Myrna Nurlatifah Zakaria

Dr. Myrna Nurlatifah Zakaria is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Dentistry, Ajman University, United Arab Emirates. She is a specialist in Restorative Dentistry, with particular expertise in Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics. She holds a PhD in Endodontology and Operative Dentistry from Kyushu University, Japan, and a Master of Clinical Dentistry in Conservative Dentistry from Padjadjaran University, Indonesia.

Her academic and research career spans more than 15 years across Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, and the United Arab Emirates. Her research focuses on endodontic microbiology, antimicrobial and antibiofilm strategies, regenerative endodontics, bioactive dental materials, and oral microbiome research.

A major focus of her current work is the development of microbial-derived biosurfactants as novel antimicrobial and antibiofilm agents for oral and endodontic applications, including their potential use as root canal irrigants and preventive agents against cariogenic biofilms. Her work also investigates calcium phosphate-based and bioactive biomaterials, including calcium hydroxide, carbonate apatite, bioceramic and bioglass-containing materials for intracanal medication, pulp capping, endodontic repair, and dental tissue regeneration.

Dr. Zakaria has served as principal investigator and co-investigator on nationally and internationally funded research projects in Malaysia, Indonesia, and Japan. She has supervised postgraduate and undergraduate research in endodontics, oral microbiology, biomaterials, regenerative dentistry, and antibiofilm therapies. Her research integrates clinical dentistry, microbiology, biomaterials science, and translational research, with the goal of developing biologically based approaches for the prevention and treatment of dental and endodontic diseases