Research Day Showcases Pioneering Discoveries and Scientific Excellence
Philadelphia—Penn Dental Medicine celebrated the depth and impact of its research and scholarship at its annual Research Day on Wednesday, April 16, 2025. The event showcased the innovative work of students, postdocs, and faculty investigators, highlighting the School’s commitment to advancing scientific discovery and clinical excellence across disciplines.
“Research Day is a powerful reminder of the intellectual curiosity that drives our community,” says Dr. Dana Graves, Vice Dean for Scholarship and Research at Penn Dental Medicine. “It is inspiring to see our students, faculty, and trainees pushing the boundaries and shaping the future of oral health through research. It is also an opportunity to appreciate the necessity of extramural funding for research and advocate to keep research in the U.S. at the cutting-edge of progress.”
This year’s Research Day was a celebration of scientific innovation and interdisciplinary collaboration, highlighted by keynote presentations from two preeminent leaders in the fields of immunology and infectious diseases.
Dr. Sumita Bhaduri-McIntosh, M.D., Ph.D., Professor of Pediatric Infectious Diseases and Director of Pediatric Infectious Disease Research at the University of Florida, delivered a compelling keynote address titled “Epstein-Barr Virus and Oral Health – Mechanistic Connections.” As a Children’s Miracle Network Scholar at the UF Health Cancer Center, Dr. Bhaduri-McIntosh shared groundbreaking insights into the molecular interplay between Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) infection and oral health, elucidating potential mechanistic pathways that may redefine future diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. Complementing this was a thought-provoking keynote from Dr. Michail Lionakis, M.D., Sc.D., Senior Investigator and Acting Chief of the Laboratory of Host Immunity and Microbiome at the National Institute of Allergy & Infectious Diseases. In his address, “AIRE Deficiency: A Treatable IFN-γ-opathy,” Dr. Lionakis explored the clinical and immunological dimensions of Autoimmune Regulator (AIRE) deficiency, presenting new therapeutic paradigms rooted in targeted modulation of interferon-gamma pathways.
The program also featured Penn Dental Medicine faculty presentations that showcased the breadth of the School’s research. These sessions created a rich platform for intellectual exchange and catalyzing inter-disciplinary collaborations.
A standout feature of the event was the student and trainee poster session, which drew a record-breaking participation of over 90 presenters. The posters spanned a wide spectrum of basic, translational, and clinical research domains, underscoring student involvement and dedication in research.
Research Day not only serves as a platform for the dissemination of novel findings but also as a critical space for scholarly dialogue and mentorship, notes Graves. The event culminated in an awards ceremony honoring the most exceptional poster presentations—those that exemplified scientific rigor, originality, and translational impact.
The award recipients included the following:
AADOCR Student Research Day Award
- Jessica Winarto (D’26), Metformin and Melatonin-Induced ER Stress and Autophagy Activation in OSCC, James C. Gates, Qunzhou Zhang, Anh Le (advisors)
Student Competition for Advancing Dental Research and its Application (SCADA) Award
- Shira L. Wald (D’26), Impact of Long-Term vs. Short-Term Antiretroviral Therapy on Salivary Osteoprotegerin Levels in Women Living with HIV, Modupe Coker (advisor)
Penn Dental Medicine AADOCR Student Travel Award
- Michael E. Troka (D’26), Dissecting the Inflammatory Milieu of Diabetic Wounds with Single-Cell RNA Sequencing: Anti-S100a11 Identified as a Novel Pro-Healing Treatment, Dana T. Graves (advisor)
- Samuel F. Suslavich (D’28), Dasatinib and Quercetin Intervention Mitigates Gingival Senescence and Inflammation, Esra Sahingur (advisor)
- Anna-Maria Haddad (D’27), Efficacy of Biologic Agents FRIL and PG1 in Endodontic Treatment: A Targeted Approach Against Biofilm-Forming Pathogens, Henry Daniell, Bekir Karabucak, Flavia Teles (advisors)
- Jessica Hao (D’26), pH-Responsive ZIF-8 precisely induces apoptosis of oral cancer cells, Chider Chen, Fusun Ozer (advisor)
- Yuantong Li (D’27), Targeted Delivery of STAT3-siRNA in Lipid Nanoparticles for Periodontal Disease Therapy, Kyle H. Vining (advisor)
Penn Dental Medicine AADOCR Jr. Investigator Travel Award
- Sierra R. van den Dries (GD’28), Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon Accuracy in Anticipating Supplemental Opioid Use Following Third Molar Extraction, Neeraj Panchal, Katherine N. Theken (advisors)
Oral Cancer Care Research Award
- Mehar Soni (D’26), Review of HLA levels in Oral Pre-Malignant Lesions, James C. Gates (advisor)
Gail Schupak Travel Award
- Dimi M. Schweitzer (D’26), Adolescent Perspectives on HPV and COVID-19 Vaccine Administration: Evaluating Dental Providers as Vaccinators, Katherine France, Tamara J. Cadet (advisors)
Vernon Brightman Award
- Mugdha Raut (D’25), Prognostic Significance of Cortactin Expression in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma (OSCC): A Systematic Review, James C. Gates (advisor)
In addition, the annual Joseph and Josephine Rabinowitz Award for Excellence in Research was presented to Penn Dental Medicine faculty members Dr. Kathleen Boesze-Battaglia, Dr. Katherine Theken, and Dr. Marco Tizzano. This award was designed to help Penn Dental Medicine faculty undertake pilot projects that will enable them to successfully apply for extramural sources of funding.