Mo Kwan Kang, M.S., Ph.D., D.D.S.

Mo Kwan Kang, M.S., Ph.D., D.D.S. is a professor and the chair of the Section of Endodontics and the Division of Constitutive & Regenerative Sciences at the UCLA School of Dentistry. Dr. Kang also holds a dual appointment with the Section of Oral Biology and is the first person to hold the Dr. Jack A. Weichman Chair in Endodontics.

• B.S., University of California, Los Angeles, CA (Biochemistry), 1994

• M.S., University of California, Los Angeles, CA (Biochemistry), 1995

• Ph.D., University of California, Los Angeles, CA (Oral Biology and Medicine), 2000

• D.D.S., University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 2001

• Certificate, Endodontics, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 2003

The current research in Dr. Kang’s laboratory is focused on oral mucosal diseases, including oral cancer, chemical- and radiation-induced oral mucositis, and aging-associated oral epithelial dysfunction.  These studies were developed in his laboratory from extensive investigations of the mechanisms underlying cellular senescence (aging) and immortalization of normal human oral keratinocytes (NHOK).

• 08/01 – 07/08, NIDCR/NIH (R01) Park, No-Hee (PI), Kang, Mo (Investigator)

• HPV, Genetic Instability, and Oral Cancer

• 08/03 – 08/08, NIDCR/NIH (K22) Principal Investigator

• Oxidative Stress, DNA Damage, and Cellular Aging

• 03/07 – 02/12, NIDCR/NIH (R01) Principal Investigator

• Effects of Antiretroviral Therapy on Telomerase Function in Human Oral Epithelium

• 07/07 – 06/12, NIDCR/NIH (K08) Kim, Reuben (PI), Kang, Mo (Co-Mentor)

• Combined Effect of HIV and HPV in Oral Cancer

• 09/07 – 08/12, Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI #5100610)

  Marcus, Marvin (Program Director), Kang, Mo (Faculty Mentor)

• Pipeline for Dentist/ Scientists

• 03/08 – 03/09, NIAID/NIH & UCLA Center for Biological Radioprotectors (CBRP) Principal Investigator

• Radioprotection of mucosal and cutaneous tissues by Bmi-1

• 06/08 – 05/13, NIDCR/NIH (K02) Principal Investigator

• Phenotypic and genetic effect of antiretroviral therapy on human oral epithelium

• 07/08 – 06/10, American Association of Endodontists Principal Investigator

• Role of Bmi-1 in Regulation of Dental Pulp Stem Cell Differentiatin

• West Los Angeles Dental Society

• California Dental Association

• Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, Los Angeles, California

• Dental Research Institute, UCLA School of Dentistry

• American Dental Association

• American Association of Endodontists

• American Association for Cancer Research

• International Association for Dental Research

Patient Care

Dr. Kang practices endodontics in the Faculty Group Dental Practice.

Teaching Activities

• DS462, Endodontic Technique (Laboratory Instructor)

• DS2310.14, Biological Basis for Periradicular Therapy (Lecturer)

• DS320.44, Endodontic Research for Postgraduate students (Course Chair)

• DS413c, Advanced Endodontic Diagnosis and Treatment (Lecturer)

• AS104, Clinical Review Course for PPID Students (Course Chair)

• DS309.081, Molecular Biology of Oral Diseases for Periodontics Postgraduate Students (Lecturer)

• CL403.01, Endodontic Clinic (Course Co-Chair)

• CL404.01, Endodontic Clinic (Course Chair)

• Introduction to Endodontics (Course Chair)