Mohammad Ali Saghiri, PhD
Position title: Associate Professor of Restorative Dentistry and Director of Biomaterials Research Lab at Rutgers School of Dentistry (2024)
Email: Saghiri@wisc.edu
Address:
9418 WIMR
1111 Highland Ave
Madison, WI 53705
Education
BS 2001
MS 2005
PhD 2007
Postdoc 2013
Research Interests
Dr. Mohammad Ali Saghiri’s research focuses on biomedical engineering, nanotechnology, tissue engineering, and artificial intelligence applications in dentistry and ophthalmology. His expertise lies in understanding angiogenesis mechanisms and nano-surface interactions, which are pivotal in regenerative medicine.
Dr. Saghiri has pioneered CAD/CAM techniques and nanotechnology applications in custom-made dental and ophthalmological appliances. He has collaborated with oral maxillofacial and radiology experts to develop AI-based neural network systems for tooth and tumor segmentation in root canal therapy (RCT).
Currently, Dr. Saghiri is advancing biomaterials research by studying the effects of novel nano-cements on pulp cell function. In collaboration with the Sheibani Lab, his team is developing 3D vascular models using retinal endothelial cells and human stem cells to evaluate drug toxicity in the central nervous system. This work is part of the EPA-funded Human Models for Analysis of Pathways (H-MAPs) initiative at UW-Madison, supported by a $6 million grant.
Professional Summary
Dr. M.A. Saghiri is a distinguished researcher whose groundbreaking work bridges dentistry, biomaterials, artificial intelligence (AI), and computer science. He has revolutionized dental diagnostics and treatment planning through AI-powered image analysis, virtual reality-based dental training, and ethical applications of AI. His research also focuses on leveraging AI for optimized treatment strategies and secure healthcare data transfers via blockchain technology.
With over 120 PubMed-indexed publications, Dr. Saghiri has contributed significantly to the intersection of dentistry and computer science. Nearly 40% of his articles focus on this domain, establishing him as a leader in the field. He serves as an Associate Editor for two prestigious journals and is on the editorial board of more than ten journals. In addition, he has reviewed extensively for numerous dental journals.
Dr. Saghiri’s work has been recognized with several awards, including the 2024 New Jersey Health Foundation Excellence in Research Award for dental materials innovation. His contributions to science earned him the DenburTech Award in 2020 for publishing over 100 peer-reviewed articles on PubMed, with at least 75% as the first author. His FitSeal project also received the National Collegiate Inventors and Innovators Alliance VentureWell Award in 2022.
- FitSeal: A revolutionary dental biomaterial that expands rather than shrinks, addressing conventional endodontic sealer limitations. FitSeal prevents reinfection, offering safer, more effective, and cost-efficient endodontic treatments.
- DentinVaccine: This innovative project focuses on strengthening dentin by using solute carriers to transport trace minerals into the dentin matrix, enhancing durability, hardness, and overall dental health.
- AI-Powered Predictive Models for Dental Disease Progression
- Machine Learning Optimization of Biomaterial Properties for Dental Implants
- AI-Enhanced Diagnostics and Treatment Planning for Orthodontics