Professor William McLean

Professor of Endodontology (Dental School)

telephone: 0141 211 9626
email: William.McLean@glasgow.ac.uk

School of Medicine, Dentistry & Nursing, 378 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow Dental Hospital & School, Glasgow, G2 3JZ

Biography

William McLean graduated from the University of Wales College of Medicine Dental School in 1997. During his undergraduate years, he intercalated and was awarded a Bachelor of Science (Hons) Degree in Dental Science. Following graduation, he was awarded an Action Research Training Fellowship to pursue his PhD. The following four years were spent at Harvard Medical School Department of Cell Biology investigating craniofacial and skeletal development. In 2002, he took up a position as a lecturer at Manchester University in the School of Biological Sciences. In 2004, he returned to clinical practice and subsequently undertook postgraduate training in Endodontology.

As Professor of Endodontology and Honorary Consultant in Endodontics, he is the academic lead for Undergraduate Endodontics at the University of Glasgow Dental School, programme co-ordinator for the MSc Endodontics and lead for the Glasgow Endodontology Group. He is also Section Head for Biological and Medical Sciences.

He is Past President of the British Endodontic Society, was Conference Chair of the World Endodontic Congress 2024 held at the SEC in Glasgow and currently European Regent for the International Federation of Endodontic Associations.

Research interests

Glasgow Endodontology Group

The Glasgow Endodontology Group (GEG) is a multidisciplinary group working on the immunopathobiology and microbiology of endodontic disease towards the development of novel strategies in its clinical management. The group consists of bioengineers, microbiologists, biologists and clinicians.

Overarching Theme

Race for the Space - interaction between cells, surfaces and therapeutics in endodontic repair and regeneration

Endodontic disease, an infection of the root canal space is a significant cause of dental morbidity worldwide. Endodontic infections can result from dental trauma, carious lesions, non-carious tooth surface loss or on rare occasions from periodontal infection progressing to the root apex. This condition, in which complex biofilms form within the intricate anatomy of the root canal system is treated by mechanical debridement, chemical disinfection and subsequently obturation of the space in a process termed root canal treatment. One million root canal treatments are performed under the National Health Service each year, costing £50.5 million. Outcomes vary considerably for the established treatments. It is clear that although allowing patients to retain teeth, it is far from ideal, and despite many “advances” in clinical endodontics we have seen little improvement in outcomes. It has been proposed that the ideal outcome for endodontic therapy would be to establish, through regenerative endodontics, a healthy pulp within the cleansed and disinfected root canal system.

interaction between cells, surfaces and therapeutics in endodontic regeneration

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Research Streams

Understanding endodontic biofilms, inter-kingdom relationships within them, and managing them to prepare for regeneration
Orchestrating stem cell behaviour and organisation in reapir and regeneration

Group Members/Collaborators

Professor Will McLean – Professor of Endodontology and Honorary Consultant in Endodontics (Dental School)
Dr Christopher Delaney - Lecturer in Biomedical Sciences (Dental School)
Dr Andrew Hamilton - Senior Lecturer (Undergraduate Medical School)
Dr Ruchi Kumari - Lecturer in Biomedical Sciences (Dental School)
Dr Chris Nile - Senior Lecturer in Oral Biology (School of Dental Sciences, Newcastle University)
Professor Matthew Dalby - Professor of Cell Engineering (Institute of Molecular Cell and Systems Biology)

Students

Suror Shaban - PhD Student
Othman Baradwan - PhD Student
Andrew MacInnes - PhD Student
Weeam Rashed - MSc Student
Rania Mahmoud Salem - MSc Student
Mirha Kamran - MSc Student
Shruthi Ramachandran - MSc Student

Past Students

Om-Alkhir Shanta – PhD 2022
Khawlah Albashaireh – PhD 2022
Sumaya Abusrewil - PhD 2023
Saeed Alqahtani - PhD 2023
Hafsa Abduljalil - PhD 2025

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Publications

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Jump to: 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2009 | 2008 | 2004 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1997 | 1995 | 1994

Number of items: 37.

2025

Morgan, A., Youngson, C. and Mclean, W. (2025) Medico-legal considerations in endodontics. British Dental Journal, 238(7), pp. 573-579. (doi: 10.1038/s41415-025-8333-z) (PMID:40217050) (PMCID:PMC11991913)

Abduljalil, H., Alshanta, O. A., Chougule, S., Butcher, M., Short, B., Mclean, W. , Parry, N., O'Keeffe, J. and Ramage, G. (2025) Lactams exhibit potent antifungal activity against monospecies and multispecies interkingdom biofilms on a novel hydrogel skin model. APMIS: Journal of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, 133(1), e13510. (doi: 10.1111/apm.13510) (PMID:39791268) (PMCID:PMC11718591)

Mclean, W. and Qualtrough, A. J.E. (2025) Teaching of magnification in the undergraduate curriculum: a position statement from the British Endodontic Society Teachers of Endodontology Group. International Endodontic Journal, 58(1), pp. 2-5. (doi: 10.1111/iej.14153) (PMID:39380470) (PMCID:PMC11629062)

2024

Abusrewil, S., Scott, J. A. , Alqahtani, S. S., Butcher, M. C., Tiba, M., Kumar, C. , Mulvihill, D. M. , Ramage, G. and Mclean, W. (2024) The effect of chitosan incorporation on physico-mechanical and biological characteristics of a calcium silicate filling material. Dentistry Journal, 12(4), 100. (doi: 10.3390/dj12040100)

2023

Delaney, C., Veena, C. L. R., Butcher, M. C., Mclean, W. , Shaban, S. M. A., Nile, C. J. and Ramage, G. (2023) Limitations of using 16S rRNA microbiome sequencing to predict oral squamous cell carcinoma. APMIS: Journal of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, 131(6), pp. 262-276. (doi: 10.1111/apm.13315) (PMID:37002549)

Alqahtani, S., Butcher, M. C., Ramage, G. , Dalby, M. J. , McLean, W. and Nile, C. J. (2023) Acetylcholine receptors in mesenchymal stem cells. Stem Cells and Development, 32(3-4), pp. 47-59. (doi: 10.1089/scd.2022.0201) (PMID:36355611)

2022

Alshanta, O. A., Albashaireh, K., McKloud, E., Delaney, C., Kean, R., McLean, W. and Ramage, G. (2022) Candida albicans and Enterococcus faecalis biofilm frenemies: when the relationship sours. Biofilm, 4, 100072. (doi: 10.1016/j.bioflm.2022.100072) (PMID:35313556) (PMCID:PMC8933684)

Butcher, M. C., Short, B., Ramalingam Veena, C. L., Bradshaw, D., Pratten, J. R., McLean, W. , Shaban, S. M. A., Ramage, G. and Delaney, C. (2022) Meta-analysis of caries microbiome studies can improve upon disease prediction outcomes. APMIS: Journal of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, 130(12), pp. 763-777. (doi: 10.1111/apm.13272) (PMID:36050830) (PMCID:PMC9825849)

Kalimuthu, S., Alshanta, O. A., Krishnamoorthy, A. L., Pudipeddi, A., Solomon, A. P., Mclean, W. , Leung, Y. Y., Ramage, G. and Neelakantan, P. (2022) Small molecule based anti-virulence approaches against Candida albicans infections. Critical Reviews in Microbiology, 48(6), pp. 743-769. (doi: 10.1080/1040841X.2021.2025337) (PMID:35232325)

Ramage, G. , Short, B., McKloud, E., Alshanta, O. A., Butcher, M., Mclean, W. and Brown, J. L. (2022) Clinical management of fungal biofilm infections. In: Richter, Katharina and Kragh, Kasper Nørskov (eds.) Antibiofilm Strategies: Current and Future Applications to Prevent, Control and Eradicate Biofilms. Series: Springer series on biofilms (vol 11). Springer: Cham, pp. 441-465. ISBN 9783031109911 (doi: 10.1007/978-3-031-10992-8_17)

Abduljalil, H., Bakri, A., Albashaireh, K., Alshanta, O. A., Brown, J. L. , Sherry, L. , Kean, R., Nile, C. , McLean, W. and Ramage, G. (2022) Screening the Tocriscreen™ bioactive compound library in search for inhibitors of Candida biofilm formation. APMIS: Journal of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, 130(9), pp. 568-577. (doi: 10.1111/apm.13260) (PMID:35791082)

2021

Abusrewil, S., Brown, J. L. , Delaney, C., Butcher, M. C., Tiba, M., Scott, J. A. , Ramage, G. and McLean, W. (2021) Chitosan enhances the anti-biofilm activity of biodentine against an interkingdom biofilm model. Antibiotics, 10(11), 1317. (doi: 10.3390/antibiotics10111317)

Georgiou, A.C., Crielaard, W., Ouwerling, P., McLean, W. , Lappin, D. F. and van der Waal, S.V. (2021) The influence of apical periodontitis on the concentration of inflammatory mediators in peripheral blood plasma and the metagenomic profiling of endodontic infections: Study design and protocol. Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications, 21, 100686. (doi: 10.1016/j.conctc.2020.100686) (PMID:33490705) (PMCID:PMC7810621)

2020

Abusrewil, S., Brown, J. L. , Delaney, C. D., Butcher, M. C., Kean, R., Gamal, D., Scott, J. A., McLean, W. and Ramage, G. (2020) Filling the void: an optimized polymicrobial interkingdom biofilm model for assessing novel antimicrobial agents in endodontic infection. Microorganisms, 8(12), 1988. (doi: 10.3390/microorganisms8121988) (PMID:33327403) (PMCID:PMC7764896)

Alshanta, O. A., Alqahtani, S., Shaban, S., Albashaireh, K., Mclean, W. and Ramage, G. (2020) Comparison of three endodontic irrigant regimens against dual-species interkingdom biofilms: considerations for maintaining the status quo. Antibiotics, 9(9), 634. (doi: 10.3390/antibiotics9090634) (PMID:32971912)

Krithikadatta, J., Nawal, R. R., Amalavathy, K., Mclean, W. and Gopikrishna, V. (2020) Endodontic and dental practice during COVID-19 pandemic: position statement from the Indian Endodontic Society, Indian Dental Association, and International Federation of Endodontic Associations. Endodontology, 32(2), pp. 55-66.

Brown, M.G., Qualtrough, A.J.E. and Mclean, W. (2020) Magnification in undergraduate endodontics teaching in the UK and Ireland: a survey of teaching leads in Endodontology. International Endodontic Journal, 53(4), pp. 553-561. (doi: 10.1111/iej.13240) (PMID:31644836)

Abusrewil, S., Alshanta, O. A., Albashaireh, K., Alqahtani, S., Nile, C. J., Scott, J. A. and McLean, W. (2020) Detection, treatment and prevention of endodontic biofilm infections: what's new in 2020? Critical Reviews in Microbiology, 46(2), pp. 194-212. (doi: 10.1080/1040841X.2020.1739622) (PMID:32233822)

2019

Alshanta, O. A., Shaban, S., Nile, C. J. , McLean, W. and Ramage, G. (2019) Candida albicans biofilm heterogeneity and tolerance of clinical isolates: implications for secondary endodontic infections. Antibiotics, 8(4), 204. (doi: 10.3390/antibiotics8040204) (PMID:31671533)

2018

Abusrewil, S. M., McLean, W. and Scott, J. A. (2018) The use of Bioceramics as root-end filling materials in periradicular surgery: a literature review. Saudi Dental Journal, 30(4), pp. 273-282. (doi: 10.1016/j.sdentj.2018.07.004) (PMID:30202163) (PMCID:PMC6128316)

Delaney, C., Kean, R., Short, B., Tumelty, M., McLean, W. , Nile, C. and Ramage, G. (2018) Fungi at the scene of the crime: innocent bystanders or accomplices in oral infections? Current Clinical Microbiology Reports, 5(3), pp. 190-200. (doi: 10.1007/s40588-018-0100-3)

McKerlie, R. A. , Rennie, E., Hudda, S., McAllan, W., Al-Ani, Z., McLean, W. and Bagg, J. (2018) Facilitation of student-staff partnership in development of digital learning tools through a special study module. International Journal for Students as Partners, 2(1), pp. 121-129. (doi: 10.15173/ijsap.v2i1.3235)

Kean, R., Delaney, C., Rajendran, R., Sherry, L. , Metcalfe, R., Thomas, R., McLean, W. , Williams, C. and Ramage, G. (2018) Gaining insights from Candida biofilm heterogeneity: one size does not fit all. Journal of Fungi, 4(1), 12. (doi: 10.3390/jof4010012) (PMID:29371505) (PMCID:PMC5872315)

2009

Risley, M., Garrod, D., Henkemeyer, M. and McLean, W. (2009) EphB2 and EphB3 forward signalling are required for palate development. Mechanisms of Development, 126(3-4), pp. 230-239. (doi: 10.1016/j.mod.2008.10.009) (PMID:19032981)

2008

Wilkosz, S., Epstein, J., de Giorgio-Miller, A., McLean, W. , Ireland, G. and Herrick, S. (2008) Remodelling of adipose tissue during experimental omental adhesion formation. British Journal of Surgery, 95(3), pp. 387-396. (doi: 10.1002/bjs.6073) (PMID:18278783)

2004

Zeggini, E., Reginato, A. M., Prais, A., Thomson, W., McLean, W. and Donn, R. (2004) Linkage and association studies of discoidin domain receptor 1 (DDR1) single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in juvenile oligoarthritis. Rheumatology, 43(9), pp. 1138-1141. (doi: 10.1093/rheumatology/keh261) (PMID:15213330)

McLean, W. and Olsen, B. R. (2004) Diseases of excess bone formation. In: Bronner, Felix and Farach-Carson, Mary C. (eds.) Bone Formation. Series: Topics in bone biology (1). Springer: London, pp. 120-137. ISBN 9781849969000 (doi: 10.1007/978-1-4471-3777-1_7)

2002

Zelzer, E., McLean, W. , Ng, Y.-S., Fukai, N., Reginato, A. M., Lovejoy, S., D'Amore, P. A. and Olsen, B. R. (2002) Skeletal defects in VEGF(120/120) mice reveal multiple roles for VEGF in skeletogenesis. Development, 129(8), pp. 1893-1904. (PMID:11934855)

2001

McLean, W. and Olsen, B. R. (2001) Mouse models of abnormal skeletal development and homeostasis. Trends in Genetics, 17(10), S38-S43. (doi: 10.1016/S0168-9525(01)02458-1) (PMID:11585675)

Lavrin, I. O., McLean, W. , Seegmiller, R. E., Olsen, B. R. and Hay, E. D. (2001) The mechanism of palatal clefting in the Col11a1 mutant mouse. Archives of Oral Biology, 46(9), pp. 865-869. (doi: 10.1016/S0003-9969(01)00044-9) (PMID:11420059)

Rieger, D. K., Reichenberger, E., McLean, W. , Sidow, A. and Olsen, B. R. (2001) A double-deletion mutation in the Pitx3 gene causes arrested lens development in aphakia mice. Genomics, 72(1), pp. 61-72. (doi: 10.1006/geno.2000.6464) (PMID:11247667)

2000

McLean, W. , Lavrin, I.G., Seegmiller, R.E., Archer, C.W., Hay, E.D. and Olsen, B.R. (2000) The mechanism of cleft palate formation in the chondrodysplasia mouse. Teratology Society 40th Annual Meeting, Palm Beach, FL, USA, 24-29 Jun 2000. (doi: 10.1002/1096-9926(200006)61:6<435::AID-TERA2>3.0.CO;2-B)

1997

McLean, W. , Shepherd, J.P., Brann, C.R. and Westmoreland, D. (1997) Risks associated with occupational glass injury in bar staff with special consideration of hepatitis B infection. Occupational Medicine, 47(3), pp. 147-150. (doi: 10.1093/occmed/47.3.147) (PMID:9156469)

1995

Moxham, B.J., McLean, W. and Hall, R.C. (1995) Immunolocalisation of decorin within rat palatal shelves prior to and after shelf elevation. Proceedings of the Anatomical Society of Great Britain and Ireland and the Anatomische Gesellschaft, Southampton, UK, 14-17 Dec 1994.

McLean, W. , Brann, C.R., Shepherd, J.P. and Westmorland, D. (1995) Risk of hepatitis B infection through occupational glass injury in bar staff. The British Society for Dental Research (A Division of the IADR) 43rd Annual Meeting, Manchester, UK, 10-13 Apr 1995. (doi: 10.1177/00220345950740030801)

McLean, W. , Moxham, B.J. and Hall, R.C. (1995) Localisation of decorin and versican within rat palatal shelves during normal palatogenesis. The British Society for Dental Research (A Division of the IADR) 43rd Annual Meeting, Manchester, UK, 10-13 Apr 1995. (doi: 10.1177/00220345950740030801)

1994

Hall, R.C., McLean, W. , Archer, C.W. and Moxham, B.J. (1994) Molecular heterogeneity of chondroitin sulphate in the developing rat palatal shelves prior to and after shelf elevation. British Connective Tissue Society Meeting, Cardiff, UK, 22-23 Sep 1994.

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