Cara B. B. Gonzales, D.D.S., Ph.D.

Dr. Gonzales, DDS, PhD is a tenured Associate Professor in the Department of Comprehensive Dentistry where she performs translational research in the field of oral cancer.

Her research focus is two-fold:

Characterization of novel mechanisms of oral cancer pain; and drug development to treat oral cancer and cancer related pain. In this regard, she has demonstrated that tumor secreted molecules activate pain receptors in the trigeminal system, and identified novel compounds that are currently being tested, in vitro and in vivo, for the ability to halt tumor progression and alleviate the tumor-related pain.

She has developed a new drug class called 1,3-thioureas and the lead, CIDD99, is currently being developed for clinical trials in oral cancer patients.  This work is supported by an NIDOCR R03 and an STTR award.

In addition to her research, she is course director for Human Health and Development 1, Foundations of Tooth Development, Oral Health and Disease and for Pharmacology.  In the clinic, she supervises dental students providing patient care and assists with screening potential patients for the dental school. Her teaching duties allow her to work closely with the students in the classroom, the clinic and the laboratory.