Keith L. Kirkwood, DDS, PhD

Assistant Professor Periodontics and Oral Medicine University of Michigan 1011 N University Ave Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1078 Phone: (734) 763-7120 Fax: (734) 763-5503 email: klkirk@umich.edu Education State University of New York at Buffalo, Post-doc, 1999, Molecular Biology State University of New York at Buffalo, Ph.D., 1997, Oral Biology State University of New York at Buffalo, Certificate, 1995, Periodontics West Virginia University, D.D.S., 1991, Dentistry West Virginia University, B.A., 1987, Chemistry

Research Interests

Our lab focus over the past several years seeks to understand cell signaling pathways which impact of cytokine mRNA stability and translation using IL-6 mRNA as a model system of study.   Currently, we are addressing the significance of cytokine mRNA stability in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bone loss which occurs in periodontitis.  We also perform translational studies which address the potential of novel pharmacological agents to disrupt inflammation signaling to potentially treat periodontitis.  In addition to these studies, we have initiated studies in the field of oral cancer.  We are addressing molecular mechanisms of tumor invasion into bone based upon cytokine profiles of expression within the tumor-bone microenvironment.  We have shown that oral squamous cell carcinoma cells express RANKL (in addition to other pro-inflammatory cytokines) and tumor-derived RANKL can support osteoclastogenesis in vitro.