Gift from pioneering researcher establishes professorship, names lab at UMMC

A legacy that helped shape biomedical materials science at the University of Mississippi Medical Center is being honored through a newly named laboratory and through the establishment of an endowed professorship designed to advance research and education for years to come.

Through gifts totaling more than $600,000 from the late Dr. Lyle D. Zardiackas, the Medical Center will recognize his legacy with the naming of the Lyle D. Zardiackas, PhD Biomedical Materials Science Laboratory and the establishment of the Lyle. D. Zardiackas, PhD, FADM, FASTM Professorship in Biomedical Materials Science.

"The professorship, generously established by the late Dr. Lyle Zardiackas reflects his deep commitment to advancing biomedical materials science research,” said Dr. Pia Chatterjee Kirk, dean of the School of Dentistry. “His pioneering spirit and determination built the department from the ground up - literally. There was no BMS department until Dr. Zardiackas founded it, and he followed that by establishing a graduate program within the department.”

That legacy comes full circle with the appointment of Dr. Michael D. Roach, the inaugural holder of the professorship and the first graduate of the doctoral program Zardiackas created.

“Dr. Zardiackas set high standards for research,” said Dr. Jason Griggs, associate dean for research in the School of Dentistry. “He was meticulous. He was relentless in his pursuit of answers. He was demanding of himself and others.

“With his passion for research and education, Dr. Zardiackas led the effort to form the Biomedical Materials Science Department in 2004. He became the founding department chair. It is only fitting that we honor Dr. Zardiackas’s contributions by dedicating the mechanical testing laboratory in the School of Dentistry and awarding the professorship in his name.”

After joining the Medical Center in 1979, Zardiackas focused on developing new materials and devices for dentistry and orthopaedics, with research spanning laminate veneers, denture base materials, endodontic instruments and fluorides. His collaborations with industry leaders such as 3M, DePuy, Synthes and Procter & Gamble helped translate scientific discovery into real-world applications.

A founding member of the Academy of Dental Materials, Zardiackas also played a key role in shaping national dental education standards and was an influential contributor to the American Society for Testing and Materials.

“Our research momentum has remained strong,” said Dr. Amol Janorkar, chair of the Department of Biomedical Materials Science. “Our research infrastructure has been strengthened through the BMS shared equipment facility, originally started by Dr. Zardiackas.

“In the previous fiscal year, the BMS department held 25 active grants, with 14 new grants awarded. Starting with Dr. Zardiackas, the BMS faculty have now received one platinum, five gold, three silver, and five bronze awards for Excellence in Research. BMS faculty members hold 22 service and leadership roles in national and international professional organizations, including being U.S. delegates and world-wide heads at the International Standards Organization. One of those ISO worldwide heads is Dr. Michael Roach.”

Roach, a professor in the Department of Biomedical Materials Science, has spent more than 25 years at UMMC advancing research, mentoring students and building on the groundwork laid by his mentor. A Mississippi State University graduate, he joined UMMC in 2000 as a materials engineer under Zardiackas’s guidance and later became the first graduate of the biomedical materials science doctoral program his mentor established.

"Dr. Zack was really known for research with the implant industry, and it’s a different type of research,” Roach said. “Coming out of college, I didn’t even know this type of research existed, and I really enjoyed coming into his lab and working on those projects.”

Roach’s work has contributed to advances in the performance and longevity of medical devices. His research has been supported by multiple research grants totaling over $7 million in funding and has led to multiple peer-reviewed publications and patent applications.

“Dr. Zack told us two important things when working with industry – establishing relationships with key individuals and defining your field of expertise,” Roach said. “You need to become known as an expert in certain areas of your field. But none of us are experts in everything, so we collaborate.

“We talk a lot about collaborating with others, but we need to define our own fields of expertise and show people around the world, not just in industry, where we can help them. I've tried to carry these principles forward through all of the research in my career.”

Beyond his research, Roach is known for his commitment to mentorship, guiding students whose work has earned recognition across campus and at national conferences. His scholarly contributions include numerous publications, presentations and invited lectures, along with leadership roles in professional organizations around the world.

“Another lesson he shared is to celebrate research team successes,” Roach said. “Of course, we celebrated our own successes, but also the successes of those around us. We celebrated each other’s accomplishments on our research team. I'm thankful to be in a department where our subsequent chairs, Dr. Griggs and Dr. Janorkar, have echoed that. And I think we celebrate each other pretty well, and that's one of the reasons I think we're all still here in the department!”

That emphasis on mentorship and shared success lives on through Roach’s own students, including recognition tied directly to Zardiackas’ legacy. The Paffenbarger Award, one of the Academy of Dental Materials’ top honors for graduate research, was established as the result of Zardiackas’ contributions to the organization.

“When one of my PhD students, Aya Ali, won this award in 2021, it really felt like it had come full circle in that one of my students had won the prestigious award that my mentor Dr. Zardiackas had a hand in creating,” Roach said.

The newly established professorship ensures that the work pioneered by Zardiackas will continue to evolve, supporting both research and student education in biomedical materials science, a field that is critical to modern health care.