Scientific Director
Senior Investigator
NIH NIDCR
Building 30 Room 5A507
30 Convent Dr MSC 4370
Bethesda, MD 20892-4370
United States
The loss of salivary gland function often occurs in people who are treated with radiation for head and neck cancer and whose glands lie in the radiation field, or have Sjogrens syndrome or certain rare genetic syndromes affecting fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) signaling. Loss of saliva impairs their oral health and reduces their quality of life. Understanding how salivary glands develop provides targets for the repair and regeneration of damaged adult glands. Dr. Hoffman and his colleagues investigate how FGFR signaling in the extracellular matrix regulates gene expression that directs stem/progenitor cells to form a functional salivary gland. Organogenesis involves interactions among multiple cell types, including nerves and salivary cells. Supplying nerves to an organ (innervation) is essential for secretion and regeneration of function after damage. Dr. Hoffman’s research team aims to develop therapies to repair and regenerate glands based on information learned from studying gland development.
Dr. Matt Hoffman received his BDS from the University of Otago Faculty of Dentistry in New Zealand. Dr. Hoffman worked clinically for two years for the Wellington Hospital Board, while doing part-time microbiology research at the Medical Research Council. He received a Fulbright Scholarship to study in the United States, and completed a PhD in microbiology and immunology at the University of Rochester, N.Y. in 1994. Dr. Hoffman began postdoctoral training at NIH studying extracellular matrix and cell differentiation, and established his lab at NIDCR in 2004. Dr. Hoffman’s laboratory studies salivary gland development, by investigating how stem/progenitor cells are directed along a series of cell fate decisions during organogenesis, aiming to identify targets for gene- and cell-based regenerative therapies. Dr. Hoffman is an elected Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. He was appointed deputy scientific director of NIDCR in 2016, and was named scientific director of NIDCR's division of intramural research in July 2018.
- Hayashi T, Lombaert IMA, Hauser, BR, Patel VN, Hoffman MP. Exosomal MicroRNA Transport from Salivary Mesenchyme Regulates Epithelial Progenitor Expansion during Organogenesis. Dev Cell. 2017 Jan 9;40(1):95-103.
- Patel VN, Pineda DL, Hoffman MP. The function of heparan sulfate during branching morphogenesis. Matrix Biol. 2017 Jan;57-58:311-323.
- Knosp WM, Knox SM, Lombaert IMA, Haddox CL, Patel VN, Hoffman MP. Submandibular parasympathetic gangliogenesis requires sprouty-dependent Wnt signals from epithelial progenitors. Dev Cell. 2015 Mar 23;32(6):667-77.
- Patel, VN, Lombaert IM, Cowherd SN, Shworak NW, Xu Y, Liu J, Hoffman MP. Hs3st3-modifiedheparan sulfate controls KIT+ progenitor expansion by regulating3-O-sulfotransferases. Dev Cell. 2014 Jun 23;29(6):662-73.
- Lombaert IMA, Abrams SR, Li L, Eswarakumar VP, Sethi AJ, Witt RL, Hoffman MP. CombinedKIT and FGFR2b signaling regulates epithelial progenitor expansion duringorganogenesis. Stem Cell Reports. 2013 1:604-19.
- Knox SM, Lombaert IMA, Haddox CL, Abrams SR, Cotrim A, Wilson AJ, Hoffman MP. Parasympathetic stimulation improves epithelial organ regeneration. Nat Commun, 2013 Feb 19, 4:1494. PMID: 23422662.
- Rebustini IT, Hayash, T, Reynolds AD, Dillard ML, Carpenter EM, Hoffman MP. miR-200c regulates FGFR-dependent epithelial proliferation via Vldlr during submandibular gland branching morphogenesis. Development. 2012 Jan;139(1):191-202.
- Knox SM, Lombaert IMA, Reed X, Gutkind JS, Vitale-Cross L, Hoffman MP. Parasympathetic innervation maintains epithelial progenitor cells during salivary organogenesis. Science. 2010 Sep 24;329(5999):1645-7.
- Makarenkova HP, Hoffman MP, Beenken A, Eliseenkova AV, Meech R, Tsau C, Patel VN, Lang RA, Mohammadi M. Differential interactions of FGFs with heparan sulfate control gradient formation and branching morphogenesis. Science Signal. 2009 Sep 15;2(88):ra55.
- Rebustini IT, Myers C, Lassiter KS, Surmak A, Szabova L, Holmbeck K, Pedchenko V, Hudson BG, Hoffman MP. MT2-MMP-dependent release of collagen IV NC1 domains regulates submandibular gland branching morphogenesis. Dev Cell. 2009 Oct;17(4):482-93.