Fatemeh Momen Heravi, DDS, MPH, PhD
Professor
Orofacial Sciences
School of Dentistry

Dr. Flora (Fatemeh) Momen-Heravi is an internationally recognized clinician-scientist and periodontist whose work bridges mucosal immunology, periodontology, cancer biology, and precision medicine. As the R.

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Earl Robinson Distinguished Professor of Periodontology and Division Chief of Periodontology at Department of Orofacial Sciences, she leads pioneering research into the immune system’s interactions with the tumor microenvironment and inflammatory diseases, including oral and periodontal disease.

Dr. Momen-Heravi’s multidisciplinary research program integrates experimental, computational, and translational approaches to uncover disease mechanisms, identify biomarkers, and develop targeted therapeutics. Her laboratory is advancing knowledge in cancer immunology, extracellular vesicles, inflammatory signaling, and precision therapeutics, with ongoing projects in exosome biology, host-pathogen interactions, and genome engineering using CRISPR/Cas.

With a strong background in translational science, Dr. Momen-Heravi previously founded and led the Head and Neck Cancer Research Group at Columbia University Medical Center before joining UCSF in 2024. She has trained extensively at Harvard Medical School, UMASS Medical School, and Brigham and Women’s Hospital and has authored over 120 peer-reviewed publications. Her research is supported by multiple NIH and foundation grants, including R35, R01, and U01 awards, and she has been honored with numerous prestigious awards, such as the AACR-The Mark Foundation ‘Science of the Patient’ Award, the NIH Maximizing Investigators Research Award, and the IADR Young Investigator Award.

Dr. Momen-Heravi is passionate about mentorship, scientific innovation, and bridging health disparities in cancer and periodontal disease. Her lab welcomes motivated postdoctoral fellows, PhD candidates, and dental students interested in cutting-edge research at the intersection of oral and systemic health, immunology, and precision medicine. Dr. Momen-Heravi takes pride in providing full scope of periodontal and implants surgery to patients and manage medically compromised patients and patients with history of cancer.

Interests

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  • Extracellular vesicles/Exosomes
  • Tumor microenvironment
  • Periodontitis
  • Cancer research
  • Immunology
  • Head and neck cancer

Grants and Projects

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Publications (83)

Top publication keywords:
RNA, Long NoncodingMacrophagesAlveolar Ridge AugmentationStomatitis, AphthousExtracellular VesiclesCentrifugation, Density GradientPeriodontitisDental ImplantsAlveolar Bone LossMouth NeoplasmsSalivaMicroRNAsPeri-ImplantitisExosomesHead and Neck Neoplasms

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