Grayson W. Marshall Jr.
Why did you choose Northwestern?
It was top-ranked in my field of interest and I got a good fellowship offer. After my PhD, I discovered a new field, biomaterials, and did a postdoc on the Chicago campus. Then I was offered a faculty position from 1973–87 and eventually also attended the dental school and received a DDS from NU in 1986. My wife Sally, a 1975 Northwestern PhD, and I were subsequently recruited to UCSF where we have been for 34 years.
How would you describe your research and/or work to a non-academic audience? What was it then and/or what it is now?
Initially, my work was in biomaterials for dentistry and orthopedic surgery. As time went on, we focused on amalgam/silver fillings and how and why they failed. As time went on, we became interested in clinical research so I went to Berkeley for a public health degree. Later we developed new collaborators and new approaches including applying our methodologies to studying bones and teeth.
This led to work and long-term federal support for the study of enamel, dentin, bioactive materials that alter bone and teeth healing. For the past decade or so I have been interested in rebuilding the dentin or interior of the teeth that have been attacked by dental decay.
Tell us who or what inspired your research and/or work.
Initially, I think it was my fellow graduate students at Northwestern. One of whom (Eugene
Lautenschalger) joined the Northwestern Dental School faculty after his PhD to build the biomaterials program at Northwestern. Subsequently, it was a group of brilliant scientists from the Berkeley and Livermore National Labs that provided new technology for imaging and evaluating calcified tissues and implant materials.
What are you most proud of in your career to date?
Receiving a Distinguished Scientist Award from the International Association for Dental Research (IADR), an Honorary doctorate from Malmo University in Sweden in 2012, an Innovation in Oral l Care Award from GSK and IADR in 2017, and a Distinguished Mentor Award from the American Association for Dental Research in 2018. Most importantly, most of my former students and postdocs have had fantastic careers and many are distinguished leaders.
Tell us about a current achievement or something you're working on that excites you.
It turns out that by studying genetically defective dentin that dentin has two different compartments that contain the mineral that gives teeth and bone their strength and toughness. Introducing minerals in only one compartment does not rebuild these important properties. We have now developed pre-clinical approaches that restore most of the original properties in special solutions, and have now developed several modifications that hold promise for clinical use in restoring the structure in patients.
What advice would you give your younger self or someone considering a similar path?
Most careers do not seem to move in a straight line. There are many twists and turns. New PhDs often need to find the right mentor and collaborators who are willing to invest time and energy in pursuing joint goals. If one falls short seek other mentors and collaborators. Science, and in particular biomedical research, in my experience have never been so exciting as they are today. I often think it would be great to be starting rather than finishing my career.