AMPL - History

The AMPL logo is conceived by its founder and director. It is an inverse cone that moves around its axis and is filled with the colors of the visible part of the electromagnetic spectrum. The symbol of medicine—the staff of Asclepius (an ancient Greek physician deified as the god of medicine)—with a serpent encircling a staff, emerges from the base of the cone. The logo is designed by Joshua Dunham, a research assistant in AMPL.

Sovanda Som joins AMPL as a research associate. For the next two years, she will serve as technical manager and provides training to new staff.

A collaboration is established with the Clinical Collaborative at The Forsyth Institute (Dr. Max Goodson), and the Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital (Dr. Apostolos Doukas).

Drs. Soukos (AMPL) and Philip Stashenko (Cytokine Biology) at The Forsyth Institute launch a new project regarding the use of photodynamic therapy for endodontic disinfection.

A collaboration is established with the Division of Endodontics, Harvard School of Dental Medicine.

Drs. Soukos (AMPL) and Max Goodson (Clinical Collaborative) introduce the concepts of selective oral antimicrobial treatment using visible light in their publication in the journal of Antimicrobial Agents & Chemotherapy.

A grant from the National Institutes of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) is awarded for studying the development of photodynamic therapy as an adjunctive technique in endodontics.

A collaboration is established with the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences at Northeastern University. Drs. Nikos Soukos and Mansoor Amiji introduce the Nano-Photomedicine Initiative. The vision behind this initiative is to integrate Photomedicine with Nanotechnology leading to the development of multifunctional systems and smart drugs, which will target oral infectious and malignant disease.

Dr. Carla Fontana (a former post-doctoral research fellow and current collaborator of AMPL) applies the nanoparticle-based antimicrobial photochemotherapy concept in preclinical studies at the Institute of Physics of São Carlos, University of São Paulo, Brazil.

The cover of the June 2008 issue of the Journal of Endodontics features the fiber optic used by AMPL's research group to target endodontic microorganisms in infected dental root canal systems.

Dr. Nikos Soukos joins The Forsyth Institute from the Wellman Laboratories of Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital on June 3, 2002.

A grant from the National Institutes of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) is awarded for studying the photosensitization of oral bacteria.

A grant from the National Institutes of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) is awarded for studying the photodynamic effects of polymeric nanoparticles loaded with photoactive drugs on microbial biofilms.

Dr. Soukos is an invited speaker at the Annual Session of the American Association of Endodontists in San Diego. In his seminar, "Phototargeting Endodontic Infection", he presents for the first time data obtained from the ex vivo application of photodynamic therapy as an adjunctive technique to conventional endodontic treatment.

Dr. Tom Pagonis, a Diplomate of the American Board of Endodontics and a faculty member at Harvard School of Dental Medicine, joins AMPL as a visiting scientist.

First clinical pilot study is carried out for testing the selective suppression of key periodontal pathogens in dental plaque by visible light.

Colgate-Palmolive Company announces an alliance with The Forsyth Institute to advance cutting-edge research in oral health and its effect on overall systemic health. The company provides continuous funding support for AMPL over the next four years.

Celebration of AMPL’s fifth anniversary; A brochure with the story of AMPL from 2003 to 2008 is published.

Second clinical study is carried out for testing the selective suppression of key periodontal pathogens in dental plaque by visible light.

			Applied Molecular Photomedicine Laboratory 2003 AMPL

			History 2003 Dr. Soukos founds AMPL in March 2003. The AMPL logo is conceived by its founder and director. It is an inverse cone that moves around its axis and is filled with the colors of the visible part of the electromagnetic spectrum. The symbol of medicine—the staff of Asclepius (an ancient Greek physician deified as the god of medicine)—with a serpent encircling a staff, emerges from the base of the cone. The logo is designed by Joshua Dunham, a research assistant in AMPL. Sovanda Som joins AMPL as a research associate. For the next two years, she will serve as technical manager and provides training to new staff. A collaboration is established with the Clinical Collaborative at The Forsyth Institute (Dr. Max Goodson), and the Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital (Dr. Apostolos Doukas). 2004 Drs. Soukos (AMPL) and Philip Stashenko (Cytokine Biology) at The Forsyth Institute launch a new project regarding the use of photodynamic therapy for endodontic disinfection. A collaboration is established with the Division of Endodontics, Harvard School of Dental Medicine. 2005 Drs. Soukos (AMPL) and Max Goodson (Clinical Collaborative) introduce the concepts of selective oral antimicrobial treatment using visible light in their publication in the journal of Antimicrobial Agents & Chemotherapy. 2006 A grant from the National Institutes of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) is awarded for studying the development of photodynamic therapy as an adjunctive technique in endodontics. The effect of phototherapy on periodontal inflammation is explored. 2007 A collaboration is established with the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences at Northeastern University. Drs. Nikos Soukos and Mansoor Amiji introduce the Nano-Photomedicine Initiative. The vision behind this initiative is to integrate Photomedicine with Nanotechnology leading to the development of multifunctional systems and smart drugs, which will target oral infectious and malignant disease. 2008 Dr. Carla Fontana (a former post-doctoral research fellow and current collaborator of AMPL) applies the nanoparticle-based antimicrobial photochemotherapy concept in preclinical studies at the Institute of Physics of São Carlos, University of São Paulo, Brazil. The cover of the June 2008 issue of the Journal of Endodontics features the fiber optic used by AMPL's research group to target endodontic microorganisms in infected dental root canal systems. 2002 Dr. Nikos Soukos joins The Forsyth Institute from the Wellman Laboratories of Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital on June 3, 2002. A grant from the National Institutes of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) is awarded for studying the photosensitization of oral bacteria. Harvard University, Harvard Gazette (4/7/05): Blue light suppresses oral pathogens New Scientist (4/5/05): Mini 'light sabres' may battle gum disease Harvard Magazine (12/28/05): Light Blitzes Plaque A grant from the National Institutes of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) is awarded for studying the photodynamic effects of polymeric nanoparticles loaded with photoactive drugs on microbial biofilms. 2009 Dr. Soukos is an invited speaker at the Annual Session of the American Association of Endodontists in San Diego. In his seminar, "Phototargeting Endodontic Infection", he presents for the first time data obtained from the ex vivo application of photodynamic therapy as an adjunctive technique to conventional endodontic treatment. 2010 Dr. Tom Pagonis, a Diplomate of the American Board of Endodontics and a faculty member at Harvard School of Dental Medicine, joins AMPL as a visiting scientist. First clinical pilot study is carried out for testing the selective suppression of key periodontal pathogens in dental plaque by visible light. Colgate-Palmolive Company announces an alliance with The Forsyth Institute to advance cutting-edge research in oral health and its effect on overall systemic health. The company provides continuous funding support for AMPL over the next four years. Celebration of AMPL’s fifth anniversary; A brochure with the story of AMPL from 2003 to 2008 is published. The first AMPL’s newsletter is distributed among its past and current members. Second clinical study is carried out for testing the selective suppression of key periodontal pathogens in dental plaque by visible light.


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