School of Dentistry celebrates renovated laboratories with ribbon-cutting ceremony
(From left): Shan Zhao Reeves, MBA, FACHE, vice dean for finance and administration; Brij B Singh, PhD, associate dean for research and interim director for the Center for Regenerative Sciences; Kenneth M. Hargreaves, DDS, PhD, dean of the School of Dentistry, and director of the Center for Pain Therapeutics and Addiction Research; Waseem Alezz, assistant director of facilities project management; Raymundo Rivera, executive director of engineering and construction management.
On July 21, the UT Health San Antonio School of Dentistry held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the completion of laboratory renovations on the third floor of the dental building.
Kenneth M. Hargreaves, DDS, PhD, professor and dean of the School of Dentistry and director of the Center for Pain Therapeutics and Addiction Research, opened the event by thanking everyone who contributed to the project and the Facilities Management team for their work.
“Without facilities like this, it does not matter how great your ideas are; we could not execute them,” Hargreaves continued, “These beautiful, modern facilities will foster cutting-edge research leading to new diagnostic and treatment modalities. With them, we can make lives, and smiles, better.”
The renovated laboratories, modernized with an open-concept design to promote collaboration and team science, will enhance and expand the cutting-edge research already underway within the Center for Regenerative Sciences, supporting the innovative work of our current faculty. These state-of-the-art facilities also play a vital role in the school’s strategic recruitment efforts, offering an exceptional environment for future Principal Investigators whose research aligns with this rapidly growing area of biomedical science.
Renovation of the laboratory has been completed.
“This renovation marks a significant milestone for the School of Dentistry, which has long been recognized as a leader in research excellence at UT Health San Antonio. The newly modernized laboratories will empower groundbreaking work by our faculty in the Center for Regenerative Sciences and help attract top-tier researchers who will shape the future of innovation in this cutting-edge field,” shared Brij B Singh, PhD, associate dean for research and interim director of the Center for Regenerative Sciences.
The renovation encompassed about 7,500 square feet of old laboratory and office space. The new laboratories will accommodate the future director of the Center for Regenerative Sciences, six to eight Principal Investigators and their lab staff.
“After two years of anticipation, the designated laboratories devoted to research innovation and experiments have finally come to fruition. Not only does it mark a significant milestone of bringing modernized labs to the School of Dentistry to support existing researchers, but it will also provide a rich environment for recruiting prominent scientists,” stated Shan Zhao Reeves, MBA, FACHE, vice dean for finance and administration.
Following the remarks, the ribbon was cut to symbolize the completion of the renovations and the beginning of a new era of science for the School of Dentistry.
View more photos from the ribbon-cutting ceremony and take a closer look inside the renovated laboratories at this link.
(Back row, from left): Anibal Diogenes, DDS, PhD, chair of the Department of Endodontics; Yong-Hee P. Chun, DDS, PhD, associate professor in the Department of Periodontics; Shuo Chen, MD, PhD, professor in the Department of Developmental Dentistry; Brij B Singh, PhD, associate dean for research and interim director of the Center for Regenerative Sciences. (Front row, from left): Scott G Stafford, DDS, MBA, FICD, associate dean of patient care; Stefanie Seitz, DDS, associate dean for Academic, Faculty, and Student Affairs; Juanita Lozano-Pineda, DDS, MPH, associate dean for External Affairs and director of Hispanic Center of Excellence; Kenneth M. Hargreaves, DDS, PhD, dean of the School of Dentistry, and director of the Center for Pain Therapeutics and Addiction Research.