Dr. Shum is Director of the Division of Extramural Research at the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), National Institutes of Health (NIH). She provides leadership and guidance for the planning, development, implementation, and evaluation of NIDCR extramural research portfolio encompassing broad areas in dental, oral, and craniofacial sciences. The goal is to support research to capture the most promising discoveries and emerging technologies for rapid translation to clinical applications for improving the health of all people across their lifespan.  Through supporting research, we also strive to nurture and strengthen a diverse research workforce.

Dr. Shum has been with NIH for 28 years and represents NIDCR on trans-NIH and interagency working groups, such as the NIH Common Fund’s High Risk-High Rewards Program, 21st Century Cures Regenerative Medicine Innovation Project, All of Us Research Program, Coordinating Committee on Research on Women’s Health, and ARPA-H liaisons.  Dr. Shum earned her PhD degree from the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, completed postdoctoral training at the Center for Craniofacial Molecular Biology at the University of Southern California and at the University of California San Francisco School of Dentistry, and conducted research in the NIH intramural program on craniofacial skeletal development, before she joined that extramural program in 2003.  She has led the Division of Extramural Research since 2014.