ANN ARBOR—Dr. Jacques Nör, an assistant professor at the University of Michigan School of Dentistry, has won a prestigious New Dentist Scientist Award from the American Dental Association Health Foundation. Established in 1995, the award provides funds to help the recipients advance their research career.

Nör, an assistant professor in the Department of Cariology, Restorative Sciences, and Endodontics, is only the 18th recipient of the award since its creation. He received the award for his research on how blood vessel survival affects the growth of oral tumors.

According to Nör, the survival of patients who have been treated for malignant oral tumors has not been significantly enhanced during the past 30 years. The long-term goal of his research is to improve a patient’s chances for survival by taking a different approach to treatment. “Other research has shown that it’s possible to slow down tumor growth by cutting off its blood supply,” he said. “But we still don’t know how to achieve this goal in patients with oral cancers.”

Nör’s laboratory is working on a novel strategy that attempts to starve oral tumor cells to death by blocking the influx of nutrients and oxygen to those cells. It is based on the selective activation of a group of genes (Caspases) that induce the death of cells that form blood vessels inside oral tumors. The work involves collaboration with Gabriel Nuñez, a professor at the U-M Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Nör has received other awards for his research. In 1999, he earned two first-place Hatton Awards during the annual meeting of the International Association of Dental Research and the American Association of Dental Research for his Ph.D. work in the lab of Dr. Peter Polverini. That same year he became the first student to graduate from the School of Dentistry’s Oral Health Sciences Ph.D. program.

“I especially appreciate the support I have received over the years from Dr. Martha Somerman,” Nör said. “Her strong letter of recommendation was a major factor that helped me win the New Dentist Scientist Award.” Somerman is the School’s associate dean for research.

The annual award provides two individuals up to $7,500 each to support their research if it is equally matched by their institution.

The U-M School of Dentistry is one of the nation’s leading dental schools engaged in oral health care education, research, patient care, and community service. General dental care clinics and specialty clinics providing advanced treatment enable the School to offer dental services and programs to patients throughout Michigan. Classroom and clinic instruction train future dentists, dental specialists, and dental hygienists for practice in private offices, hospitals, academia, and public agencies. Research seeks to discover and apply new knowledge that can help patients worldwide. More information is available on the Web at http://www.dent.umich.edu.

Contact: Jerry Mastey or School of Dentistry

Related Links:

• Department of Cariology, Restorative Sciences, and Endodontics
• Gabriel Nuñez
• International Association of Dental Research
• Dr. Martha Somerman