Profile
Olga Baker, PhD, DDS, was drawn out of dental practice by the realization that many of her patients could not be aided by existing treatments. In particular, she was struck by the suffering endured by patients who experienced hyposalivation (and did not benefit from common treatments, such as the reliance on artificial saliva and/or the use of secretory agonists). She enrolled in a doctoral program in Biochemistry in her home country of Venezuela to work in research and to gain experience in the pathobiology of salivary gland disorders. She later moved to the U.S. to increase her access to current research, facilities, and collaboration. Having gained access to these resources as a doctoral student and postdoctoral fellow at the University of Missouri, she worked among a concentrated and dedicated group of dental researchers at the State University of New York-Buffalo and later at the University of Utah.
Her current interests mirror past concerns for the well-being of people who do not produce adequate saliva, either due to genetics or treatment side effects. She focuses on a comprehensive approach to the problem, involving not just treatment but preventative aspects. She works in the areas of clinically applicable implants (using new biomaterials) and resolution of inflammation (using resolvins), which she believes to be the most efficacious treatment available. She believes this research will bring tangible benefits to those who suffer from hyposalivation and looks forward to bringing these research programs to fruition.
Academic Information
Office
1201 Rollins St
Columbia, MO 65211
United States
Research Interests
- Salivary gland regeneration
- Resolution of inflammation
- Salivary gland tight junctions
- Effects of radiation treatment on salivary gland function
- Saliva substitutes
Education & Training
Medical School
DDS, Central University of Venezuela School of Dentistry
Post-Graduate School
PhD, Central University of Venezuela School of Dentistry
Publications
- Using cell sheets to regenerate mouse submandibular glands. Nam, K, Kim K, Dean SM, Brown CT, Davis RS, Okano, T, Baker OJ. npj Regenerative Medicine. 2019 Jul 4;4(16). doi:10.1038/s41536-019-0078-3.
- Aspirin Triggered Resolvin D1 reduces inflammation and restores saliva secretion in a Sjögren's syndrome mouse model. Dean S, Wang CS, Nam K, Maruyama CL, Trump BG, Baker OJ. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2019 Jul 1;58(7):1285-1292. doi: 10.1093/rheumatology/kez072.
- Synergistic effects of laminin-1 peptides, VEGF and FGF9 on salivary gland regeneration. Nam K, Dean SM, Brown CT, Smith RJ Jr, Lei P, Andreadis ST, Baker OJ. Acta Biomater. 2019 Jun;91:186-194. doi: 10.1016/j.actbio.2019.04.049. Epub 2019 Apr 25.
- The G-Protein-Coupled Receptor ALX/Fpr2 Regulates Adaptive Immune Responses in Mouse Submandibular Glands. Wang CS, Baker OJ. Am J Pathol. 2018 Jul;188(7):1555-1562. doi: 10.1016/j.ajpath.2018.04.003. Epub 2018 Apr 22. PMID: 29684359
- Comparing human and mouse salivary glands: A practice guide for salivary researchers. Maruyama CL, Monroe MM, Hunt JP, Buchmann L, Baker OJ. Oral Dis. 2018 Jan 30. doi: 10.1111/odi.12840. [Epub ahead of print] Review. PMID: 29383862
- Laminin-111-derived peptide conjugated fibrin hydrogel restores salivary gland function. Nam K, Maruyama CL, Wang CS, Trump BG, Lei P, Andreadis ST, Baker OJ. PLoS One. 2017 Nov 2;12(11):e0187069. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0187069. eCollection 2017. PMID: 29095857
- AT-RvD1 Promotes Resolution of Inflammation in NOD/ShiLtJ mice. Wang CS, Maruyama CL, Easley JT, Trump BG, Baker OJ. Sci Rep. 2017 Mar 31;7:45525. doi: 10.1038/srep45525. PMID: 28361884
- L1 Peptide-Conjugated Fibrin Hydrogels Promote Salivary Gland Regeneration. Nam K, Wang CS, Maruyama CLM, Lei P, Andreadis ST, Baker OJ. J Dent Res. 2017 Jul;96(7):798-806. doi: 10.1177/0022034517695496. Epub 2017 Feb 16. PMID: 28208029