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Facing Cancer Head-On

Did You Know?

April is Oral Cancer Awareness Month. NIDCR offers resources for the general public to raise awareness of oral cancer:

Gum Cells Detect Shift in Mouth Microbes That May Trigger Inflammation, Gum Disease

In Brief:

  • Aside from their role as a physical protective barrier, epithelial cells that line the mouth and gums (gingiva) may directly activate the immune system.
  • Gingival epithelial cells, rather than immune cells, may be the harbingers of chronic inflammation that lead to gum disease.

Cells that line the mouth, gum (gingival) tissues, skin, lungs, and intestines, so-called epithelial cells, act as a physical barrier to protect the body from harmful substances in the environment.

NIDCR Celebrates Trainees: Past, Present, and Future

More than 300 NIDCR trainees from all career stages gathered for a jam-packed two days of presentations, panels, poster sessions, and networking as part of “Celebrating NIDCR Trainees: Past, Present, and Future,” a virtual event held on October 10-11, 2023. The event was part of NIDCR’s 75th anniversary year celebration.