Dr. Praveen Gajendrareddy appointed Department Head of Periodontics
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Dr. Praveen Gajendrareddy, a tenured professor at the UIC College of Dentistry, has been appointed to serve as the department head of periodontics effective May 17, 2024, pending approval by the University of Illinois Board of Trustees.
Gajendrareddy received his BDS from the Medical University in Chennai, India, and a PhD in Oral Biology from The Ohio State University. Joining the UIC College of Dentistry in 2004 as a post-doctoral research associate, he completed his postdoctoral research training and his certificate in periodontology at the University of Illinois Chicago and is a Diplomate of the American Board of Periodontology.
Gajendrareddy has held teaching roles in the predoctoral and postgraduate periodontal programs. In addition to his clinical and research work, Gajendrareddy has held several leadership roles in the Department of Periodontics, including program director and clinic director. He also served as the associate director of clinical research in the College of Dentistry Office of Research and is the recipient of several honors and awards. He currently serves as the chair of the Advancing Racial Equity Committee in the Department of Periodontics and has been at the forefront of the strategic initiatives to create and foster diversity and inclusion within the department.
Gajendrareddy’s research focus is on wound healing and tissue regeneration. He is a well-funded principal investigator who has received continuous research funding support from the National Institutes of Health, foundation awards, and corporate contracts. As a clinician scientist, he has a strong publication record with peer-reviewed manuscripts and book chapters and has strong interdisciplinary collaborations with various institutions. His collaborative projects have resulted in measurable advances in tissue regeneration, biomimetic reconstructive strategies, and wound healing. He has been successful in the filing of two patents through UIC. These discoveries offer the potential for industry partnership and could translate research findings into clinical solutions for regenerative applications beyond dentistry and medicine, particularly in orthopedics.