Sonia M. Rocha-Sanchez, BS, MS, PhD, MBA

Sonia M. Rocha-Sanchez, BS, MS, PhD, MBA

Sonia M. Rocha-Sanchez, BS, MS, PhD, MBA

Professor
Director, Biomedical Sciences Research Core
Associate Dean, SOD Research
School of Dentistry

Expertise/Specializations

  • Master in Business Administration (MBA)
  • Business Development
  • Technology Transfer

Academic Appointments

Department

  • Oral Biology

Position

  • Professor

Teaching Activity

  • Histology
  • Human Physiology
  • Introduction to Scientific Research

Biography

Sonia M. Rocha-Sanchez, Ph.D., is a tenured associate professor of Human Physiology and Biomedical Sciences in the Department of Oral Biology. She has a Bachelor in Science  in Biology (UFAC, Brazil), a M.S. in Genetics (UFV, Brazil), a Ph.D. in Cell and Structural Biology and Population Cytogenetics (UNICAMP, Brazil/UGr, Spain), and a Master in Business Administration (MBA; Creighton University). Dr. Rocha-Sanchez leads an active research program at the Creighton University School of Dentistry, mentoring junior faculty, post-doctoral fellows, graduate and undergraduate students in a variety of research projects. Current projects include auditory and oral tissue regeneration, caries research, oral inflammation, and technology transfer.
Dr. Rocha-Sanchez currently serves as a liaison and mentor for the Academic Dental Careers Fellowship Program (ADCFP) administered and supported by the Academy of Academic Leadership and the American Dental Education Association (ADEA). These programs focus on  providing students with opportunity to receive training and explore opportunities on academic research and teaching, as well as provide specific professional training to faculty members with regards to mentoring and leadership.
Dr. Rocha-Sanchez’s past and current research has been funded by several federally and privately  funded grants. Moreover, she contributed on two funded Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) grants, and published a number of peer-reviewed manuscripts in high-profile scientific journals.

Publications and Presentations

Articles

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Presentations

Research and Scholarship

Research and Scholarship Interests

  • Translational Research and Technology Transfer, Tissue Regeneration, Neuroscience, Cell and Molecular Biology, Inner Ear Physiology, Mammalian Inner Ear Development, Cell Cycle Regulation, Genetics of Complex Traits, Cytogenetics and Population Genetics

Current Research Projects

  • - Manipulation of Cell Cycle Genes to Regenerate Lost Auditory Hair Cells (R21) - miRNAs and RNA Interference Effects on Hair Cell Transdifferentiation (R15) - Development and Commercialization of Medical Devices (STTR)

Awards and Honors

  • Mammalian Hearing Protection Agent, U.S. Patent 61,828,443, 2013
  • PhD Fellowship, Brazilian Science Foundation (CNPq/CAPES), 1998