The University of Kentucky held its 18th Annual Center for Clinical and Translational Science (CCTS) Spring Conference this year. Many colleges within UK also held their annual Research Day events in conjunction with CCTS’s efforts. The conference had 990 participants total and the UK College of Dentistry (UKCD) had 159 participants and 40 poster presentations. 

Pictured at right: Dr. Okeson, UKCD's Dean, reviewing research posters during UKCD Research Day. 

Thank you to the following for taking the time to judge UKCD’s research competition: Dr. Luciana Almeida, Dr. Oelisoa Mireille Andriankaja, Dr. Ian Boggero, Dr. Renato Casarin, Dawn Dawson, Dr. Octavio Gonzalez, Dr. James Hartsfield, Dr. Pratishtha Mishra, Dr. Lorri Morford, Dr. Howard Roberts, Lorie Snow, and Dr. Vanessa Tubero.  

Dr. Luciana Shaddox, UKCD Associate Dean of Research, shared, “CCTS Research Day is an important event for our college, where students and faculty have the opportunity to showcase their research accomplishments. We are very pleased with the turnout this year with over 100 participants and 40 poster presentations!” 

The speakers for this year's UKCD Research Day included keynote speaker, Dr. Joana Cunha-Cruz, a professor in the Department of Clinical and Community Sciences at University of Alabama Birmingham’s College of Dentistry. Additional speakers included Dr. Daria Nicole Stone, Director of Dental Outreach at UK North Folk Valley CHC, and Dr. Kevin Pearce, Family and Community Medicine – Turfland, University of Kentucky. Thank you to the speakers for taking the time to come and share their research with us. 

2023 Research Day Awards 

Dr. Julie Tokatlian, Periodontology Graduate Program, sharing her research at the poster presentation. 

Graduate Students/Residents/Externs/Postdoctoral

• 1st Place – Dr. Mohamed Adel, Division of Orthodontics. Research title: “Subclinical Facial Asymmetry: Normal Variation or an Early/Subtle Indication of Hidden Pathology?” 
• 2nd Place – Manuela Miguel, PhD Candidate, Center for Oral Health Research and Periodontics. Research title: “Collagen Matrix Associate with iPRF to Treat Gingival Recession.” Faculty mentor: Dr. Mauro Santamaria 
• 3rd Place – Dr. Jordan Marsh, 2nd year Pediatric Dentistry Resident. Research title: “Physical Activity As It Relates To Dental Decay.” Faculty mentor: Dr. Cristina Perez 

Ben Vickery, an UK undergraduate student who is a member of the Pre-Dental Society, with his research poster in collaboration with UKCD Faculty.

Undergraduate Students

• 1st Place – Rooz Ghaddafi, with Gonzalez Lab. Research title: “Effect of PLA2-IIA in Human Subgingival Oral Microbiome.” 
• 2nd Place – Danielle Bellamy, with Gonzalez Lab. Research title: “Effect of Phospholipase A2 group IIA (PLA2-IIA) in Alveolar Bone Loss.”  
• 3rd Place – Anna McWhorter, Department of Dietetics and Human Nutrition, With Dr. Grubbs from College of Nursing and Dr. Plasencia with the Department of Dietetics and Human Nutrition. Research title: “Blood pressure measurements negatively associated to areas of deprivation in Kentucky.”

Nicholas Ragland, a third-year dental student, with his research poster.

Dental Students

• 1st Place – Nicholas Ragland, third-year DMD student. Research title: “BMI and Dental Development Compared to Chronological Age in Females of Different Ethnic Groups.” 
• 2nd Place – Sarah Haerle, third-year DMD student. Research title: “What are the Effects of Orthodontic Movement on the Periodontium? A Critical Review of the Current Literature.”  
• 3rd Place – Sydney Gordon, first-year DMD student with Gonzalez lab. Research title: “Antimicrobial effect of Metronidazole-loaded Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles.”

Dr. Rachad Kudsi, Periodontology Graduate Program, shares his research during the poster presentation. 

Anna McWhorter, an undergraduate student, involved in research with the collaboration of UKCD.
Dr. Abdo Ismail, Periodontology Graduate Program, with his poster during UKCD Research Day.