Orthodontics Research

Orthodontics comes from the root words "ortho" meaning straight or correct and "dontia" meaning of or related to the teeth. Orthodontics is a specialty within dentistry that combines various aspects of science--biologic science, computer science, mechanical science, and material science--into "an art form." <more>

Fontan Research Group

Each year, about 1% of all infants are born with congenital heart defects. A congenital heart defect occurs when the heart or blood vessels near the heart do not develop normally before birth. The right heart bypass, known as a "Modified Fontan", is the most common method used to establish viable pulmonary circulation in the infant. <more>

Tendon Cells and Gap Junctions

Just as we use a string to control the elaborate movements of a yo-yo, tendons in our body permit us to control our own fine movements. Muscle force is transformed into a body movement when the force is transferred through a tendon to bone. Trauma or surgery to a tendon can disrupt this process. Trauma disrupts the tendon on a cellular level and can have vast ranging effects on blood vessels, nerves and cell connections. <more>