Herpesvirus reactivation is a major health problem, particularly in chemically immunosuppressed patients and HIV-infected individuals. The identification of early gene regulation of herpesvirus reactivation could be cultivated with translational and pharmaceutical partners through development of new chemotherapeutics with specific gene targets.

The chronic oral infection and inflammation of periodontal disease has generated substantial interest regarding the potential contribution of this oral disease to a variety of systemic sequelae (eg. diabetes, cardiovascular disease, preterm/low birthweight infants, pulmonary infections). The ability to develop diagnostic approaches to enable more effective prediction of "high risk" individuals via profiling of genetic polymorphisms of inflammatory genes and/or receptors and evaluation of biomarkers in oral fluids and serum, could generate local corporate investment, as well as stimulating the creation of start-up companies. A major emphasis of this research area is focusing on clinical/translational/basic sciences to address disparities in oral health in Kentucky, to network oral health education with the medical/dental community, and to improve technology-transfer from academia to the chair-side as an economic generator.