Rate My Professor Peter Cathro

Associate Professor Peter Cathro serves as Head of the Department of Oral Rehabilitation in the Faculty of Dentistry and Associate Dean (Space) in the Division of Health Sciences at the University of Otago. A specialist in endodontics, which involves root canal therapy, his research focuses on underpinning endodontic practice and clinical teaching. He completed his undergraduate BDS and master's MDS degrees at the University of Otago in Dunedin, followed by a PhD titled 'Proteomic analysis of Enterococcus faecalis cell surface proteins under high alkaline stress conditions' and a Postgraduate Certificate in Tertiary Teaching (PGCertTertT). Cathro considers helping patients with dental pain or trauma one of the most rewarding aspects of his career.

Cathro's professional experience includes academic and private practice positions in Auckland, London, Melbourne, and a seven-year tenure at the University of Adelaide before returning to the University of Otago ten years ago. Since his return, he has undertaken key projects such as a secondment as Programme Manager Organisational Delivery for the new dental clinic, where he addressed multifaceted operational challenges, and collaboration with Otago's Campus Development team on problem-solving initiatives. He is currently completing an MBA, with his final project examining space utilization in education. His scholarly contributions include 'A critical review of in vitro methodologies for studying inflammatory responses in human dental pulp cell cultures' (Arora et al., 2025, International Endodontic Journal), 'Bioceramics in endodontics: Limitations and future innovations: A review' (Prasad Kumara et al., 2025, Dentistry Journal), 'Mechanical properties, and in vitro biocompatibility assessment of biomimetic dual layered keratin/hydroxyapatite scaffolds' (Feroz et al., 2023, Frontiers in Bioengineering & Biotechnology), 'Diabetes and calcification within the dental pulp: a scoping review' (Cathro et al., 2026, British Dental Journal), and 'Montmorillonite in dentistry: A review of advances in research and potential clinical applications' (Prasad Kumara et al., 2024, Materials Research Express). These works advance knowledge in endodontic materials, dental pulp responses, and biomimetic scaffolds.