Malcolm L Snead

Malcolm L. Snead is an American professor of biomedical sciences and researcher in craniofacial molecular biology and biomineralization. He is a professor at the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of the University of Southern California (USC). He is an elected Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS, 1995). His research focuses on enamel formation, amelogenin proteins, and biomimetic approaches to dental regeneration.

Early life and education Snead earned a Bachelor of Science degree in biology and chemistry from Saint Mary's College of California in 1973. He completed postdoctoral fellowships at USC (1981-1982) and Baylor College of Medicine (1982).

A 1997 book chapter by Simmer and Snead discusses the cloning of the amelogenin cDNA as enabling subsequent genetic and biochemical studies. A 2006 review co-authored by Snead discusses protein-protein interactions in the developing enamel matrix, including amelogenin self-assembly. A 2005 review by Paine and Snead summarizes transgenic animal models for studying enamel defects and amelogenin self-assembly domains.

Reviews cite Snead's work on amelogenin self-assembly and transgenic models in the context of enamel development. Snead presented on self-assembly directing enamel formation and regeneration at the 2015 Composites at Lake Louise conference.

His later research applies biomimetic approaches to translational applications. This includes silver diamine fluoride for caries prevention in vulnerable populations. In collaboration with Candan Tamerler, he has developed solid binding peptides for bone regeneration and antimicrobial coatings on implants.

Selected publications

Awards and honors Johnson and Johnson Fellow (1976-1977). International Association for Dental Research (IADR) Distinguished Scientist Award in Research in Oral Biology (2001). Fulbright Senior Specialist Award (2007). Elected Fellow of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE) in 2018.