The University of Sheffield
The School of Clinical Dentistry

Professor Paul M Speight BDS, PhD, FDSRCPS, FDSRCS(Eng), FDSRCS(Edin), FRCPath

Dean, School of Clinical Dentistry
Professor in Oral Pathology, and Honorary Consultant Histopathologist

Prof. Speight

Department of Oral Pathology
School of Clinical Dentistry
University of Sheffield
Claremont Crescent
Sheffield
S10 2TA

Tel:+44 (0) 114 271 7951
Fax:+44 (0) 114 271 7894

email : p.speight@sheffield.ac.uk

Biography

I qualified in Dentistry at the University of Manchester in 1978, followed by house jobs and a MRC Clinical Training Fellowship at the University of Dundee, where I obtained a PhD in 1984. From 1983 -1984 I worked in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, as an Oral Surgeon, and as Postgraduate Tutor, developing postgraduate education for junior hospital staff and teaching at the University Dental School. From 1984 to 2003 I worked in London, first at the Royal London Hospital Medical College and from 1990 to 2003 was Head of Oral & Maxillofacial Pathology at the Eastman Dental Institute, University College London.

I joined the University of Sheffield in 2003 when I took up the Chair in Oral Pathology. From September 2007 I have been Dean of the School.

I am a diagnostic histopathologist with special expertise in lesions of the jawbones, including odontogenic cysts, and salivary glands.

Research Interests

My research has been in understanding the pathobiology of oral disease, particularly trying to understand mechanisms of progression of oral cancer.

The pathobiology of oral cancer and cell adhesion molecules.

We have investigated the role of integrins and cadherins in oral cancer and in the modulation of epithelial cell behaviour. Although the emphasis has been on mechanisms of infiltration and progression of oral carcinomas, much of the work is of a basic biological nature and is equally applicable to other systems including wound healing. We characterised a series of cell lines and noted that some had lost specific integrin subunits.

Using DNA transfection techniques we have shown the importance of integrins in the regulation of epithelial cell function and have identified a particular integrin, alphaVbeta6, which can mediate cell migration, differentiation and metalloproteinase production and which may be fundamentally important in modulating the malignant phenotype and in normal wound healing. Current studies are investigating the central role of integrin-matrix interactions in a possible `feed-back loop mechanism´ which may potentiate cell migration and invasion.

Biomarkers in Oral Cancer and Salivary gland tumours

We are undertaking studies of minichromosome maintenance (MCM) proteins and cell proliferation markers in oral cancer and precancer. We have found that MCM2 and MCM5 are upregulated in oral dysplasia and in some salivary gland tumours. We have also shown that DNA ploidy analysis can predict which precancerous lesions may progress to oral cancer. On going studies include a prospective clinical trial of DNA analysis in cytology specimens from oral precancerous lesions.

Screening for oral cancer and precancer

In 1990 I established the UK Working Group on Screening for Oral Cancer and Precancer. This was a national group of experts who looked at the feasibility of screening for oral cancer. Subsequently I have sat on a number of national and international groups relating to oral cancer screening, including 3 UK Dept of Health advisory groups and an NIH working group. We have evaluated screening methods and have been concerned with the epidemiology of oral cancer in the UK, including a definitive description of increasing trends among younger people and the identification of alcohol as the most important factor mediating increased incidence of the disease. We have undertaken studies into the costs and benefits of oral cancer treatments and screening including quality of life studies and measurement of utility values and have shown that opportunistic screening of high risk individuals may be cost-effective. Recently we have investigated referral patterns of suspicious lesions from primary to secondary care, and have determined what factors influence a dentists decidion to refer patients with suspicious lesions.

Clinical research and case reports:

I have also made a significant contribution to my speciality of diagnostic pathology in the form of case series, reviews, basic clinical research and books.

Teaching Interests

My major role is teaching oral pathology to undergraduate and postgraduate students. I have special interest in cysts, oral cancer and salivary gland tumours.

As Dean of School I have oversight of all teaching and I am particularly concerned with maintaining a high quality education informed by excellence in research and scholarship.

Professional activities

I am a Past-President of the British Society for Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, the International Association of Oral Pathologists, and the Oral Medeicine and Pathology Group of the IADR. From 2003 to 2008 I was Editor-in-Chief of Archives of Oral Biology and I still sit on 5 Editorial Boards, including being a senior adviser to the British Dental Journal. I am a member of numerous national and international committees including President of the British Society for Oral and Dental Research. In 2008 I was honoured with a Distinguished Scientist Award from the International Association for Dental Research.

Key Committees and administrative Roles

Local

Dean of School and Head of Department

Member, Faculty Executive Board

Member, Senate Budget Committee

National

President, British Society for Oral & Dental Research

Member, Dental Schools Council

NIHR Dean for Training (ACF) Advisory Panel

NIHR Research Fellowship Interview panels

NIHR National Oral and Dental Specialty Group

NCRI – Primary Care Clinical Studies Development Group

External Scientific Advisory Board, King´s Biomedical Research Centre

Oral & Dental Research Trust, advisory board

BDA, Central Committee for Academic Staff

BDA, Health and Science Committee

REF2014, Panel member

International

Member of Council of the International Association of Oral Pathologists

Editorial Board, J Oral Pathology and Medicine

Editorial Board, BMC Oral health

Scientific Advisory Board, Brit Dent Jour

International Advisory Board, J Oral Biosciences

International Review Panel. NIH Sjogren´s Syndrome (SICCA) project. UCSF

Expert Review Panel of Dental research, University of Hong Kong,

Key research papers

Pathobiology of oral cancer

Biomarkers in Oral cancer and salivary gland tumours

Oral cancer screening and early detection

Clincal cases series and reviews