Leader in tissue regeneration research named Goldhaber Award recipient
The Award recognizes outstanding research accomplishments in oral and systemic health
Dr. Luisa DiPietro, an internationally renowned periodontist, has been named the 2025 recipient of Harvard School of Dental Medicine’s Goldhaber Award. DiPietro is a professor of periodontics and director of the University of Illinois Chicago’s Center for Wound Healing and Tissue Regeneration.
For more than 25 years, her research has advanced understanding of wound healing and tissue regeneration. Her work includes uncovering the mechanisms that guide capillary growth and regression in healing wounds, clarifying the role of inflammation at injury sites, and identifying the biological distinctions that allow oral mucosa to heal rapidly and with minimal scarring compared to skin. Her current studies explore the genomic regulation of wound repair and the use of computational models to better understand the healing process.
In addition to her scientific discoveries, DiPietro has served as a program director for two NIH training programs and has mentored countless students and young researchers. She is an elected fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and her contributions have been recognized with numerous national and international awards.
DiPietro will discuss, “Decoding Wound Healing: A Journey in Science and Mentorship,” during the annual Paul Goldhaber Lecture on November 17, 2025. In her talk, DiPietro will reflect on her path to becoming an academic scientist and highlight research into why oral wounds heal faster and more resiliently than skin, even under stress.
Established in 1989 in honor of former Harvard School of Dental Medicine dean Dr. Paul Goldhaber, the Goldhaber Award recognizes an individual who is held at the highest international esteem in their field related to oral and systemic health.