Faculty Profile - Dr. Gajanan Vishwanath (Kiran) Kulkarni

Dr. Gajanan Kulkarni	Dr. Gajanan Vishwanath (Kiran) Kulkarni Tenured Associate Professor Department of Pediatric and Preventive Dentistry Faculty of Dentistry 124 Edward Street Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5G 1G6 Phone: 416-979-4929 ext.4460 Fax: 416-979-4936 g.kulkarni@utoronto.ca

Current academic / hospital appointments

• Tenured Associate Professor – Pediatric Dentistry and Cariology, University of Toronto, Faculty of Dentistry
• Consultant - Hospital for Sick Children

Education

• 1983 – B.D.S. (Bachelor of Dental Surgery) University of Bombay.
• 1986 – LL.B. (Bachelor of Laws) University of Poona.
• 1989 – M.Sc. (Master of Science) University of Toronto.
• 1992 – Diploma in Pediatric Dentistry University of Toronto.
• 1996 – Ph.D. Doctor of Philosophy University of Toronto.
• 2000 – F.R.C.D.(C). Fellow of the Royal College of Dentists of Canada.
• 2008 - Diplomate, American Board of Pediatric Dentistry

Courses

• 2000- Course Director and lecturer, Biological Basis of Oral Health and Disease 121H, 1st year D.D.S.
• 2000- Cariology, Case presentation, RCDC(C) literature review, Graduate Pediatric Dentistry
• 2001- Clinical Pediatric Dentistry, 3rd and 4th year D.D.S. 321Y1/368Y1
• 2002- Preventive Dentistry, 3rd year D.D.S. 374Y
• 2002- Oral Medicine and Pathology, 3rd year D.D.S. 315Y1
• 2002- Preclinical Pediatric Dentistry, 2nd year D.D.S. 265Y1 and 1st year Q.P. 156Y1
• 2003- Pediatric Dentistry, 2nd year Q.P. DPQ269Y1

Research interests

• Molecular Mechanisms in Craniofacial Anomalies of Down's Syndrome. P.I. Collaboration with Drs. M. MacDougall, University of Texas at San Antonio, TX, Dr. C. Hauser, Burnham Institute, LaJolla, CA, Dr. M. Grynpas, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, ON.
• Investigating candidate genes causative for congenitally missing teeth in the EL mouse model: Differential gene expression, mutation analysis, and apoptotic processes leading to congenital absence of third molars. P.I. Collaboration with Prof. T. Maeda, Nihon University, Matsudo, Japan.
• A novel root canal dressing to prevent root resorption in replanted avulsed teeth. P.I Collaboration with Dr. G. Yared, University of Toronto.
• Development of a Novel Alternative for Treatment of Pulpally Involved Primary Teeth: Comparison of a New Diode Laser Pulpotomy and Conventional Formocresol Pulpotomy in Human Primary Teeth. P.I.
• Development and testing of fiber-reinforced composite (FRC) space maintainers (FRCSM) P.I.
• Development and Testing of an Audio-visual Aid for Improvement of Infant Oral Health Through Primary Care Giver Education P.I.
• Effects of short-term, prenatal administration of g lucocorticoids on Guinea Pig Fetal Craniofacial Development. PI
• Characterization of the clinical properties of genetically engineered Amelogenesis Imperfecta and Dentinogenesis Imperfecta mouse teeth. Co-investigator with Dr. A.B. Kulkarni National Institutes of Dental and Craniofacial Research, Bethesda, USA
• Investigations into the factors affecting bond characteristics of composite resins to permanent and primary enamel and dentin. Collaborator with Dr. K. Titley P.I. University of Toronto.
• Laser detection of subsurface caries induced demineralization in human teeth. Collaboration with Dr. S. Abrams, P.I. and Dr. Andreas Mandelis, Faculty of Engineering, University of Toronto.

Recent publications

Kulkarni G, Nomura R, Lee KL, Shah S. A proposed mechanism for congenitally missing teeth: Basic and clinical Evidence. Dent Hypotheses 2011; 2: 63-73. doi: 10.5436 /j.dehy. 2011.2.00029.

Kulkarni, G. 2010 Oral Health Promotion Programs from Infancy to Childhood. Canadian Dental Association Journal 75(10): 684-5

Lee, L. K., Sampaio, C., & Kulkarni, G. (2009, Sept.) Reducing mercury release from dental amalgam fillings and improving patient acceptability. Hypothesis, 7 (1), 1-7.

Kulkarni, G. & Lau, D. (2009). Development and testing of fiber-reinfoced composite space maintainers. Journal of Dentistry for Children 76(3): 204-8.

Gartsbein, E., Lawrence, H.P., Leake, J.L., Stewart, H., & Kulkarni, G. (2009). Lack of Oral Care Policies in Toronto Daycares. Journal of Public Health Dentistry, 69 (3), 190-196

Awards and Honours

• 1977 Secondary School Certificate Scholarship
• 1986 Ichalcaranji Educational Endowment Scholarship
• 1987 University of Toronto Open Fellowship
• 1987 International Student Fees Waiver Scholarship
• 1988 Life Sciences Award
• 1989 Canadian Association for Dental Research Award
• 1990 Farquharson Research Scholarship (MRC)
• 1991 University of Toronto Open Doctoral Fellowship
• 1991 International Student Fees Waiver Scholarship
• 1992-96 Medical Research Council Dental Fellowship
• 1992 Ontario Graduate Scholarship
• 1992 Canadian Fund for Dental Education Fellowship
• 1992 Henry M. Thomton Award
• 1994-97 Medical Research Council Dental Fellowship
• Canadian Association for Dental Research Award
• 1998 Northwestern University Excellence in Teaching Certificate (Pediatric Dentistry)
• 2003 American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry Foundation Research Award

Current Editorships

• Member Editorial Board, Pediatric Dentistry
• Ad-hoc reviewer, Archives of Oral Biology
• Ad-hoc reviewer, Journal of the Canadian Dental Association

Students

• 2001-04 Dr. Brett Salzman, Graduated 2004, M.Sc.Thesis . University of Toronto, Faculty of Dentistry. “Diode LASER-MTA Pulpotomy for the Treatment of Pulpally Involved Human Primary Teeth”, Principal supervisor
• 2001-04 Dr. Lisa Asada, Graduated 2004, M.Sc.Thesis. University of Toronto, Faculty of Dentistry. “Development and Testing of an Audio-Visual Aid for Improvement of Infant Oral Health Through Primary Caregiver Education.” Principal supervisor
• 2000-04 Dr. Sarah Ahn, Graduated 2004, M.Sc. Thesis. University of Toronto, Faculty of Dentistry. “The Involvement of EGF, EGFr, Msx1, Pax9 and Lef1 in EL Mouse Third Molar Hypodontia.” Principal supervisor
• 1998-01 Dr. Munzer Ramahi, Graduated 2001, M.Sc., Thesis “Temporo-spatial Expression of Ets1 and Ets2 Transcription Factors During Murine Tooth Development.” Principal supervisor

Current research grants

• Development of a Novel Alternative for Treatment of Pulpally Involved Primary Teeth: Comparison of a New Diode Laser Pulpotomy and Conventional Formocresol Pulpotomy in Human Primary Teeth Faculty of Dentistry, University of Toronto, 2001-2002. $ 3,000.
• Molecular Mechanisms in Craniofacial Anomalies of Down Syndrome. Hospital for Sick Children Foundation, 2002-04. $ 128,930. Sole Principal Investigator.
• Development of a Novel Alternative for Treatment of Pulpally Involved Primary Teeth: Comparison of a New Diode Laser Pulpotomy and Conventional Formocresol Pulpotomy in Human Primary Teeth Alpha Omega Foundation, 2002. $ 2,000. Sole Principal Investigator.
• Development and Testing of an Audio-visual Aid for Improvement of Infant Oral Health Through Primary Care Giver Education. Dentistry Canada Fund, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. $2,000. Principal Investigator.
• The Development of Laser Radiometric and Luminescence Instrumentation for the Diagnosis and Assessment of Dental Caries. NSERC, Canada and Materials and Manufacturing Ontario. $98,228 Co-Investigator with Prof. A. Mandelis, Faculty of Engineering, University of Toronto.