
UCLA School of Dentistry
10833 Le Conte Ave.
Box 951668
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1668
Biography
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.
Educational & Professional Background
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
Research & Interests
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
Professional Memberships
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
Additional Information
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)