol 2015: 67; 3135-3145. https://doi.org/10.1002/art.39313

Staff

  • Pricipal Investigators: Chapple, Milward, Grant, Sharma, Kebschull, Dietrich, Hirschfeld, Kuehne, Yonel
  • Postdoctoral Researchers: Balacco (Bioinformatics), Kristunas (Biostatistics).
  • Students: Yonel (NIHR Fellow), Muchova (Infection & Immunity), Bardhan (Dermatology), Wen (Dermatology), Jane (ACF), Poveda (Infection & Immunity), Lewin (Infection & Immunity), Jarvis (cardiology), Manhota (SciPhy), Mountcastle (SciPhy), Hayes (Cancer Sciences), Abusurur, Basmah Almaarik, Mungall, Shoker.