Lawrence A. Tabak

Lawrence Tabak was NIDCR director from 2000 to 2010, encouraging work on salivary gland biology and salivary diagnostics as well as research into the neuroscience of chronic pain and head and neck cancer. Tabak took NIDCR into the genomics revolution and adapted the Institute to social change with the first NIDCR health disparities plan. His Practice-Based Research Network (PBRN) initiative promoted greater scientific and programmatic involvement by practitioners.