Lecturer: Songtao Shi, M.D,PhD
Professor，Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology
U Penn School of Dental Medicine, USA
Biography of Dr. Songtao Shi:
Songtao Shi, D.D.S., Ph.D., is Professor and Department Chair at the University
of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine. Dr. Shi received his D.D.S. degree and
certificate in Pediatric Dentistry from the Peking University School of Stomatology
and Ph.D. in Craniofacial Biology from the University of Southern California. Prior to
joining the faculty at the University of Pennsylvania, he served as a Principal
Investigator and Clinical Fellow for nine years at the National Institute of Dental and
Craniofacial Research and a professor for more than eight years at the University of
Southern California.
His research program focuses on understanding mechanism of mesenchymal
stem cell (MSC)-associated diseases, developing new experimental disease models,
and exploring feasibility of translating these bench discoveries to clinical therapies.
His group and his collaborators were the first to identify dental pulp stem cells, baby
tooth stem cells, periodontal ligament stem cells, root apical papilla stem cells,
tendon stem cells, gingiva stem cells, sclera MSCs, and benign tumor MSCs from
keloid and ossifying fibroma. These novel and landmark discoveries have opened
opportunity for scientists to investigate oral tissues derived stem cells and their use for
tissue engineering, disease modeling, and clinical treatment. In translational study, Dr.
Shi’s team has used these stem cells to regenerate a variety of tissues, including dentin,
pulp, periodontal ligament, tendon, bone, bio-root. Dr. Shi and his collaborators were
the first to use MSCs to treat systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), periodontitis,
bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw-like disease (BRONJ) in animal
models and patients. Additionally, Dr. Shi and his collaborators were the first to
generate BRONJ, osteoradionecrosis, keloid, and ossifying fibroma disease models in
mice and swine. To understand mechanisms of MSC-based therapies, Dr. Shi’s team
was the first to reveal that recipient immune cells regulated cell-based bone
regeneration. Additionally, Dr. Shi and his collaborators discovered that the interplay
between the donor cells and recipient T cells determined MSC-mediated
immunotherapeutic effect in human and mouse model. Recently, Dr. Shi’s team first
time showed that MSCs contribute to orofacial
benign tumor development via an
epigenetic regulation network.
Dr. Shi has published more than 160 peerreviewed articles in a variety of
high-impact scientific journals, of which he served as the corresponding author in Nat
Medicine, Cell Stem Cell, Lancet, J Clin Invest, Nat Biotechnol, Journal of
Experimental Medicine, Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, Cell Research, Blood, J Bone
Miner Res, Stem Cells, and J Dent
Res. Dr. Shi’s research is supported by NIH
grants and funding from California Institute of Regenerative Medicine. Clinically, Dr.
Shi hold Dental Licensure of State of California and had experience working at NIH
hospital and private practice section in USA. This background makes Dr. Shi a highly
qualified translational researcher to study orofacial disorders and explore cure for
orofacial diseases. Dr. Shi has served on several local and national committees and
boards including Scientific Editor for the PLoS ONE and Associate Editor for Oral
Diseases. He is recipient of the 2013 IADR Distinguished Scientist Award for Pulp
Biology & Regeneration. His service has also included: Scientific Advisory Boards
for the Journal of Endodontics, the Scientific Committee of Chinese Stomatological
Association, and the Scientific Committee of Chinese Military Stomatology Research
Institute. He is on the editorial board of Stem Cell Research & Therapy, the editorial
board of World Journal of Stem Cells, and the editorial board of Chinese Journal of
Dental Research. Dr. Shi is Changjing Scholar in the Fourth Military Medical
University, Distinguished Visiting Professor in Tongji University, Visiting Professor
in XiangYa School of Medicine & Stomatology, Central South University (CSU), and
distinguished visiting professor in
Dankook University, Korea.