Intramural Labs at a Glance

Learn what it’s like to work in a lab at NIDCR.

Adeno-Associated Virus Biology Section

Lab chief Dr. John Chiorini and investigator Dr. Thomas Pranzatelli describe their work to understand the genetic and immune factors behind Sjögren’s disease, an autoimmune condition that attacks saliva-producing glands. Their findings have led to a gene therapy trial to repair damaged salivary glands and improve saliva flow for individuals experiencing chronic dry mouth.

Molecular Genetics Section

Pain really is in your head. Lab chief Dr. Mark Hoon and doctoral student Yizhen Zhang describe their work to understand how the brain modifies pain signals to change our perception of pain under different circumstances. What they learn could help scientists find safer alternatives to opioids for treating pain.

Skeletal Biology Section

Lab chief Dr. Pamela Robey and postdoctoral fellow Dr. Kathryn Futrega share their work to better understand skeletal stem cells and what guides them to become bone or cartilage. Their findings could inform therapies to regenerate the jawbone after injury or disease or to repair cartilage to prevent the need for hip replacements.

Metabolic Bone Disorders Unit

In this video, lab chief Dr. Alison Boyce and staff clinician Dr. Vivian Szymczuk of the Metabolic Bone Disorders Unit talk about the methods their lab uses to understand and test treatments for fibrous dysplasia/McCune-Albright syndrome, a rare disease of the bones, endocrine system, and skin.

Neural Crest Development & Disease Unit

Take a peek inside the Neural Crest Development & Disease Unit, and hear from lab chief and Stadtman Tenure Track Investigator Dr. Laura Kerosuo and dentist-scientist Dr. Shaun Abrams, who recently departed the Kerosuo lab to start his own lab at NIDCR as an NIH Independent Research Scholar.
Last Reviewed
July 2025