RSDM Student Research Showcased at Balbo Day

Judges last month chose winners of the 2022 Balbo Day, at which 20 RSDM pre- and postdoctoral students showcased research conducted last summer.

“It’s always fun and fulfilling to show what you’re doing, and to have people understand its value,” said Dr. Geet Shukla, whose research on the iron-binding protein lactoferrin won top honors among postdoctorates. Shukla, who is earning a master of science degree in dentistry, noted that research is the foundation of evidence-based dentistry.

“It’s important for students to understand that there is research behind what we’re doing,” agreed Class of 2023 student Athena Fu, who won first place among predoctoral students. Fu, who intends to pursue orthodontics, measured the individual tooth accuracy of digital scans used to make clear aligners.

Balbo Day is named for the late Dr. Michael Balbo, who served on the school’s faculty. This year’s event was held virtually over three days due to the pandemic.

The annual exposition allows students “to learn about research, critically think about methodologies, and design and fine-tune their skills in not only in translational science but also in clinical research,” said RSDM Associate Dean for Research Narayanan Ramasubbu.

“Events like Balbo Day bridge the gap between the clinical and research sides of our profession,” said Dr. Steven R. Singer, chair of the school’s Department of Diagnostic Sciences. “Every clinical dentist benefits from research because they can base their practice on evidence.” Dental researchers, meanwhile, need to understand how their findings can be applied to benefit patients, he said.

“This is cutting-edge science, figuring out disease processes and how to mitigate them, and in some cases, resolve them,” Singer said. “It’s an amazing piece of their education.”

Shukla used mice with and without the lactoferrin-producing gene for his research. After isolating DNA from oral swabs and feces samples, Shukla found that mostly, bacteria levels were higher in the mice without lactoferrin. The research provided evidence that lactoferrin can kill bacteria. The results could contribute to the development of more targeted therapies to fight certain bacteria, Shukla said.

Fu found that 3-D models of clear aligners created from digital scans did not match up precisely for lateral incisors. “Dentists think in millimeters,” she noted. The research provided a foundation for developing a solution.

RSDM faculty from both the clinical and research sides served as judges. Balbo Day participants’ peer-reviewed research will be published in a future issue of the Journal of Dentistry, Singer noted. Here is the list of winners and their mentors:

Predoctoral Winners

1^st place: Athena Fu (Mentor: Wei Huang)

2^nd place: Sara Bendaoud (Mentor: Vincent Tsiagbe)

2^nd place: Zhi Chao Feng (Mentor: Emi Shimizu)

3^rd place: Ayodeji Awopegba (Mentor: Cecile Feldman)

Postdoctoral Winners

1^st place: Geet Shukla (Mentor: Kabilan Velliyagounder)

2^nd place: Ashwini Bhangale (Mentor: Maxine Strickland)

3^rd place: Swati Kumari (Mentor: Maxine Strickland)

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