Understanding how and why tooth anomalies, such as hypodontia and oligodontia, are associated with cancer, and determining whether or not this information be utilized to improve early cancer diagnosis and treatment
Genetic factors which influence facial growth and the development of dental malocclusion and/or disease. Dr. Morford specifically studies the genetics of Class III and Class II Division 2 Malocclusion
Genetic predisposition for chronic inflammation (CI) across multiple disease models of CI including Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), Periodontitis (PD) and Alzheimer’s Disease (AD)
The focus of this research is to (a) gain a better understanding of the genetic variation(s) that are associated with dental agenesis in specific dental fields (i.e., incisors, premolars, molars) within families and in a case/control study format, and (b) explore connections between dental agenesis (DA) early in life and cancer development later in life.
The focus of this research is to (a) Study the phenotypic differences in craniofacial shape due to skeletal malocclusion within families and when comparing different ethnic backgrounds, (b) Identify genetic factors which drive skeletal Class II and Class III malocclusion growth patterns in families, and (c) Understand how facial shape and inherited genetic factors play a role in the success of early growth modification (Ongoing collaborations with Dr. Jim Hartsfield at UK, and other investigators from Colombia, and Brazil).
(PILOT) The focus of this translational research is to develop a panel of genetic markers that can aid in predicting an individuals' relative risk for developing one or more chronic inflammatory disease in their lifetime (using the genetic of individuals diagnosed with periodontal disease, diabetes and/or Alzheimer's Disease).
Recent Publications
Roedig, JJ, BA Phillips, LA Morford, JE Van Sickels, G Falcao-Alencar, D Fardo, JK Hartsfield Jr, X Ding, GT Kluemper. (2014) Comparison of BMI, AHI and Apolipoprotein E e4 (APOE e4) Alleles Among Sleep Apnea Patients with Different Skeletal Classifications. J Clin Sleep Med 10(4):397-402. http://dx.doi.org/10.5664/jcsm.3614 PMID: 24733985; PMC3960382
*Sharab LY, *Morford LA, Dempsey J, Falcão-Alencar G, Mason A, Jacobson E, Kluemper GT, Macri JV, Hartsfield Jr. JK (*Equal contributions as co-first authors), Genetic and treatment related risk factors associated with external apical root resorption (EARR) concurrent with orthodontia., Orthod Craniofac Res 2015 Apr;18 Suppl 1:71-82. doi: 10.1111/ocr.12078 PMID: 25865535
Kaitlin Voigts Key, Gia Mudd-Martin, Debra K. Moser, Mary Kay Rayens, and Lorri A. Morford, Inflammatory Genotype Moderates the Association between Anxiety and Systemic Inflammation in Adults at Risk for Cardiovascular Disease. J Cardiovasc Nurs. 2020 Aug 6. doi: 10.1097/JCN.0000000000000742. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 32769481
Jussara Gonçalves Fernandes, Lorri Ann Morford, Peter Lloyd Harrison, Theodora Kompotiati, Hong Huang, Ikramuddin Aukhil, Shannon Margaret Wallet, Luciana Macchion Shaddox. Dysregulation of genes and microRNAs in localized aggressive periodontitis. J Clin Periodontol. 2020 Nov;47(11):1317-1325. doi: 10.1111/jcpe.13361. Epub 2020 Oct 8. PMID: 32876337
Mostafa Tabaa, Avesta Shabila, Lorri Morford, Reuben Adatorwovor, Peter Harrison, Ikramuddin Aukhil, Hong Huang, Arnold J Stromberg, Jussara Goncalves, and Luciana Shaddox. Pattern of Grade C Molars and Incisors Periodontitis (C-MIP) in Families. Journal of Periodontology, In Press 2022
Book Chapters and Review Articles
James K. Hartsfield Jr., Lorri Ann Morford and Liliana M. Otero (2012). Genetic Factors Affecting Facial Growth, Orthodontics - Basic Aspects and Clinical Considerations, Prof. Farid Bourzgui (Ed.)
Subramani K, S Huja, GT Kluemper, L Morford, JK Hartsfield Jr: (2012) Chapter 11. Nanotechnology in Orthodontics – 1: The Past, Present, and a Perspective of the Future. In: Nanobiomaterials in Clinical Dentistry. Elsevier Inc., pp. 231-47
Jeffery L. Ebersole, Dolphus R. Dawson III, Lorri A. Morford, Rebecca Peyyala, Craig S. Miller and Octavio A Gonzaléz (2013) Periodontal Disease Immunology: “Double Indemnity” in Protecting the Host, Periodontology 2000, Vol. 62, p 163-202.doi: 10.1111/prd.12005 PMID: 23574466
James K. Hartsfield, Lorri A. Morford, Liliana M. Otero, and David W. Fardo (2013) Genetics and Non-Syndromic Facial Growth., Journal of Pediatric Genetics, IOS Press, J Pediatr Genet Vol. 2, Number 1.
Otero LM, LA Morford, G Falcão-Alencar, JK Hartsfield Jr: (2014) Chapter 1. Family History and Genetics of Mandibular Prognathism, In: Orthodontic Treatment of Class III Malocclusion eBook, PW Ngan, T Deguchi, and EW Roberts (Eds)., Bentham Science Publishers, pp.3-24, (eISBN: 978-1-60805-491-6, ISBN: 978-1-60805-686-6, Chapter DOI: 10.2174/9781608054916114010004.
James K. Hartsfield, Jr. and Lorri Ann Morford, “Chapter 5: Genetic Implications in Orthodontic Tooth Movement” IN: Biology of Orthodontic Tooth Movement, Bhavna (Ed.), Springer International Publishing, Switzerland, 2016
Ebersole JL, CL Graves, OA Gonzalez, D Dawson III, LA Morford, P Emecen-Huja, JK Hartsfield Jr, S Huja, S Pandruvada, SM Wallet; Aging, inflammation, immunity and periodontal disease Periodontology 2000, 72(1):54-75., 2016.
James K. Hartsfield Jr. and Lorri A. Morford: “Chapter 2 - Genetics and Orthodontics.” In: Orthodontics Current Principals and Techniques, sixth edition. LW Graber, RL Vanarsdall, KWL Vig and GJ Huang, eds. Elsevier/Mosby, Inc. St. Louis, MO, 2016.
Iglesias-Linares A, LA Morford, JK Hartsfield Jr: Bone Density and Dental External Apical Root Resorption, Current Osteoporosis Reports. 2016 Dec;14(6):292-309. DOI: 10.1007/s11914-016-0340-1, PMID: 27766484, PMCID: PMC5106316.
Hartsfield JK Jr, GJ Jacob, LA Morford: Heredity, Genetics and Orthodontics: How Much Has This Research Really Helped? Seminars in Orthodontics, 2017 23:336–347. https://doi.org/10.1053/j.sodo.2017.07.003. PMID: 29290679, PMCID: PMC5743234.
Hartsfield Jr JK, Morford LA, Jacob GJ, Kluemper GT. Genetic factors affecting facial morphology associated with sleep apnea. In: McNamara JA, Shelgikar AV, eds. Sleep Apnea: What Every Clinician (and Patient) Should Know. Craniofacial Growth Series, Center for Human Growth and Development, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 2018; 54:213-235.
Kluemper GT, LA Morford, Hartsfield JK Jr. The Quest and Reality of Personalized Treatment for the Skeletal Class III Patient. Craniofacial Growth Series, Center for Human Growth and Development, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 2019; 55: 127-149.
Luciana Macchion Shaddox, Lorri Ann Morford and Luigi Nibali (2020) Periodontal Health and Disease: The contribution of genetics. Periodontology 2000. REVIEW Published 2020 Nov 23. DOI: 10.1111/prd.12357 Online ahead of print, PMID: 33226705.
James K. Hartsfield Jr and Lorri Ann Morford: “Chapter 3 - Acquired and Developmental Disturbances of the Teeth and Associated Oral Structures”, In: McDonald and Avery's Dentistry for the Child and Adolescent, Eleventh Edition. JA Dean, J Jones, B. Sanders, L Vinson and J Yepes, eds. Elsevier, St. Louis, MO, pages 38-89, 2021. ISBN: 978-0323698207.
James K. Hartsfield Jr and Lorri Ann Morford: “Chapter 6 - Clinical Genetics for the Dental Practitioner”, In: McDonald and Avery's Dentistry for the Child and Adolescent, Eleventh Edition. JA Dean, J Jones, B. Sanders, L Vinson and J Yepes, eds. Elsevier/Mosby, Inc. St. Louis, MO, pages 126-149, 2021. ISBN: 978-0323698207.
James K. Hartsfield Jr., Priyanka Gudsoorkar, Lorri A. Morford and W. Eugene Roberts (2020) Chapter 6 - Biological aspects of bone growth and metabolism in orthodontics. In: “Biological Mechanisms of Tooth Movement.” Vinod Krishnan, Anne Marie Kuijpers-Jagtman and Ze'ev Davidovitch (Eds) (3rd Edition), John Wiley and Sons Publishers, Oxford, UK. May 2021 release, ISBN: 978-1-119-60893-6.
James K. Hartsfield Jr., Priyanka Gudsoorkar, Lorri A. Morford and W. Eugene Roberts (2020) Chapter 6 - Biological aspects of bone growth and metabolism in orthodontics. In: “Biological Mechanisms of Tooth Movement.” Vinod Krishnan, Anne Marie Kuijpers-Jagtman and Ze'ev Davidovitch (Eds) (3rd Edition), John Wiley and Sons Publishers, Oxford, UK. May 2021 release, ISBN: 978-1-119-60893-6.
Mohamed Adel, Lorri Morford, James K. Hartsfield, Yu Hikita, Koutaro Maki, Tetsutaro Yamaguchi (2021) Exploring the genetic factors affecting the craniofacial morphology of Egyptian ancestry (Mini-Review) –Kanagawa Shigaku - The Journal of the Kanagawa Odonatological Society, 56(1).
James K. Hartsfield Jr. and Lorri A. Morford: “Chapter 2 - Genetics and Orthodontics.” In: Orthodontics Current Principals and Techniques, seventh edition. Lee W Graber, Katherine WL Vig, Dorth Greg J Huang and Padhraig Fleming , eds. Elsevier/Mosby, Inc. St. Louis, MO, In Press.
Other Activities
Ad hoc reviewer for the Journal of Dental Research (JDR) and American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics (AJODO)
Councilor, International Association of Dental Research (IADR) Craniofacial Biology Group Executive Committee
2013 Moyers Symposium Junior Investigator Travel Award for best scientific work presented in the junior faculty category
Principle Investigator, NIDCR R03DE021438, Genetic Markers Associated with Epithelial Ovarian Cancer and Hypodontia