Congratulations to the following students and junior researchers who received awards at PDM Research Day 2025.

AADOCR Student Research Day Award

The AADOCR Student Research Day Award, funded by the AADOCR, is designed to recognize the best presentation at an academic institution’s research day competition. The award consists of a complimentary meeting registration and a monetary award of $500 to assist with travel to an upcoming AADOCR/CADR Annual Meeting & Exhibition. The Awardees will also be highlighted in the General Session & Exhibition Program Book and AADOCR website.

  • 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

Dentsply Sirona and the American Association for Dental, Oral, Craniofacial Research (AADOCR) have joined forces to co-sponsor the Student Competition for Advancing Dental Research and its Application (SCADA), formerly known as the Student Clinicians of the American Dental Association.

The SCADA program advances our collective commitment to empower the next generation of dental leaders. By showcasing students’ research, and recognizing their passion for discovery and innovation, we will fuel the future of dental care.

  • 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 Travel Award

The AADOCR Travel Award program was launched by Penn Dental Medicine in 2014 to advance student/junior investigator research, providing funds toward their travel to the annual AADOCR meeting where awardees have the opportunity to present their work. Recipients are selected by a faculty panel of judges at Penn Dental Medicine’s annual Research Day. The following recipients were selected at Research Day 2025 and will attend and present their research at an upcoming AADOCR/CADR Annual Meeting & Exhibition.

DMD Student Awardees

  • 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)

Junior Investigator Awardee

  • 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)

Gail Schupak Travel Award

The Gail Schupak Student Research fund was established in 2021 by a generous gift from Alumnae Gail Schupak D’83. The purpose of the fund was to give students access to resources for year round research projects making them more competitive for awards and fellowships within and outside the School.  Additionally, the funds are being used for the first time this year to award two travel stipends for winners to attend an upcoming AADOCR meeting

  • 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)

Oral Cancer Award

Awarded from proceeds of the annual Penn Dental Medicine Oral Cancer Walk & 5K for a student to attend an upcoming AADOCR meeting.

  • Mehar Soni (D’26), Review of HLA levels in Oral Pre-Malignant Lesions, James C. Gates (advisor)

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)