Director, Dental Biomedical Sciences PhD Program

‌The Schneider laboratory conducts basic and translational research into the potential repurposing of biguanide compounds within local delivery formulations for dental and craniofacial applications. Through transdisciplinary collaborations, we are developing novel bioactive materials containing metformin, a widely used, safe, and low-cost oral antidiabetic drug, to enhance the repair and regeneration of mineralized tissue including bone and dentin. Our studies are particularly focused on the role played in these processes by the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling pathway, a master sensing mechanism of cellular bioenergetics induced by metformin. We envision our results will yield valuable information to ultimately implement metformin-releasing formulations in the treatment of prevalent diseases affecting dental and craniofacial tissues including dental caries and periodontal bone loss. Another area of research interest in the Schneider lab centers on elucidating pro-oncogenic signals and metabolic mediators that promote the progression of oral potentially malignant disorders to oral squamous cell carcinoma.  

Mineralized tissue regeneration and repair

1. Reynolds MA, Z Zhao, MD Weir, T Ma, J Liu, HHK Xu and A Schneider. Nanopharmaceuticals in alveolar bone and periodontal regeneration. In: Madhyastha H and Chauhan DN (ed) Nanopharmaceuticals in Regenerative Medicine, 1^st Edition Chapter 15: 269-288, 2022. CRC Press Taylor & Francis Group, Boca Raton.
2. Wang S, Y Xia, T Ma, MD Weir, K Ren, MA Reynolds, Y Shu, L Cheng, A Schneider*,HHK Xu. Novel metformin-containing resin promotes odontogenic differentiation and mineral synthesis of dental pulp stem cells. Drug Delivery and Translational Research 9(1): 85-96, 2019. PMID: 30465181. *Co-senior corresponding author.
3. Qin W, J-Y Chen, J Guo, T Ma, MD Weir, D Guo, Y Shu, Z-M Lin, A Schneider*and HHK Xu. Novel calcium phosphate cement with metformin-loaded chitosan for odontogenic differentiation of human dental pulp cells. Stem Cells Int, 2018: 7173481. PMID: 30598667 *Co-senior corresponding author.
4. Al Jofi FE, T Ma, D Guo, MP Schneider, Y Shu, HHK Xu, and A Schneider.Functional Organic Cation Transporters Mediate Osteogenic Response to Metformin in Human Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stromal Cells. Cytotherapy 20(5): 650-659, 2018. PMID: 29555409
5. Qin W, X-L Gao, T Ma, MD Weir, J Zou, B Song, Z Lin, A Schneider*, and HHK Xu. Metformin enhances the differentiation of dental pulp stem cells into odontoblasts by activating AMPK signaling. Journal of Endodontics 44(4): 576-584, 2018. PMID: 29306537. *Co-senior corresponding author.
6. Wang P, T Ma, K Hu, D Guo, Y Shu, HHK Xu, and A Schneider. Metformin induces osteoblastic differentiation of human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived mesenchymal stem cells. J Tissue Eng Regen Med 12(2): 437-446, 2018. PMID: 28494141
7. Schneider A, JM Taboas, LK McCauley and PH Krebsbach.  Skeletal homeostasis in tissue-engineered bone. Journal of Orthopaedic Research 21(5): 859-864, 2003. PMID: 12919874 

Oral Cancer Biology and Experimental Therapeutics

1. Wisniewski DJ, T Ma and A Schneider. Fatty Acid Synthase mediates high glucose-induced EGFR activation in oral dysplastic keratinocytes. J Oral Pathol Med, 50(9): 919-926, 2021. PMID: 34402100.
2. Wisniewski DJ, T Ma and A Schneider. Nicotine induces oral dysplastic keratinocyte migration via Fatty Acid Synthase-dependent Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor activation. Experimental Cell Research 370(2): 343-352, 2018. PMID: 29966661
3. Wisniewski DJ, T Ma and A Schneider. Advances in the chemopreventive targeting of oral carcinogenesis. Current Oral Health Reports 2(2): 63-72, 2015.
4. Schneider A. Mouse models to study metformin effects in carcinogenesis. In: Berger NA (ed) Murine Models, Energy Balance and Cancer. Energy Balance and Cancer 10: 271-292, 2015. Springer International Publishing, Switzerland.
5. Patel H, RH Younis, RA Ord, JR Basile andA Schneider. Differential expression of organic cation transporter OCT-3 in oral premalignant and malignant lesions: potential implications in the antineoplastic effects of metformin. J Oral Pathol Med 42(3):250-6, 2013. PMID: 22861817
6. Vitale-Cross L, AA Molinolo, D Martin, RH Younis, M Takashi, V Patel, W Chen,A Schneider* and JS Gutkind. Metformin prevents the development of oral squamous cell carcinomas from carcinogenesis induced premalignant lesions. Cancer Prev Res 5(4): 562-73, 2012. PMID: 22467081. *Co-senior corresponding author
7. Wang X, A Schneider. HIF2a-mediated activation of the Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor potentiates head and neck cancer cell migration in response to hypoxia. Carcinogenesis 31(7): 1202-10, 2010. PMID: 20395290
8. Schneider A, RH Younis and JS Gutkind. Hypoxia-induced energy stress inhibits the mTOR pathway by activating an AMPK/REDD1 signaling axis in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Neoplasia10(11):1295-1302, 2008. PMID: 18953439

DDS: Peruvian University Cayetano Heredia, Faculty of Stomatology, Lima - Peru. 

Residency: Periodontics, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT. 

PhD: Oral Health Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI. 

Postdoctoral Fellowship: National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, Bethesda, MD.