Noverr Receives NIH Grant

Mairi Noverr, PhD, associate professor in the Department of Prosthodontics, has recently received a grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Her third grant since joining the LSUSD faculty, the new five-year RO1 grant brings $1.7 million in new research funding to the dental school for the study of biofilms. Biofilms are dense microbial communities encased in a sticky matrix that adhere to surfaces such as teeth, dental prostheses, or implants.

After completing her PhD in microbiology, immunology and parasitology at the University of Michigan in 2002, Dr. Noverr served as a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Michigan Medical School. In 2005 she joined Wayne State University School of Medicine in Detroit as an assistant professor of immunology and microbiology. Dr. Noverr came to LSUSD in 2009 as a faculty member in the Department of Oral and Craniofacial Biology and in 2012 she joined the Department of Prosthodontics.

Mairi Noverr, PhD

Dr. Noverr's research uses a novel rat denture model to study host response to multiple factors that affect biofilm formation. Development of this model is the result of a collaboration among Dr. Noverr, Dr. Alika Yu in the Department of Prosthodontics, and Dr. Paul Fidel in the Department of Oral and Craniofacial Biology. The project investigates Candida-associated denture stomatitis, a commonly occurring fungal infection of the mouth caused by denture irritation. Symptoms of denture stomatitis, which include swelling, painful inflammation, and pebble-like sores, can negatively impact a sufferer's quality of life. The infection has a high recurrence rate.

The major goals of this grant are to determine the role of biofilm formation in Candida-associated denture stomatitis and determine how the immune response influences development of the disease. This rat model will also allow investigation of host, bacterial, and fungal factors that affect Candida biofilms in humans.

Rauber Receives Diabetes Association Award

Nick Rauber, DDS '07, was one of four people nationwide to receive the 2012 GIVE Financial Performance Award from the American Diabetes Association (ADA). Recognized for his contribution of funds raised at the Swollfest Fishing Rodeo, he received the award at the ADA Community Volunteer Leadership Conference in New Orleans in November. John Guzzardo, executive director of the ADA, Louisiana and Mississippi, presented the award.

Nick Rauber accepts American Diabetic Association Award from John Guzzardo

Dr. Rauber, who practices dentistry in Baton Rouge, started the rodeo in 1997 while a junior at Jesuit High School. Swollfest, held the second weekend in June in Grand Isle, has raised over $500,000 to benefit the ADA and the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Visit www.swollfest.com for more information.

1957 Class Photo Joins LSUSD Collection

Some years ago, the Loyola Class of 1957 composite was miraculously rescued from Loyola trash by the son of Dr. Doug Keller, a member of the class. Dr. Keller brought the composite to classmate Dr. Vincent Liberto, who realized that 1957 was not in the LSUSD collection of Loyola School of Dentistry composites. Susannah Richard, the school's graphic designer, reproduced and reframed the composite, which was recently presented to Dr. Liberto and classmates at their monthly breakfast meeting in the new school cafeteria.

Loyola Class of 1957 members Drs. Clay Hunley, John Shea, and Vince Liberto with Dean Gremillion