CONTACT INFORMATIONCREDENTIALSAWARDSPUBLICATIONSCatherine E. Ovitt, Ph.D.Contact InformationPhone NumbersOffice: (585) 275-2920Fax: (585) 276-0190Research LabsVisit Lab WebsiteLocationsUniversity of Rochester Medical CenterSchool of Medicine and Dentistry601 Elmwood Ave, Box 611Rochester, NY 14642Faculty AppointmentsProfessor (Part-Time) - Department of Biomedical Genetics (SMD) BiographyResearchNormal 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.CredentialsEducation1977BS | University of ConnecticutArts & Sciences1987PhD | Washington UniversityMolecular BiologyPost-doctoral Training & Residency1987 - 1997Postdoctoral Fellow, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, GermanyAwards2016Elected "Salivary Gland Researcher of the Year"Sponsor: IADR Salivary Gland Research Group2016International Association of Dental Research Innovation in Oral Care AwardSponsor: International Association of Dental Research1987 - 1990Postdoctoral Fellowship AwardSponsor: Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, GermanyVIEW ALL expand_morePublicationsJournal Articles5/5/2023Mereness JA, Piraino L, Chen CY, Moyston T, Song Y, Shubin A, DeLouise LA, Ovitt CE, Benoit DSW. "Slow hydrogel matrix degradation enhances salivary gland mimetic phenotype." Acta biomaterialia.. 2023 May 5; Epub 2023 May 05. 10/20/2022Uchida H, Ingalls MH, Maruyama EO, Johnston CJ, Hernady E, Faustoferri RC, Ovitt CE. "Short-term and bystander effects of radiation on murine submandibular glands." Disease models & mechanisms.. 2022 Oct 20; Epub 2022 Oct 20. 3/30/2022Song Y, Uchida H, Sharipol A, Piraino L, Mereness JA, Ingalls MH, Rebhahn J, Newlands SD, DeLouise LA, Ovitt CE, Benoit DSW. "Author Correction: Development of a functional salivary gland tissue chip with potential for high-content drug screening." Communications biology.. 2022 Mar 30; 5(1):315. Epub 2022 Mar 30. VIEW ALL PUBLICATIONS