Research Day 2025

By Rachel Boutet

Research Day 2025 took place on February 11 at the Faculty of Dentistry.

“Every year, I look forward to Research Day and every year I am continuingly amazed by the work being done at our Faculty,” says vice-dean research and professor Morris Manolson. “The students worked hard on their presentations and it showed – I am full of pride for each and every one of them.”

Having a day dedicated to highlighting all the incredible work being done is important for our students, faculty and staff. I’m incredibly proud of everyone who showcased their hard work.”

Students participated in the day through the poster competition and oral presentations. Adam Tepperman was named the winner of the Faculty’s final round of the 3-Minute Thesis Competition for his presentation, “The Tipping Point: When Gliomas shift from slow to explosive growth”. New this year was the People’s Choice category winner, which was awarded to Spencer Abssy for his presentation, "Pain is Personal: Are Your Cannabinoids the Key?”.

“It’s important that our students develop strong presentation skills – it’s one thing to possess exceptional research and another to be able to tell people about,” says Manolson. “Opportunities like Research Day give our students the opportunity to harness these skills that will benefit them beyond the walls of our building.”

This year’s keynote speaker was Dr. Michael Floros, Founder & CEO of Cohesys, who spoke about the journey of Cohesys in developing BoneTape, a novel resorbable bone fixation device rooted in materials science innovation. The day also included Faculty keynote speakers, Abdelahhad Barbour, CEO Ostia Sciences Inc., Oral Microbiome Biofilms and Probiotics for his talk ‘Bugs as Drugs: Advancing Microbiome-Based Therapies’,  and Cameron Stewart, Founder and CEO of Mesosil, for his talk ‘From Thesis to Industry: What it takes to get a discovery ready for the real world’.

Congratulations to the winners of Research Day 2025!

Morning Oral Presentations, SRG Travel Awards: 
Travel award is $750

Michelle Huang (Graduate Student Fundamental Science Category)
Characterizing oral dysplasia immune microenvironment (DIME) using imaging mass cytometry
Dr. Marco Magalhaes
Huang, M¹, Guidos, C², Sakhdari, A³, Ali, A¹, Bradley, G¹, Bubola, J¹, Esfandiari, T¹, 
Magalhaes, M¹^{, 4}

Hetal Desai (Graduate Student Clinical Science Category)
Development of topical medicaments to promote caries arrest
Dr. Yoav Finer
Desai, H¹, Stewart, C¹, Finer, P, ¹,²

3-Minute Thesis Talks:
Winner: Adam Tepperman
“The Tipping Point: When Gliomas shift from slow to explosive growth”

People Choice: Spencer Abyss
“Pain is Personal: Are Your Cannabinoids the Key?”

Afternoon Poster Session Winners

Undergraduate Student Category: 
1st place: $250, 2nd place: $200, 3rd place: $150

1.    Poster #16: Genevie Tran
In vivo evaluation of engineered gingival grafts seeded with human adipose-derived stem cells
Dr. Paul Santerre
Tran, G.. ¹, Webb, W.C.B.², Devaraj, K.³, Kuzmanov, U. ⁴, Gramolini, A. ⁴, Hofer, S.O.P.5, Santerre, J.P.¹, ², ³.

2.    Poster #2: Robert T. Carriero
A Retrospective Cohort Study Comparing the Use of 5-Fluorouracil Versus Modified Carnoys Solution in the Management of Odontogenic Keratocysts
Dr. Marco Caminiti
Carriero, R.T.¹, Jeon, J.², Caminiti, M.F.²

3.    Poster #18: Wing Hei Wong
Effects of Ras-associated binding protein Rab7b and its Nucleotide Mutants on Vacuolar type H+-ATPase (V-ATPase) a3 subunit Localisation in HeLa Cells
Dr. Morris Manolson
Wong, W. H.¹, Zirngibl, R.A.¹, Manolson, M.F.¹

Graduate Student Fundamental Science Category: 
1st place: $250, 2nd place: $200, 3rd place: $150

1.    Poster #49: Lauren Rotondi
Characterizing the Role of Cell Adhesion Molecules in Stem Cell from Apical Papilla – Macrophage Interactions in a 3D Organoid Model
Dr. Anil Kishen
Rotondi, L.¹, Li, F.¹, & Kishen, A.¹.

2.    Poster #45: Andrew Lombardi
Three-Dimensional Anatomy of the Fibula Free Flap Cutaneous Perforators: A Pilot Study
Dr. Anne Agur
Lombardi, A., A¹, Bola, H, A², Yu, P, A², Echevarria, M.F., A¹, Cuddy, K, A¹, Agur, A, A², & Davies, J, A².

3.    Poster #50: Shivam Sharma
A microphysiological system to model diabetic wound pathophysiology
Dr. Anil Kishen
Sharma, S., Kishen, A.

Graduate Student Clinical Science Category: 
1st place: $250, 2nd place: $200, 3rd place: $150

1.    Poster #30: Shivani Desai
Factors affecting the Time Lapse between Restorations and Pulp Disease: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Dr. Amir Azarpazhooh
Desai, S¹, Tepperman, A¹, Ben Suleiman, A², Malkhassian, G¹, Chvartszaid, D¹, ³, Lai, J¹, & Azarpazhooh, A¹,  ⁴.

2.    Poster #36: Eva Volman
Enhancing Degradation Resistance of Commercial Collagen Membranes
Dr. Laurent Bozec
Volman, E., Mendes, V.C., Neshatian, M., Sone, E., Bozec, L.

3.    Poster #22: Noorelrahman Aladle
Setting A Passing Score for Dental Radiograph Interpretation: Balancing Patient Care Measures and Learner Experience to Derive a Standard
Dr. Susanne Perschbacher
Aladle N¹, Boutis K², Casas M¹,², Oxner J¹, Perschbacher SE¹,²

Post-Doctoral Fellows and Research Associates Category: 
1st place: $250

Poster #59: Hui Ling Yeo (Post-Doctoral Fellow)
Investigating the Role of TNFRSF1A Signaling in Oral Carcinogenesis
Dr. Marco Magalhaes
Yeo, HL ¹, Molska, GR ¹, Jeong, W ¹, Esfandiari N¹, Magalhaes, M¹

Top photo: Winners from Research Day 2025 (Jeff Comber)