AADR Strides in Science

Luciana Shaddox joined the University of Kentucky, Lexington, Division of Periodontology as a professor with tenure in July 2018 and she became the Associate Dean of Research for the College of Dentistry in July 2019. Shaddox obtained her D.D.S., M.S. at University of Campinas, Brazil, and her Ph.D. at University of Florida, Gainesville, in 2004. She completed a post-doctorate in Oral Microbiology at University of Florida in 2005, became a full-time faculty member in the department of Periodontology in 2006, was tenured in 2012 and remained with the University of Florida until July 2018, when she joined University of Kentucky. Currently, Shaddox directs all research activities, actively participates in Periodontology courses and several college and national committees and has an intense clinical translational research program supported by NIH since 2009. Her main research focus is aimed at evaluating immunological, microbiological and genetic factors involved with localized aggressive periodontal disease in children and adolescents. She has over 60 publications, has been an ad-hoc member of several NIH study sections and is the recipient of several research student-mentored awards and personal awards, including the prestigious American Academy of Periodontology Teaching Award and the University of Florida Professorship Award.