Dr. MD Sams Sazzad Ali, BDS, PhD, Biography

Dr. Md Sams Sazzad Ali is an accomplished academician and researcher with a specialized background in anatomy, neurobiology, neuroanatomy, and neurophysiology. He holds a Ph.D. in Anatomy and Neurobiology from the Graduate School of Dentistry at Osaka University, Japan, and a Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) from Pioneer Dental College and Hospital, affiliated with the University of Dhaka, Bangladesh. Dr. Ali currently serves as an Instructor and Course Director of Advanced Head and Neck Anatomy for the dental residency program, as well as Course Director of Clinical Research Conferences (CRC) for the D1 program at the School of Dentistry, University of Maryland, Baltimore.

With extensive teaching experience across both basic and clinical sciences, Dr. Ali has taught dental students in various capacities. He previously held Senior lecturer position in the Departments of Anatomy and Oral Biology, and Periodontology and Prosthodontics at the University Dental College and Hospital at Dhaka University, Bangladesh. During his doctoral studies, he also served as a Teaching Assistant in Gross Anatomy and Neurobiology at Osaka University, Japan.

As a dentist-scientist, Dr. Ali has dedicated his research career to exploring pain mechanisms, particularly focusing on the roles of central inputs from primary afferents in orofacial nociception. His doctoral work examined the brain mechanisms underlying orofacial motor control involved in mastication, swallowing, and speech, using neuroanatomical, neurophysiological, and neuropharmacological approaches. During his postdoctoral tenure in the Department of Biology at the University of Oklahoma, he studied how gustatory neurons integrate taste with oral somatosensation, including touch, temperature, and pain.

Currently, Dr. Ali’s research investigates the neurobiological mechanisms of persistent pain and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) degeneration following injury. Given the elevated risk of temporomandibular disorders (TMD) among patients with TMJ trauma, his work seeks to address crucial questions regarding prevention and treatment. His research employs cutting-edge methodologies, including molecular and genetically assisted neural control, behavioral assays, optogenetics, immunohistochemistry, and quantitative/computational techniques. Dr. Ali has authored numerous research publications in reputed peer-reviewed journals. Through his commitment to teaching, scientific discovery, and academic leadership, Dr. Ali continues to make significant contributions to the fields of orofacial biology and neuroscience.