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 - Department of Biomedical Genetics , Center for Oral Biology (SMD) Professor - Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine (SMD) - JointBiographyResearchNormal 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 Articles11/9/2020Luitje ME, Israel AK, Cummings MA, Giampoli EJ, Allen PD, Newlands SD, Ovitt CE. "Long-term maintenance of acinar cells in human submandibular glands after radiation therapy." International journal of radiation oncology, biology, physics.. 2020 Nov 9; Epub 2020 Nov 09. 1/4/2020Ovitt CE, Benoit DSW, Aure MH, Joe DS, Schutrum BE, Weng PL, Felong TJ, Sharipol A, Shubin AD. "Stress or injury induces cellular plasticity in salivary gland acinar cells." Cell and tissue research.. 2020 Jan 4; Epub 2020 Jan 04. 9/27/2019Weng PL, Luitje ME, Ovitt CE. "Cellular Plasticity in Salivary Gland Regeneration." Oral diseases.. 2019 Sep 27; Epub 2019 Sep 27. VIEW ALL PUBLICATIONS