Profile

Dr. No-Hee Park is a major scientist in oral and craniofacial research community in the world with over 200 scientific publications in most reputable scientific journals, such as Journal of Biological Chemistry, Nature Medicine, Cell Stem Cell, Oncogene, Cancer Research, Clinical Cancer Research, Carcinogenesis, Journal of Infectious Diseases, Archives of Ophthalmology, DNA Repair, International Journal of Oncology, Journal of Dental Research, etc. His major research activities have been in Oral (Head and Neck) Cancer research.  Dr. Park's contribution to the understanding of the mechanisms of oral cancer development is enormous, which resulted in new mode of therapy. 

In the early stage of his career (1975-1983), Dr. Park was engaged in the development of animal models to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of antiviral agents and the studies for understanding the molecular mechanisms of numerous antiviral agents (e.g., Acyclovir [Zovirax®], Ganciclovir, etc.) against herpes simplex virus. In later stage of his research career (since 1983 to present), Dr. Park has investigated the mechanisms of human oral/head & neck cancer development. In addition to his interest in the area of cellular aging, and molecular carcinogenesis, Dr. Park has also been engaged in a research project investigating the molecular mechanisms of the development of atherosclerosis, a benign, but the most dangerous vascular wall cancer.

His research has been well funded by both NIH and private foundations (a total of over $70 million).  Dr. Park has received many recognitions by his peers for his research and scholarly activities. He has served Editorial Board of many research journals, including European J of Cancer, Journal of Dental Research, International Journal of Oncology, Journal of Biotechnology, Odontology, Critical Review of Oncogenesis, Chinese J of Dental Research, and International Journal of Oral Sciences.  Dr. Park has also served as a member of a number of NIH grants review committees for both the National Cancer Institute and the National Institute of Dental Research. 

Dr. Park has also trained over 100 research students, postdoctoral fellows, and visiting scholars from overseas during the past 3-4 decades.  Most of his trainees are presently faculty members of dental schools, medical schools and colleges of life science in the United States and many other countries including Korea, Japan, China and Europe. 

Dr. No-Hee Park is presently the Dean Emeritus and Distinguished Professor of the UCLA School of Dentistry. He is also the Distinguished Professor of Medicine at the UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine.  As Dean, Dr. Park had directed a $90 million enterprise, with 400 full and part-time faculty, 450 students (DDS, PhD, and MS Programs), 91 advanced education residents (also known as specialty program residents of a hospital), close to 100 dentists from overseas, and a staff of 300 employees. Dr. Park joined the faculty of the UCLA School of Dentistry in 1984.  In 1995, Dr. Park was named Director of the UCLA Dental Research Institute.  In 1997, Dr. Park was appointed as Associate Dean for Research at the UCLA School of Dentistry and created the UCLA Wound Healing Research Center.  In July 1, 1998, Dr. Park was named Dean of the UCLA School of Dentistry and served the school as the dean until June 30, 2016 (for 18 years).  He was the longest serving dean of the UCLA School of Dentistry of its 55 year history and the 2nd longest serving dean at the entire UCLA of its 100 year history.  Under Dr. Park’s leadership, the UCLA School of Dentistry has become the most research intensive dental school in the world.  For example, Dr. Park increased the extramural research grant funds by almost 10 times during his tenure as the dean: Under Dr. Park’s leadership, the annual extramural research funds have increased to approximately $25 million (FY2015-2016) from $3 million (FY 2016-17). This is due to his conscientious investment in the research enterprise; through targeted faculty recruitment, cultivation of research value, improvements to research facilities, establishment of research centers and core areas of interdisciplinary research, and the acquisition of key equipment and technology. He had also established 11 endowed chairs from none, including the Dr. No-Hee Park Endowed Chair in Dentistry.