Catherine E. Ovitt, Ph.D.

Contact Information

Phone Numbers

Office: (585) 275-2920

Fax: (585) 276-0190

Research Labs

Lab: (585) 273-3076

Visit Lab Website

Locations

University of Rochester Medical Center
School of Medicine and Dentistry
601 Elmwood Ave, Box 611
Rochester, NY 14642

Faculty Appointments

Associate Professor - Department of Biomedical Genetics , Center for Oral Biology (SMD)

Biography

Research

Normal function of the salivary glands is critical for the maintenance of oral health. Radiation treatment of patients with head and neck cancers, as well as autoimmune diseases such as Sjögren's syndrome cause cellular damage in the salivary glands that is usually severe, irreversible, and impairs normal function. The long-range goal of this laboratory is to establish therapeutic strategies for repair or regeneration of the salivary glands. Basic research projects in our laboratory include the identification and characterization of progenitor cells involved in salivary gland development and regeneration, and the factors required for differentiation of secretory cells. Applied projects address strategies for protection of the salivary glands from radiation-induced damage, and for promoting regeneration of damaged glands.

Credentials

Education

1977
BS | University of Connecticut
Arts & Sciences

1987
PhD | Washington University
Molecular Biology

Post-doctoral Training & Residency

1987 - 1997
Postdoctoral Fellow, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany

Publications

Journal Articles

10/2018
Varghese JJ, Schmale IL, Mickelson D, Hansen ME, Newlands SD, Benoit DSW, Korshunov VA, Ovitt CE. "Localized Delivery of Amifostine Enhances Salivary Gland Radioprotection." Journal of dental research.. 2018 Oct 0; 97(11):1252-1259. Epub 2018 Apr 10.

8/7/2018
Weng PL, Aure MH, Maruyama T, Ovitt CE. "Limited Regeneration of Adult Salivary Glands after Severe Injury Involves Cellular Plasticity." Cell reports.. 2018 Aug 7; 24(6):1464-1470.e3.

5/4/2018
Varghese JJ, Schmale IL, Hansen ME, Newlands SD, Benoit DSW, Ovitt CE. "Murine Salivary Functional Assessment via Pilocarpine Stimulation Following Fractionated Radiation." Journal of visualized experiments : JoVE.. 2018 May 4; (135)Epub 2018 May 04.

Books & Chapters

1998
Chapter Title: The molecular biology of Oct-4 in the early mouse embryo
Book Title: Molecular Human Redproduction
Author List: Ovitt Ce; Scholer HR.
Published By: Molecular Human Reproduction1998

1998
Chapter Title: Transgenic analysis of embryonic expression using LacZ as a reporter.
Book Title: Microinjection and Transgenesis. Strategies and protocols.
Author List: Ovitt, C.E.;Yeom, Y.I.; Schöler, H.R.
Edited By: Cid-Arregui, A.; García-Carrancá
Published By: Springer-Verlag1998 in Heidelberg, Berlin

1998
Chapter Title: Oct-4: more than just a POUerful marker of the mammalian germline?
Book Title: APMIS
Author List: Brehm, A.; Ovitt, C.E.; Schöler, H.R.
Published By: APMIS1998

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