Dr. Grace Spatafora
Dr. Grace Spatafora is the VASE President, inducted in 2009.
Dr. Grace Spatafora is a member of the Middlebury College faculty. Research in her laboratory addresses oral health disparities in the United States and around the world. Streptococcus mutans is the principal causative agent of dental caries in humans, an infectious disease that has a significant impact on oral health, especially among the socio-economically disadvantaged. A major research objective in the Spatafora laboratory centers on identifying genes in S. mutans that contribute to the cavities-forming process, with a focus on the SloR and Fur metalloregulatory gene products. Specifically, we use molecular- genetic approaches to investigate the mechanisms that regulate SloR- and/or Fur-mediated adherence of S. mutans to the dentition, and subsequent acid production that demineralizes tooth enamel. The long term goal is to identify specific gene products in S. mutans that may be targeted for the development of a therapeutic aimed at alleviating and/or preventing dental caries.
2018-present
President, Vermont Academy of Science and Engineering
2018
Perkins Award for Excellence in Teaching, Middlebury College, VT.
2015-present
Chair/Organizer, Annual Mini-Symposia for Young Investigators (in Association with the General meeting of the International/American Association for Dental Research)
2016
Chair/Coordinator, 8th International Conference on Streptococcal Genetics, Washington, D.C.
2014-present
Editorial Board, Molecular Oral Microbiology
2014
Council for Undergraduate Research, Biology Mentor Award: Honorable Mention
2013-2015
President, Microbiology/Immunology Subgroup, International Association for Dental Research
2013
Gladstone Award Honoring Excellence in Teaching (nominee)
2010-2017
Vermont Academy of Science and Engineering, Education Outreach Coordinator and STEM
2009–present
Distinguished Professor, Irene Heinz and John LaPorte Given Professor in the Premedical Sciences (Endowed Chair)
2007-2011
American Society for Microbiology Carski Award nominee
2002-2006
Oral, Dental and Craniofacial Sciences (ODCS), Center for Scientific Review, NIH