Rate My Professor Benedict Seo

Associate Professor Benedict Seo is Head of the Oral Pathology Centre and Deputy Head of the Department of Oral Diagnostic and Surgical Sciences in the Faculty of Dentistry at the University of Otago. A registered specialist oral pathologist, he holds the degrees BDS, DClinDent, and PhD, along with fellowships FICD and FPFA. In his role, he leads a national specialised diagnostic service for oral and maxillofacial pathology in New Zealand. His research investigates the pathogenesis of oral cancer, odontogenic lesions, and immune-mediated oral diseases, with emphasis on unfolded protein response and endoplasmic reticulum stress. He utilises techniques including qRT2-PCR, immunohistochemistry, histochemistry, western blot, cell culture, and in vitro viability, caspase, and TUNEL assays. Active collaborations include partnerships with the University of Malaysia's Oral Cancer Research and Coordination Centre, National University of Malaysia, and Dunedin Public Hospital.

Benedict Seo has authored key publications such as chapters on histopathology of benign neoplasms of the oral mucosa, malignant neoplasms of the oral mucosa, and non-neoplastic salivary gland disorders in Oral Histology and Oral Histopathology: A Practical Guide for Dental Students and a Companion to Pathologists (Springer, 2025), and the article Immunohistochemical expression pattern of leukemia inhibitory factor and its receptor may mark a tipping point in the progression of oral cancer (Scientific Reports, 2025, with Yakin, Hussaini, and Rich). Highly cited works include Immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence (Methods in Molecular Biology, 2022; 102 citations, with Hussaini and Rich), Potential application of immunotherapy for modulation of pulp inflammation (International Endodontic Journal, 2021; 60 citations), and Human papillomavirus and oral and oropharyngeal carcinoma: the essentials (Australian Dental Journal, 2019; 60 citations). He has received the Oral Presentation Award from the International Association of Oral Pathologists, Elman Poole Fellowship, International Association for Dental Research-Colgate Postgraduate Award, and Sir Thomas Hunter Scholarship. Seo serves on the editorial boards of BMC Oral Health and BDJ Open, and reviews for the Journal of Periodontal Research and Pathology.