Dr. Yang Chai, a leader in the field of craniofacial development, has been named this year’s Goldhaber Award recipient. The Goldhaber Award recognizes an individual who is held at the highest international esteem in their field related to oral and systemic health. The award was established in 1989 in honor of former Harvard School of Medicine (HSDM) dean Dr. Paul Goldhaber, a periodontist and researcher, upon the completion of his 22 years of service to the School. It is presented annually at HSDM during the Goldhaber Lecture.
Chai is University Professor and George and MaryLou Boone Chair in Craniofacial Biology at the University of Southern California (USC). He also serves as Director of the Center for Craniofacial Molecular Biology and Associate Dean of Research at the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry at USC.
Selected for his prominent contributions as a craniofacial researcher and clinician, Chai is most noted for his groundbreaking work exploring craniofacial development and birth defects. His research has transformed the field and led to the successful restoration of cleft palate in mouse embryos. He also studies stem cells and is currently using innovative 3D-printed scaffolds seeded with stem cells to regenerate tissue for patients who have lost bone due to trauma, congenital defects, or disease.
“Dr. Chai is a distinguished leader in dental and craniofacial research, and we are delighted to present him with the 2023 Goldhaber Award,” said Dr. Yingzi Yang, Associate Dean for Research at HSDM. “He continues to do novel, creative, and cutting-edge basic and translational research.”
Chai is a member of both the National Academy of Medicine and of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. His research has been continuously funded by the National Institutes of Health for more than 25 years. Chai’s transformative work has earned him multiple awards, including the 2011 International Association of Dental Research Distinguished Scientist Award.
Chai shared his experience, “From a Clinician to a Clinician-Scientist: My Journey in Craniofacial Development and Regenerative Medicine,” during the annual Paul Goldhaber Lecture on Tuesday, October 17, 2023.
