Faculty Directory › UConn Health

Mina Mina, DMD, PhD

Professor and Chair, Pediatric Dentistry
Director, DMD/PHD program.
Co-Director , Skeletal, Craniofacial and Oral Biology training grant

NPI Number: 1427113018
Academic Office Location: Pediatric Dentistry UConn Health 263 Farmington Avenue Farmington, CT 06030-1610
Phone:	860-679-4081
Fax:	860-679-4078
Website(s):	Genetics & Developmental Biology Graduate Program Skeletal Biology and Regeneration Graduate Program

Education & Training
Research
Lab Rotations
Publications

Education

Degree	Institution	Major
DMD	National University of Iran	Dentistry
MDentSc	Case Western Reserve Univeristy	Craniofacial Biology
PhD	University of Connecticut Health Center	Biomedical Sciences

Degree

Institution

Major

DMD

National University of Iran

Dentistry

MDentSc

Case Western Reserve Univeristy

Craniofacial Biology

PhD

University of Connecticut Health Center

Biomedical Sciences

Post-Graduate Training

Training	Institution	Specialty
Residency	Case Western Reserve University Program	Pediatric Dentistry

Training

Institution

Specialty

Residency

Case Western Reserve University Program

Pediatric Dentistry

Awards

Name of Award/Honor	Awarding Organization
UCHC Board of Directors Faculty Recognition Award	UCHC
IADR Distinguished Scientist Award for Craniofacial Biology Research	IADR
Graduate Student Award, American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry	AAPD

Name of Award/Honor

Awarding Organization

UCHC Board of Directors Faculty Recognition Award

UCHC

IADR Distinguished Scientist Award for Craniofacial Biology Research

IADR

Graduate Student Award, American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry

AAPD

My Labaratory is interested in the molecular and cellular mechanisms that regulate the formation of organs in embryos, their renewal and regeneration into adulthood. Most of our studies are focused in initiation and morphogenesis of organs in craniofacial regions including mandible and teeth.

Currently we also study the origin, maintenance, proliferation and differentiation of adult stem cells using adult stem cells in dental pulp.

Accepting Lab Rotation Students: Summer 2022, Fall 2022, and Spring 2023

Lab Rotation Projects
Students with new and innovative ideas about craniofacial and tooth development are more than welcome to participate in rotation project in the laboratory. In addition the students can participate in the ongoing projects in the lab.

The current research projects in the laboratory are:

1. Characterization of adult dental pulp using various markers.

2. Understanding the differentiation potentials of dental pulp and its application towards tissue engineering.

3. Signaling pathways involved in cell fate determination of dental pulp stem cells

Journal Articles

The chromatin accessibility landscape in the dental pulp of mouse molars and incisors.
Joshi, Pujan; Vijaykumar, Anushree; Enkhmandakh, Badam; Shin, Dong-Guk; Mina, Mina; Bayarsaihan, Dashzeveg Acta biochimica Polonica 2022 Feb;69(1):131-138
Single-Cell Transcriptome Analysis Defines Expression of Kabuki Syndrome-Associated KMT2D Targets and Interacting Partners.
Enkhmandakh, Badam; Robson, Paul; Joshi, Pujan; Vijaykumar, Anushree; Shin, Dong-Guk; Mina, Mina; Bayarsaihan, Dashzeveg Stem cells international 2022 Jan;20224969441
Single-cell transcriptome analysis defines mesenchymal stromal cells in the mouse incisor dental pulp.
Bayarsaihan, Dashzeveg; Enkhmandakh, Badam; Vijaykumar, Anushree; Robson, Paul; Mina, Mina Gene expression patterns : GEP 2021 Dec;119228
Genome-wide distribution of 5hmC in the dental pulp of mouse molars and incisors.
Joshi, Pujan; Vijaykumar, Anushree; Enkhmandakh, Badam; Mina, Mina; Shin, Dong-Guk; Bayarsaihan, Dashzeveg Journal of biochemistry 2021 Oct;
Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 High Molecular Weight Isoforms in Dentoalveolar Mineralization.
Millington, Grethel; Joseph, Johnny; Xiao, Liping; Vijaykumar, Anushree; Mina, Mina; Hurley, Marja M Calcified tissue international 2021 Jul;
Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling Promotes the Formation of Preodontoblasts In Vitro.
Vijaykumar, A; Root, S H; Mina, M Journal of dental research 2020 Oct;22034520967353
Dental cell type atlas reveals stem and differentiated cell types in mouse and human teeth.
Krivanek, Jan; Soldatov, Ruslan A; Kastriti, Maria Eleni; Chontorotzea, Tatiana; Herdina, Anna Nele; Petersen, Julian; Szarowska, Bara; Landova, Marie; Matejova, Veronika Kovar; Holla, Lydie Izakovicova; Kuchler, Ulrike; Zdrilic, Ivana Vidovic; Vijaykumar, Anushree; Balic, Anamaria; Marangoni, Pauline; Klein, Ophir D; Neves, Vitor C M; Yianni, Val; Sharpe, Paul T; Harkany, Tibor; Metscher, Brian D; Bajénoff, Marc; Mina, Mina; Fried, Kaj; Kharchenko, Peter V; Adameyko, Igor Nature communications 2020 Sep;11(1):4816
Comparison of osteogenic and dentinogenic potentials of mice incisor and molar pulps in vitro.
Vijaykumar, A; Mina, M Archives of oral biology 2020 Mar;111104647
Expression of BSP-GFPtpz Transgene during Osteogenesis and Reparative Dentinogenesis.
Vijaykumar, A; Dyrkacz, P; Vidovic-Zdrilic, I; Maye, P; Mina, M Journal of dental research 2020 Jan;99(1):89-97
Women Recipients of IADR Distinguished Scientist Awards.
D'Silva, N J; Herren, S S; Mina, M; Bellile, E Advances in dental research 2019 Dec;30(3):85-94
Generation and characterization of DSPP-Cerulean/DMP1-Cherry reporter mice.
Vijaykumar, Anushree; Ghassem-Zadeh, Sean; Vidovic-Zdrilic, Ivana; Komitas, Karren; Adameyko, Igor; Krivanek, Jan; Fu, Yu; Maye, Peter; Mina, Mina Genesis (New York, N.Y. : 2000) 2019 Jul;e23324
Activation of αSMA expressing perivascular cells during reactionary dentinogenesis.
Vidovic-Zdrilic, I; Vijaykumar, A; Mina, M International endodontic journal 2018 Jul;5268-76
FGF2 Enhances Odontoblast Differentiation by αSMA+ Progenitors In Vivo.
Vidovic-Zdrilic, I; Vining, K H; Vijaykumar, A; Kalajzic, I; Mooney, D J; Mina, M Journal of dental research 2018 Apr;971170-1177
Oral Sciences PhD Program Enrollment, Graduates, and Placement: 1994 to 2016.
Herzog, C R; Berzins, D W; DenBesten, P; Gregory, R L; Hargreaves, K M; Messer, R L W; Mina, M; Mooney, M P; Paine, M L; Phillips, C; Presland, R B; Quivey, R G; Scannapieco, F A; Sheridan, J F; Svoboda, K K H; Trackman, P C; Walker, M P; Walker, S G; Wang, C Y; Hu, J C C Journal of dental research 2018 Jan;97483-491
Mineral trioxide aggregate improves healing response of periodontal tissue to injury in mice.
Vidovic Zdrilic, I; de Azevedo Queiroz, I O; Matthews, B G; Gomes-Filho, J E; Mina, M; Kalajzic, I Journal of periodontal research 2017 Jul;521058-1067
FGF Signaling Prevents the Terminal Differentiation of Odontoblasts.
Sagomonyants, K; Kalajzic, I; Maye, P; Mina, M Journal of dental research 2017 Feb;96663-670
αSMA-Expressing Perivascular Cells Represent Dental Pulp Progenitors In Vivo.
Vidovic, I; Banerjee, A; Fatahi, R; Matthews, B G; Dyment, N A; Kalajzic, I; Mina, M Journal of dental research 2016 Nov;96323-330
Enhanced Dentinogenesis of Pulp Progenitors by Early Exposure to FGF2.
Sagomonyants, K; Kalajzic, I; Maye, P; Mina, M Journal of dental research 2015 Aug;94(11):1582-90
Stage-specific effects of fibroblast growth factor 2 on the differentiation of dental pulp cells.
Sagomonyants, Karen; Mina, Mina Cells, tissues, organs 2015 Mar;199(5-6):311-28
Biphasic effects of FGF2 on odontoblast differentiation involve changes in the BMP and Wnt signaling pathways.
Sagomonyants, Karen; Mina, Mina Connective tissue research 2014 Aug;55 Suppl 153-6
In vivo identification of periodontal progenitor cells.
Roguljic, H; Matthews, B G; Yang, W; Cvija, H; Mina, M; Kalajzic, I Journal of dental research 2013 Aug;92(8):709-15
A feasibility study for the analysis of reparative dentinogenesis in pOBCol3.6GFPtpz transgenic mice.
Frozoni, M; Balic, A; Sagomonyants, K; Zaia, A A; Line, S R P; Mina, M International endodontic journal 2012 Oct;45(10):907-14
Analysis of the contribution of nonresident progenitor cells and hematopoietic cells to reparative dentinogenesis using parabiosis model in mice.
Frozoni, Marcos; Zaia, Alexandre Augusto; Line, Sergio Roberto Peres; Mina, Mina Journal of endodontics 2012 Sep;38(9):1214-9
Identification of secretory odontoblasts using DMP1-GFP transgenic mice.
Balic, Anamaria; Mina, Mina Bone 2011 Apr;48(4):927-37
Characterization of stem and progenitor cells in the dental pulp of erupted and unerupted murine molars.
Balic, Anamaria; Aguila, H Leonardo; Caimano, Melissa J; Francone, Victor P; Mina, Mina Bone 2010 Jun;46(6):1639-51
Prx1 and Prx2 cooperatively regulate the morphogenesis of the medial region of the mandibular process.
Balic, Anamaria; Adams, Douglas; Mina, Mina Developmental dynamics : an official publication of the American Association of Anatomists 2009 Oct;238(10):2599-613
Twisted gastrulation limits apoptosis in the distal region of the mandibular arch in mice.
MacKenzie, BreAnne; Wolff, Ryan; Lowe, Nick; Billington, Charles J; Peterson, Ashley; Schmidt, Brian; Graf, Daniel; Mina, Mina; Gopalakrishnan, Rajaram; Petryk, Anna Developmental biology 2009 Apr;328(1):13-23
Signaling pathways regulating the expression of Prx1 and Prx2 in the chick mandibular mesenchyme.
Doufexi, Aikaterini-El; Mina, Mina Developmental dynamics : an official publication of the American Association of Anatomists 2008 Nov;237(11):3115-27
Expression and function of Dlx genes in the osteoblast lineage.
Li, Haitao; Marijanovic, Inga; Kronenberg, Mark S; Erceg, Ivana; Stover, Mary Louise; Velonis, Dimitrios; Mina, Mina; Heinrich, Jelica Gluhak; Harris, Stephen E; Upholt, William B; Kalajzic, Ivo; Lichtler, Alexander C Developmental biology 2008 Apr;316(2):458-70
Roles of FGFR3 during morphogenesis of Meckel's cartilage and mandibular bones.
Havens, Bruce A; Velonis, Dimitris; Kronenberg, Mark S; Lichtler, Alex C; Oliver, Bonnie; Mina, Mina Developmental biology 2008 Apr;316(2):336-49
FGF signaling in mandibular skeletogenesis.
Mina, Mina; Havens, Bruce; Velonis, D A Orthodontics & craniofacial research 2007 May;10(2):59-66
Mandibular phenotype of p20C/EBPbeta transgenic mice: Reduced alveolar bone mass and site-specific dentin dysplasia.
Savage, T; Bennett, T; Huang, Y-F; Kelly, P L; Durant, N E; Adams, D J; Mina, M; Harrison, J R Bone 2006 Sep;39(3):552-64
Tissue-specific expression of Fgfr2b and Fgfr2c isoforms, Fgf10 and Fgf9 in the developing chick mandible.
Havens, Bruce A; Rodgers, Barbara; Mina, Mina Archives of oral biology 2006 Feb;51(2):134-45
Analysis of developmental potentials of dental pulp in vitro using GFP transgenes.
Balic, A; Mina, M Orthodontics & craniofacial research 2005 Nov;8(4):252-8
Visualizing levels of osteoblast differentiation by a two-color promoter-GFP strategy: Type I collagen-GFPcyan and osteocalcin-GFPtpz.
Bilic-Curcic, I; Kronenberg, M; Jiang, X; Bellizzi, J; Mina, M; Marijanovic, I; Gardiner, E M; Rowe, D W Genesis (New York, N.Y. : 2000) 2005 Oct;43(2):87-98
Histological analysis of GFP expression in murine bone.
Jiang, Xi; Kalajzic, Zana; Maye, Peter; Braut, Alen; Bellizzi, Justin; Mina, Mina; Rowe, David W The journal of histochemistry and cytochemistry : official journal of the Histochemistry Society 2005 May;53(5):593-602
Distinct functions for Bmp signaling in lip and palate fusion in mice.
Liu, Wei; Sun, Xiaoxia; Braut, Alen; Mishina, Yuji; Behringer, Richard R; Mina, Mina; Martin, James F Development (Cambridge, England) 2005 Mar;132(6):1453-61
Dentin matrix protein 1 expression during osteoblastic differentiation, generation of an osteocyte GFP-transgene.
Kalajzic, I; Braut, A; Guo, D; Jiang, X; Kronenberg, M S; Mina, M; Harris, M A; Harris, S E; Rowe, D W Bone 2004 Jul;35(1):74-82
Analysis of the odontogenic and osteogenic potentials of dental pulp in vivo using a Col1a1-2.3-GFP transgene.
Braut, Alen; Kollar, Edward J; Mina, Mina The International journal of developmental biology 2003 May;47(4):281-92
Overexpression of Dlx5 in chicken calvarial cells accelerates osteoblastic differentiation.
Tadic, Tade; Dodig, Milan; Erceg, Ivana; Marijanovic, Inga; Mina, Mina; Kalajzic, Zana; Velonis, Dimitrios; Kronenberg, Mark S; Kosher, Robert A; Ferrari, Deborah; Lichtler, Alexander C Journal of bone and mineral research : the official journal of the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research 2002 Jun;17(6):1008-14
Region- and stage-specific effects of FGFs and BMPs in chick mandibular morphogenesis.
Mina, Mina; Wang, Yu-Hsing; Ivanisevic, Ana-Maria; Upholt, William B; Rodgers, Barbara Developmental dynamics : an official publication of the American Association of Anatomists 2002 Mar;223(3):333-52
Col1a1-GFP transgene expression in developing incisors.
Braut, A; Kalajzic, I; Kalajzic, Z; Rowe, D W; Kollar, E J; Mina, M Connective tissue research 2002 Jan;43(2-3):216-9
Effects of BMP-7 on mouse tooth mesenchyme and chick mandibular mesenchyme.
Wang, Y H; Rutherford, B; Upholt, W B; Mina, M Developmental dynamics : an official publication of the American Association of Anatomists 1999 Dec;216(4-5):320-35
Odontogenic epithelium induces similar molecular responses in chick and mouse mandibular mesenchyme.
Wang, Y H; Upholt, W B; Sharpe, P T; Kollar, E J; Mina, M Developmental dynamics : an official publication of the American Association of Anatomists 1998 Dec;213(4):386-97
Functional and morphologic evidence of the presence of tissue-plasminogen activator in vascular nerves: implications for a neurologic control of vessel wall fibrinolysis and rigidity.
Wang, Y; Hand, A R; Wang, Y H; Mina, M; Gillies, C; Peng, T; Cone, R E; O'Rourke, J Journal of neuroscience research 1998 Aug;53(4):443-53
EGF does not induce Msx-1 and Msx-2 in dental mesenchyme.
Wang, Y H; Kollar, E J; Upholt, W B; Mina, M European journal of oral sciences 1998 Jan;106 Suppl 1(1 SUPPL.):100-3
Downregulation of Msx-2 expression results in chondrogenesis in the medial region of the avian mandible.
Mina, M; Gluhak, J; Rodgers, B Connective tissue research 1996 Jan;35(1-4):79-84
Tenascin-C is associated with early stages of chondrogenesis by chick mandibular ectomesenchymal cells in vivo and in vitro.
Gluhak, J; Mais, A; Mina, M Developmental dynamics : an official publication of the American Association of Anatomists 1996 Jan;205(1):24-40
Experimental analysis of Msx-1 and Msx-2 gene expression during chick mandibular morphogenesis.
Mina, M; Gluhak, J; Upholt, W B; Kollar, E J; Rogers, B Developmental dynamics : an official publication of the American Association of Anatomists 1995 Feb;202(2):195-214
Enhancement of avian mandibular chondrogenesis in vitro in the absence of epithelium.
Mina, M; Upholt, W B; Kollar, E J Archives of oral biology 1994 Jul;39(7):551-62
Stage-related chondrogenic potential of avian mandibular ectomesenchymal cells.
Mina, M; Upholt, W B; Kollar, E J Differentiation; research in biological diversity 1991 Sep;48(1):9-16
Temporal and spatial expression of genes for cartilage extracellular matrix proteins during avian mandibular arch development.
Mina, M; Kollar, E J; Upholt, W B Differentiation; research in biological diversity 1991 Sep;48(1):17-24
Assay of ATP-sulfurylase activity from rat liver by high-performance liquid chromatography.
Mina, M; Rossomando, E F Journal of chromatography 1988 Dec;43363-72
An evaluation of the morphogenic and anatomic effects of the functional regulator utilizing the counterpart analysis.
Enlow, D H; DiGangi, D; McNamara, J A; Mina, M European journal of orthodontics 1988 Aug;10(3):192-202
The induction of odontogenesis in non-dental mesenchyme combined with early murine mandibular arch epithelium.
Mina, M; Kollar, E J Archives of oral biology 1987 Jan;32(2):123-7

Abstracts

Varying PLA functionality and texture to influence osteoprogenitors.
Lakhman R, O’Brien K, Kasi R, Weiss RA, Kuhn LT, Mina M, and Goldberg AJ. Academy of Dental Materials 2010 Oct;

Conference Papers

Mineralization and expression of Col1a1-3.6GFP transgene in primary dental pulp culture.
Balic, Anamaria; Rodgers, Barbara; Mina, Mina Cells, tissues, organs 2009 Jan;189(1-4):163-8
New insight into progenitor/stem cells in dental pulp using Col1a1-GFP transgenes.
Mina, Mina; Braut, Alen Cells, tissues, organs 2004 Jan;176(1-3):120-33
Morphogenesis of the medial region of the developing mandible is regulated by multiple signaling pathways.
Mina, M Cells, tissues, organs 2001 Jan;169(3):295-301
Role of the early epithelium in the patterning of the teeth and Meckel's cartilage.
Kollar, E J; Mina, M Journal of craniofacial genetics and developmental biology 1991 Jan;11(4):223-8

Reviews

Regulation of mandibular growth and morphogenesis.
Mina, M Critical reviews in oral biology and medicine : an official publication of the American Association of Oral Biologists 2001 Jan;12(4):276-300
Interaction between the neural crest and extracellular matrix proteins in craniofacial skeletogenesis.
Mina, M; Kollar, E J; Bishop, J A; Rohrbach, D H Critical reviews in oral biology and medicine : an official publication of the American Association of Oral Biologists 1990 Jan;1(2):79-87