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Part of UT Health San Antonio

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Nikita B. Ruparel, MS, D.D.S., Ph.D.
N. Ruparel Lab
We use calcium imaging, electrophysiology, in vivo AAV knockdown, CRISPR-Cas-9 approaches
Animal models are employed for mouse molar surgeries, orofacial pain behavior, condiitoned placed preference Assay

Contact

210-567-3396

ruparel@uthscsa.edu

Departments & Divisions

Institutes & Centers

Nikita B. Ruparel, MS, D.D.S., Ph.D.

Endodontics Program and Clinic Director; Associate Professor

Dr. Ruparel is Board certified Endodontist who practices in San Antonio at UT Faculty Endodontics. She is the Director of the Advanced Program in Endodontics at UT San Antonio. She received her certificate in Endodontics in 2013 after receiving her doctoral (PhD) and DDS at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. Her practice in Endodontics includes all aspects of modern endodontics. She also lectures at national and international meetings on pain biology, management, and regenerative endodontics. She has also been awarded the Women in Science award from the International Association of Dental Research and the American Association of Endodontics Educator Fellowship for committing her career to academics. She has served as the Vice-Program Chair, Program Chair, and General Chair for the American Association of Endodontics for a 3-year term. Nikita Ruparel is committed to a long-term career as a clinician-scientist.

  • Professional Background

    Education

    • 2013 - Residency - Endodontics - University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
    • 2013 - Post-Doctoral Fellowship - University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
    • 2011 - PhD - Cellular and Structural Biology - University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
    • 2011 - DDS - Dentistry - University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
    • 2003 - MS - Life Science (Neurobiology) - University of Mumbai
    • 2001 - BS - Microbiology - University of Mumbai

    Highlights

    2024 Recipient of the American Association of Endodontists “Edward M. Osetek” teaching award

    2023 Recipient of the “School of Dentistry Master Clinician Awards”, UT Health Science San Antonio, TX

    2021 Nominated by the President and Dean for the “Regent’s Outstanding Teaching Award”

    2020 Recipient of the “IADR Women in Science Distinguished Scientist” award, International Association of Dental Research

    2019 Recipient of the "Distinguished Research Mentor Award" for the School of Dentistry

     

    Appointments

    • 11/2019 - Associate Professor and Advanced Education Director - UT Health San Antonio, Endodontics, San Antonio
    • 1/2018 - Cross Appointment, Assistant Professor Tenure Tack - UT Health San Antonio, Integrated Biomedical Sciences, San Antonio
    • 1/2018 - Mentor - UT Health San AntonioSan Antonio
    • 1/2017 - Adjunct Associate Professor - Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences- South RegionSan Antonio
    • 1/2017 - Hospital Appointment - Children's Hospital of CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Health System, Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, San Antonio

  • Instruction & Training

    • 1/2018 - Present, Pre-Doctoral Student Supervision, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
    • 1/2018 - Present, DHDD 5003 Periodontium and Pulp
    • 1/2018 - Present, DIPC 6003 Sophomore Pre-Clinical Endodontics Laboratory
    • 1/2018 - Present, Membership on Supervising Committee, UT Health San Antonio
    • 1/2018 - Present, Undergraduate Student Supervision
    • 1/2018 - Present, Undergraduate Student Supervision, UT Health San Antonio
    • 1/2017 - 1/2021, Undergraduate Student Supervision, UT Health San Antonio
    • 1/2016 - Present, ENDO Surgical Anatomy, The University of Texas Health Science Center
    • 1/2016 - Present, Pediatric Dentistry II, The University of Texas Health Science Center
    • 10/2014 - Present, Current Literature Review, The University of Texas Health Science Center
    • 10/2014 - Present, Supervised Teaching, The University of Texas Health Science Center
    • 10/2014 - Present, Supervised Teaching, The University of Texas Health Science Center
    • 10/2014 - Present, Clinical Endo II, The University of Texas Health Science Center
    • 10/2014 - Present, Clinical Endodontics III, The University of Texas Health Science Center
    • 10/2014 - Present, ENDO6080 Focused Regenerative Endodontics Research
    • 10/2014 - Present, Case Presentations III, The University of Texas Health Science Center
    • 10/2014 - Present, Case Presentations III, The University of Texas Health Science Center
    • 10/2014 - Present, Clinical Endo II, The University of Texas Health Science Center
    • 10/2014 - Present, Case Presentations II, The University of Texas Health Science Center
    • 10/2014 - Present, Case Presentations I, The University of Texas Health Science Center
    • 10/2014 - Present, Case Presentations II, The University of Texas Health Science Center
    • 10/2014 - Present, Case Presentations II, The University of Texas Health Science Center
    • 10/2014 - Present, Case Presentations I, The University of Texas Health Science Center
    • 10/2014 - Present, Current Literature Review, The University of Texas Health Science Center
    • 1/2014 - Present, Individual Instruction, UT Health San Antonio
    • 1/2014 - Present, Post Graduate Rotation Supervision, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
    • 1/2014 - Present, Clinical Seminar I, The University of Texas Health Science Center
    • 1/2014 - Present, Clinical Seminar I, The University of Texas Health Science Center
    • 1/2014 - Present, ENDO5011 Clinical Endodontics I
    • 1/2014 - Present, Clinical Endodontics I, The University of Texas Health Science Center
    • 1/2014 - Present, SELC 8160 Molar Endodontics
    • 1/2014 - Present, Perio/Pros Seminar I, The University of Texas Health Science Center
    • 1/2014 - Present, Perio/Pros Seminar II, The University of Texas Health Science Center
    • 1/2014 - Present, Case Conferences, The University of Texas Health Science Center
    • 1/2014 - Present, Endodontics Clinic, The University of Texas Health Science Center

  • Publications

      PUBLICATIONS:

      Citation Analysis of Peer-Reviewed Publications

      January 2024

      www.Google.com/Scholar: # Citations 4839; h-Index 26

      www.Scopus.com # Citations 2782; h-Index 23                     

      *1.       Ren, K, Vickers R, Murillo J and Ruparel NB. Revolutionizing Orofacial Pain Management: The Promising Potential of Stem Cell Therapy. Frontiers in Pain Med 2023 (in press)

      *2.       Patel B, Eskander MA, Chang Phoebe Fang-Mei, Chapa, B, Ruparel SB, Lai Z, Chen Y, Akopian A and Ruparel NB. Understanding Painful versus Non-Painful Dental Pain in Female and Male Patients: A Transcriptomic Analysis of Human Biopsies, PlosONE  18(9), e0291724 2023 https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0291724

      *3.       Ather A, Patel B, Gelfond JAL, Ruparel NB. Outcome of Pulpotomy in Permanent Teeth with Irreversible Pulpitis: Systematic Review and Meta Analysis. Sci Reps 12(1), 19664 2022. PMID: 36385132

      *4.       Rayyan A, Ather A, Hargreaves KM, Ruparel NB. Effect of Sodium Hypochlorite in Dental Unit Waterline on Aerosolized Bacteria-Generated from Endodontic Procedures. J Endod 48(10), 1248-1256. 2022 PMID: 36030970

      *5.       Yoshpe, M, Ruparel NB, Einy S, Ganatra, S and Kauffman AY. Treatment of Necrotic Anterior and Posterior Teeth with Regenerative Endodontic Procedures Using PRF as Scaffold: A Retrospective Study. Applied Sci. special issue of Curr Adv in Dent 12(13), 6774-6785. 2022

      *6.       Balal VN, Narkedamalli R,  Ruparel NB, Shenoy PA, Bhat VR, Belle VS. Effect of Maleic Acid Root Conditioning on Release of Transforming Growth Factor β1 from infected Root Canal Dentin. J Endod 48(5): 620-624. 2022 PMID: 35217129

      *7.       Erdogan O, Casey SM, Ruparel NB. Sigurrdson A. Bupivacaine for Root Canal Treatment – Practionner Behavior and Patient Perspectives: Survey Studies. Local Reg Anesth 13: 11-21. 2022 PMID: 8820451

      *8.       Meschi N, Patel B, Ruparel NB. Material Pulp Cells and Tissue Interactions. J Endod 46(9): 150-160. 2020 PMID: 32950187

      *9.       Patel B, Eskander M, Ruparel NB. To Drill or Not to Drill -  To Drill or Not to Drill: Management of Endodontic Emergencies and In-Process Patients during the COVID-19 Pandemic. J Endod. 46(11): 1559-1569. 2020 PMID: 32841654

      *10.     Chrepa V, Joon R, Austah O, Diogenes A, Hargreaves KM, Ezeldeen M, Ruparel NB. Clinical Outcomes of Immature Teeth Treated with Regenerative Endodontic Procedures-A San Antonio Study. J Endod. 46(8): 1074-1084. 2020 PMID: 32560972

      *11.     Matny LE, Ruparel NB, Levin MD, Noujeim M, Diogenes A. A Volumetric Assessment of External Cervical Resorption Cases and Its Correlation to Classification, Treatment Planning, and Expected Prognosis. J Endod. 46(8): 1052-1058. 2020 PMID: 32437787

      *12.     Ather A, Patel B, Ruparel NB, Diogenes A, Hargreaves KM. Coronavirus Disease 19 (COVID-19): Implications for Clinical Dental Care. J Endod. 46(5):584-595. 2020 PMID: 32273156 

      *13.     LoCoco PM, Boyd JT, Espitia Olaya CM, Furr AR, Garcia DK, Weldon KS, Zou Y, Locke E, Tobon A, Lai Z, Ruparel SB, Ruparel NB, Hargreaves KM. Reliable approaches to extract high-integrity RNA from skin and other pertinent tissues used in pain research. Pain Rep. 5(2). PMID: 32440611 

      *14.     Mohaved SB, Shilpa G, Li Q, Austah O, Bendele M, Brock R and Ruparel NB. Apical periodontitis-induced mechanical allodynia: A mouse model to study infection-induced chronic pain conditions. Mol Pain. 16: 1-10. PMID: 31902318

      *15.     Yoshpe M, Einy S, Ruparel NB, Lin S and Kaufman AY. Regenerative Endodontics: A potential Solution for External Root Resorption (Case Series). J Endod. 46: 192-199. 2019. PMID: 3183579

      *16.     Ritter C, Espitia C, Wu P, Son E and Ruparel NB. Effect of a Residual Biofilms on  Release of transforming Growth Factor β1 from Dentin. J Endod. 45: 1119-1125.  2019. PMID: 3127709

      *17.     Austah O, Joon R, Chrepa V, Diogenes A, Ezeldeen M, Couve E and Ruparel NB. Comprehensive Evaluation of 2 immature Teeth treated with Regenerative Endodontic Procedures. J Endod.  44: 1802-1811. 2018. PMID: 30477666                                               

      *18.     Vishwanat L, Duong R, Takimoto K, Phillips L, Espitia CO, Diogenes A, Ruparel SB, Kolodrubetz D and Ruparel NB. Effect of Bacterial Biofilm on the Osteogenic Differentiation of Stem Cells of Apical Papilla. J Endod. 43: 916-922, 2017. PMID: 28416302

      *19.     Parrone MR, Bechara B, Deahl ST, Ruparel NB, Katkar R and Noujeim M. Cone beam computed tomography image optimization to detect root fractures in endodontically treated teeth: an in vitro (phantom) study. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol. 123: 613-620, 2017. PMID: 28407988

      *20.     Song JS, Takimoto K, Jeon M, Vadakekalam J, Ruparel NB, Diogenes A. Decellularized Human  Dental Pulp as a Scaffold for Regenerative Endodontics. J Dent Res. 96(6):640-646, 2017. PMID: 28196330

      *21.     Austah ON, Ruparel NB, Henry MA, Fajardo RJ, Schmitz JE, Diogenes A. Capsaicin-sensitive Innervation Modulates the Development of Apical Periodontitis. J Endod. 42: 1496-1502, 2016. PMID: 27523907

      *22.     Green D, Ruparel S, Gao X, Ruparel NB, Patil M, Akopian A, Hargreaves KM. Central activation of TRPV1 and TRPA1 by novel endogenous agonists contributes to mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia after burn injury. Mol Pain. 2016, DOI: 10.1177/1744806916661725. PMID: 27411353

      *23.     Kim SH, Kim S, Shin Y, Lee HS, Jeon M, Kim SO, Cho SW, Ruparel NB, Song JS. Comparative Gene Expression Analysis of the Coronal Pulp and Apical Pulp Complex in Human Immature Teeth. J Endod. 42: 752-759, 2016. PMID: 27020968

      *24.     Ruparel NB, Ruparel SB, Chen PB, Ishikawa B, Diogenes A. Direct effect of endodontic sealers on trigeminal neuronal activity. J Endod. 40: 683-687, 2014. PMID: 24767564

      *25.     Ruparel NB, de Almeida JF, Henry MA, Diogenes A. Characterization of a stem cell of apical papilla cell line: effect of passage on cellular phenotype. J Endod. 39: 357-363, 2013. PMID: 23402507

      *26.     Ruparel NB, Teixeira FB, Ferraz CC, Diogenes A. Direct effect of intracanal medicaments on survival of stem cells of the apical papilla. J Endod. 38: 1372-1375, 2012. PMID: 22980180

      *27.     Ruparel NB, Patwardhan AM, Akopian AN, Hargreaves KM. Desensitization of transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 (TRPA1) by the TRP vanilloid 1-selective cannabinoid arachidonoyl-2 chloroethanolamine. Mol Pharmacol. 80:117-123, 2011.  PMID: 21441412

      *28.     Patwardhan AM, Akopian AN, Ruparel NB, Diogenes A, Weintraub ST, Uhlson C, Murphy RC, Hargreaves KM. Heat generates oxidized linoleic acid metabolites that activate TRPV1 and produce pain in rodents. J Clin Invest. 120: 1617-1626, 2010. PMID: 20424317

      *29.     Jeske NA, Patwardhan AM, Ruparel NB, Akopian AN, Shapiro MS, Henry MA. A-kinase anchoring protein 150 controls protein kinase C-mediated phosphorylation and sensitization of TRPV1. Pain. 146: 301-307, 2009. PMID: 19767149

      *30.     Akopian AN, Ruparel NB, Jeske NA, Patwardhan A, Hargreaves KM. Role of ionotropic cannabinoid receptors in peripheral antinociception and antihyperalgesia. Trends Pharmacol Sci. 30: 79-84, 2009. PMID: 19070372

      *31.     Rowan MP, Ruparel NB, Patwardhan AM, Berg KA, Clarke WP, Hargreaves KM. Peripheral delta opioid receptors require priming for functional competence in vivo. Eur J Pharmacol. 602: 283-287, 2009. PMID: 19063879

      *32.     Jeske NA, Diogenes A, Ruparel NB, Fehrenbacher JC, Henry M, Akopian AN, Hargreaves KM. A-kinase anchoring protein mediates TRPV1 thermal hyperalgesia through PKA phosphorylation of TRPV1. Pain. 138: 604-616, 2008, 2008. PMID:18381233

      *33.     Akopian AN, Ruparel NB, Patwardhan A, Hargreaves KM. Cannabinoids desensitize capsaicin and mustard oil responses in sensory neurons via TRPA1 activation. J Neurosci. 28: 1064-1075, 2008.  PMID: 18234885

      *34.     Ruparel NB, Patwardhan AM, Akopian AN, Hargreaves KM. Homologous and heterologous desensitization of capsaicin and mustard oil responses utilize different cellular pathways in nociceptors. Pain. 135: 271-279, 2008. PMID: 17590514

      *35.     Akopian AN, Ruparel NB, Jeske NA, Hargreaves KM. Transient receptor potential TRPA1 channel desensitization in sensory neurons is agonist dependent and regulated by TRPV1-directed internalization. J Physiol. 583: 175-193,2007.  PMID: 19070372

      *36.     Diogenes A, Patwardhan AM, Jeske NA, Ruparel NB, Goffin V, Akopian AN, Hargreaves KM. Prolactin modulates TRPV1 in female rat trigeminal sensory neurons. J Neurosci. 26:8126-8136, 2016. PMID: 16885226

      BOOK CHAPTERS:

      1.         Walton R, Ruparel NB. Endodontic Emergencies and Therapeutics. In: Endodontics-Principles and Practice, chapter 9 by Torabinejad M, Fouad A and Shabahang S (eds), Elsevier: Netherlands, 2020 (in press)

      2.         Ruparel NB, Austah O, Diogenes AN. Current and Future Views on Disinfection for Regenerative Strategies. In: Clinical Approaches in Endodontic Regeneration, chapter 7 by Cooper P and Duncan H, Springer Nature: Switzerland, 2018

      3.         Ruparel NB, Khan A. Dental Innervations and Pain of Pulpal Origin. In: Ingle’s ENDODONTICS, chapter 7 by Rotstein I and Ingle J (eds), People Medical Publishing House: USA, 2018

      4.         Diogenes AN, Ruparel NB. Irrigation in Regenerative Endodontics. In: Endodontic Irrigation, chapter 18 by Basrani B,  Springer International Publishing: Switzerland, 2016

      5.         Diogenes AN, Chrepa V and Ruparel NB. Clinical Strategies for Dental and Periodontal Disease Management – A Way Forward. In: Tissue Engineering and Regeneration in Dentistry, chapter 8 by Waddington RJ and Alastair SJ, Wiley Online library: USA, 2016

  • Clinical

    Root Canal Treatments
    Root Canal Retreatments
    Endodontic Microsurgical Procedures
    Regenerative Endodontics
    Vital Pulp Therapy
    Intentional Replantation
    Root Amputation
    3D-Printing and Guided Microsurgical Procedures

    Board Certifications

    • Diplomate of the American Board of Endodontics