Research Day 2022

By Rachel Boutet

Research Day 2022 took place virtually on February 8, highlighting the breadth and depth of research at the Faculty of Dentistry. 

“It’s important for the Faculty to showcase its excellence in research, which spans much more broadly than people might be aware of,” says vice-dean research and professor Bernhard Ganss. “Many of the projects we work on involve collaborations with other U of T faculties. This day gives us the opportunity to celebrate the fundamental and clinical research that is produced by our faculty and students.”

Students participated in the day through the poster competition and oral presentations, the results of which are below. Omnia Elebyary was named the winner of the Faculty’s final round of the 3-Minute Thesis Competition and will move on to the larger, university-wide competition.

“Research Day provides students with the opportunity to learn how to strengthen their presentation and communication skills, and develop elevator pitch language for their research,” says Ganss. “Ultimately, this will help them become more confident in their public speaking and give them better tools for promoting their work outside of the Faculty, preparing them for job interviews and life after graduating.”

This year’s keynote speaker was Dr. Michael Hubbard from the University of Melbourne, who has started a global network of tackling a dental problem that Ganss says has not received the attention it deserves. Molar hypomineralization, or “chalky teeth”, affects tooth development in one of five young children. 

“Molar hypomineralization is an incredibly prevalent problem that we don’t know enough about,” says Ganss. “Because these white spots on teeth are often misdiagnosed as dental caries, it can lead to the wrong treatment and therefore, subsequent problems. The research Dr. Hubbard is conducting will help further our understanding about this important issue.” 

While Ganss hopes Research Day 2023 will return to an in-person format, he notes this event was extremely successful and students walked away with an increased awareness of how to best showcase their own research. 

Congratulations to the winners of Research Day 2022!

Morning Oral Presentations, SRG Travel Awards 
Brian Webb (Graduate Student Fundamental Science Category) 
"Engineering gingival grafts seeded with human adipose-derived stem cells” 
Webb B & Santerre JP 

Erin Goertzen (Graduate Student Clinical Science Category) 
"A computerized learning tool to measure and improve dental trainee competency in interproximal caries diagnosis from children’s bitewing radiographs”  
Goertzen E, Boutis K, Perschbacher S, Barret E & Casas M. 

Post-Doctoral Fellows Category, E-Poster 
Delphine Dufour 
“A Novel Secreted Peptide Promotes the Generation of Antibiotic Tolerant Presister Cells” 
Dufour D, Gong SG & Lévesque, CM 

3-Minute Thesis Talks
First place: Omnia Elebyary "Bacterial Barcode in Bone marrow Transplantation" 
Runners up: Shivam Sharma; Maryam Zanjir  

Undergraduate Student Category, E-Poster Winners
1. Andrew Seto
“Functionalized Collagen For Improved Dentin Bonding”
Seto A, Carneiro K & Prakki A.

2. Nicole Ng
“Correlative Imaging of Collagen Damage Using Fluorescent Collagen Hybridizing Peptide (CHP)” 
Ng N, Huang S & Bozec L.

3. Aya Ragheai
“Identification of resin degrading enzymes from human neutrophils.”
Ragheai A, Gitalis R, Gorelik A, Illes K, Nagar B, Glogauer M & Finer Y.

Graduate Student Fundamental Science Category, E-Poster Winners
1. Charles Park
“Interactions of Laminin-332 and SCPPPQ1 enamel proteins in attachment of the junctional epithelium to tooth mineral.”
Park S, Ganss B & Nouri S

2. Kester Ng
“Effects of ionizing radiation on the biophysical properties of type I collagen fibrils"
Ng K, Allam N, Huang S, Glogauer M, Lam E, Vitkin A & Bozec L

3. Maya Ezzo
“Macrophage acute contact induces fibroblast intracellular stress in a calcium-and gap-junction-dependent process.”
Ezzo M, Wang J, Pecoraro G, Firmino J, Pakshir P & Hinz B

Graduate Student Clinical Science Category, E-Poster Winners
1. Christine Teed
“Synchronized Microbubble-Photodynamic Activation (SYMPA) to disinfect minimally prepared root canals”
Teed C, Hussein H & Kishen A

2. Christopher Dare
“Gingival Recession Root Coverage Procedures:  A Network Meta Analysis”
Dare C, Zanjir M, Finan L, Pourabbas, R, da Costa BR, Mendes V & Azarpazhooh A

3. Sina Moshiri
“Exploring Dentists’ Personal Knowledge and Practice in the Delivery of Mandibular Anesthesia: A Qualitative Study”
Moshiri S, Quiñonez C, Sale J & Wong M

Photo: 3MT winner Omnia Elebyary giving her presentation (Jeff Comber)