Congratulations to the following students and junior researchers who received awards at PDM Research Day 2026:

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.

  • Samuel F. Suslavich (D’28), “Fisetin Targets Senescence Pathways to Suppress Periodontal Inflammaging,” Esra S. Sahingur (advisor)

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.

  • You (Grace) Wu (D’28), “Osteoblast-specific FoxO1 deficiency mitigates T2DM-induced bone loss,” Dana T. Graves, Shuying Yang (advisors)

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 2026 and will attend and present their research at an upcoming AADOCR/CADR Annual Meeting & Exhibition.

DMD Student Awardees

  • John Kim (D’27), “GIMAP6 is a Novel Regulator of Osteoblast-Mediated Bone Formationt,” Shuying Yang (advisor)
  • Annabella Li (D’28), “Ferroptosis Drives Pro-Inflammatory Macrophage and Neutrophil Activation in Experimental Periodontitis and Is Suppressed by UAMC-3203,” Kang I. Ko (advisor)
  • Sonia Gazula (D’28), Alyssia Liu (D’28), Heather Loo (D’28), “MOLAR Audit Study: Evaluating Access to Dental Care Across Public and Private Insurance,” Danielle Cullen and Rachel Brown (advisors)
  • Jimmy Cheng (D’28), “Topical Delivery of mRNA Therapeutics to Dentin Using Lipid Nanoparticles,” Kyle H. Vining (advisor)
  • Sonia Dalal (D’28), “Quantifying Epigenetic Aging Acceleration Among Individuals with and without HIV,” Modupe Coker (advisor)
  • William C. Tsai (D’28), “A Digital Twin of the Extraction Socket: Predicting Patient-Specific Alveolar Ridge Resorption,” Yu-Cheng Chang, Rahul Mangharam (advisors)
  • Rachel Park (D’28), “Topography-Dependent Cross-Kingdom Biofilm Formation on Hydroxyapatite Tooth Models,” Geelsu Hwang (advisor)
  • Emma S. Savitsky (D’27), “The Influence of Framework Material on Fit Accuracy of Complete Arch Implant Supported Prostheses Fabricated with Different Digital Impression Techniques,” Markus B. Blatz (advisor)

Junior Investigator Awardee

  • Yu-Chang J. Chen (GD’28), “Matrix stress relaxation regulates the functions of stem cell-derived dendritic cells,” Kyle H. Vining (advisor)
  • Kawintip Prasongyuenyong (GD’27), “Single-cell Spatial Transcriptomics Unveil Pathologic Signatures of Inflamed Peri-Implant Free-Flaps,” Kang I. Ko (advisor)

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

  • Serena C. Liu (D’28), “Antimicrobial Peptide Suppression of Carcinogenic Acetaldehyde Production in OSCC Patients,” Henry Daniell (advisor)
  • Suyoung Yun (D’28), “Modeling Pulpitis Inflammation via TNF-α Activation of Peripheral Blood Monocytes,” Kyle H. Vining (advisor)

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.

  • Dayoon Chang (D’27), “Viscoelasticity of Surrounding Matrix Regulates Oral Cancer Spheroid Growth,” Kyle H. Vining (advisor)

Vernon Brightman Award

  • Michael E. Troka (D’26), “Progressive Partially Methylated Domain Erosion and Targeted ZNF471 Silencing Define Two Independent Epigenetic Programs in Oral Premalignancy,” James C. Gates (advisor)