Jia Chang, D.D.S., M.S., Ph.D., received the 2019 Volpe Basic Science Research Fellowship from the American Academy of Periodontology Foundation during the 2019 American Academy of Periodontology, or AAP, Annual Meeting in Chicago.
The Volpe Award was established by the AAP in 2013 to address the retention of top periodontal basic science researchers and educators early in their careers. The fellowship was funded by the Colgate-Palmolive Company in honor the contributions of Dr. Anthony Volpe who was a driving force within dentistry during his long career. The fellowship provides personal funding and support to individuals who may be facing educational debt while striving to establish themselves in an academic role.
Chang is an assistant professor in periodontology and involved in teaching predoctoral students and residents, and he also provides patient care in the UF Health Faculty Dental Practice. He earned his dental degree and completed oral & maxillofacial surgery resident training in China, and then attended the University of Michigan for his periodontal residency. Chang is a Diplomate of the American Board of Periodontology.
His research interests are in the bone biology and tissue engineering to repair the bone loss in the inflammatory disease, such as periodontitis and periimplantitis. Dr. Chang has published more than 20 articles related to the bone inflammation and tissue regeneration in the top dental and medical journals such as Nature Medicine, PNAS, and Journal of Dental Research.