The Company
Oral Fluid Dynamics is an early stage medical device company that has spun out of the University of Connecticut. It was founded in 2015 and had received generous grants from the National Institutes of Health, UConn Health, the Sjögren's Syndrome Foundation and Connecticut Innovations. As the company continues to develop and test its technology it is raising additional capital and developing strategic business relationships.
The Management Team
J. Robert Kelly, DDS
Founder
Bob is a Professor Emeritus at the University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine, and is the primary inventor of the Company’s technology.
Martin A. Freilich, DDS
Founder
Martin is a Professor in The University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine’s Department of Reconstructive Sciences. He is a practicing prosthodonist and periodontist and serves as OFD’s medical advisor and implant surgeon.
Donald S. Gershman, JD
CEO
Don is a business and finance attorney, and entrepreneur who serves as OFD’s CEO. In addition, he is an Adjunct Professor at The University of Connecticut School of Law.
Additional Resources
OFD collaborates with faculty and researchers at both the University of Connecticut's Dental School and its Engineering School, providing access to state-of-the-art design, technological and testing resources.
Advisors
Horea Ilies, Ph.D., Professor and Director of the School of Mechanical, Aerospace and Manufacturing Engineering at UConn and a Director of the Digital Design Research, Analysis, and Manufacturing (D2REAM) center at UConn
Tannin Schmidt, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering at UConn, focuses his research on the fundamental mechanisms and properties of lubricin, a critical lubricating protein found throughout the human body discovered to have anti-inflammatory properties
Leslie Laing, DDS, Ph.D., Prosthodontist and Immunologist, focuses on the oral treatment of patients with dry mouth associated with Sjögren Syndrome, other autoimmune diseases, and serves as the President of the Sjögren’s Society of Canada
Benjamin M. Wu, DDS., Ph.D., Professor Emeritus, former Chair of the Division of Advanced Prosthodontics at the School of Dentistry; and former Chair of the Department of Bioengineering at the UCLA School of Engineering
Adina Popescu, DDS, MBA a dentist with an MBA from the University of Connecticut, and over 20 years of experience in pharmaceutical and healthcare marketing, business consulting, and executive development will help develop business strategy and commercialization on this project
In The News
UConn Spinout Wins NIH R&D Grant for Artificial Salivary Gland
September 6, 2018, Jessica McBride, UConn Today
Oral Fluid Dynamics, LLC (OFD) is a technology startup working to improve the lives of millions of people suffering from a debilitating condition, chronic dry mouth.
With its breakthrough approach using a specialized dental implant device that will function as an artificial salivary gland, OFD seeks to change the standard of medical care for dry mouth patients for whom no cure or effective treatment is currently available.
Artificial Salivary Gland Gains Patent
March 7, 2018, Dentistry Today
Xerostomia affects about 64 million Americans each year, putting their oral health at risk of cavities and other complications, according to the University of Connecticut (UConn) School of Dental Medicine. Yet J. Robert Kelly, DDS, PhD, a professor of reconstructive sciences there, has a potential solution in an artificial salivary gland design, patented through his startup, Oral Fluid Dynamics, and the support of the university.