Dr. Letra is a tenured professor in the Departments of Oral and Craniofacial Sciences and Endodontics. She is also a member of the Center for Craniofacial and Dental Genetics and Center for Craniofacial Regeneration. She holds a DDS from Fluminense Federal University, a certificate and MS in Endodontics from the State University of Rio de Janeiro, and a PhD in Oral Biology from the University of São Paulo, Brazil. Her career includes faculty positions at the University of Texas Health Science Center and the University of Pittsburgh, where she continues to lead impactful research in oral health and craniofacial genetics.
Dr. Letra's research focuses on the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying complex craniofacial and oral diseases and disorders, particularly cleft lip/palate, dental anomalies, and pulpal/periapical disease. She uses gene discovery, genetic analysis, and experimental approaches to identify genetic variants impacting disease risk and health outcomes. Her work is funded by the National Institutes of Health and the American Association of Endodontists Foundation.
She is an active member and leader in several professional organizations, including the American Association of Endodontists (AAE), for which she serves as Chair of the Research and Scientific Affairs Committee, the American Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research (AADOCR), and the International Association for Dental Research (IADR). Dr. Letra serves as an Associate Editor for the Journal of Endodontics and is on editorial boards of other prominent dental and medical journals.
Dr. Letra’s work has been recognized through prestigious awards including the Journal of Endodontics Best Paper in Clinical Research Awards (2020 and 2024), first place in the IADR Hatton Award (2016) and the AADR/SCADA Burton C. Borgelt Faculty Advisor Award (2018). Her work has been featured on the cover of the Journal of Endodontics, Journal of Dental Research, and Orthodontics and Craniofacial Research Journal.