John J. Sauk, DDS, MS

Dr. Sauk is the Dean of the School of Dentistry at the University of Louisville and Professor of Pathology. He was formally the Chair of Diagnostic Sciences and Pathology at the Dental School, Professor of Pathology, Medical School and Greenebaum Cancer Center of the University of Maryland Baltimore an member of the Aerodigestive Group of the Greenebaum Cancer Center and Oral and maxillofacial Pathologist to the Multidisclipinary Head and Neck Cancer group of University of Maryland Medical System. He also serves as the Associate Dean for Research Administration and Training and is the Director of Oral Pathology Consultants, University of Maryland Baltimore. Dr. Sauk is Board Certified in Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, a fellow of the American Head and Neck Society and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. He received his training in Oral Pathology at the University of Minnesota and later served as Pathologist for the Naval Dental Research Institute, Great Lakes Illinois; Professor of Oral Pathology and Genetics at the University of Minnesota; Director of Clinical Oral-facial Genetics, Detroit Childrens Hospital, Detroit, MI, and Director Flow Cytometry Facility, MEDFLOW Assoc., University of Maryland Baltimore. Dr. Sauk is and has been a Principal or Co-Principal Investigator for grants from NIH and Industry. Dr. Sauk’s laboratories study the molecular changes in cancer cells that lead them to invade tissues and metastasize. In addition, collaborations with faculty in the School of Pharmacy, Medicine and the National Institutes of Health are identifying novel proteins on cancer cells and delivery systems to specifically target cancers with drugs to enhance treatment and reduce systemic toxicity.

Select Publication:

Hebert C., Norris1 K., Scheper MA, Ord R.A., Nikitakis N.G., and Sauk J.J High mobility group A2 is a target for miRNA-98 in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Mol Cancer Jan 14;6:5., 2007.

Scheper MA, Nikitakis NG, Chaisuparat R, Montaner S, Sauk JJ: Sulindac sulfide inhibits tumor growth and induces apoptosis in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma in vivo and in-vitro, Neoplasia 9(3):192-9, 2007.

Moutsopoulos NM, Nares S, Nikitakis N, Rangel Z, Wen J, Munson P, Sauk J, and Wahl SM: Tonsil epithelial factors may
influence oropharyngeal HIV transmission,
Amer. J. Path. 171(2):571-9, 2007.

Hebert C., Norris1 K., Parashar P., Ord R.A., Nikitakis N.G., and Sauk J.J.: Hypoxia-inducible factor-1a polymorphisms and TSC1/2 mutations are complementary in head and neck cancers. Mol Cancer. 16;5:3, 2006