Dentsply Sirona and the American Association for Dental Research (AADR) recently announced the winners of the 2021 Student Competition for Advancing Dental Research and its Application Awards (SCADA). Students participated in a virtual competition and awards ceremony during the IADR/AADR/CADR General Session & Exhibition.
Dental students had the opportunity to present their research to a distinguished panel of judges during the 62nd annual competition, according to a press release. All U.S. dental schools were invited to nominate a student to participate in two categories: Clinical Science and Public Health Research and Basic and Translational Science.
Forty-six students submitted an abstract for the panel to review. Once the abstract was accepted, students submitted a copy of their research poster, a slide presentation and a video of the oral presentation. All 46 students presented virtually during the meeting.
Dentsply Sirona also sponsored 12 student research competitions in 12 countries, and five of these student winners were honored during the awards program. These students were from Hokkaido University in Japan, Kyung Hee University in South Korea, the University of Hong Kong, Taipei Medical University and Chiang Mai University in Thailand.
SCADA aims to strengthen dental research by supporting young professionals in early stages of their research careers, while also offering an opportunity for students to network with clinicians and scientists from around the world. The SCADA program includes a Global and a U.S. Student Clinician Research competition and an annual awards program. The competition and award program has engaged more than 10,000 dental students from 28 countries since its inception.
Winners include:
Category 1, Clinical Science and Public Health Research
First place was awarded to Eleni Langas, Marquette University, for her research on Influence of Scanning Speed, Tip Size and Pattern on Intraoral Scan Accuracy.
Second place was awarded to Corey Winkler, East Carolina University, for his research on Accelerated Aging Effects on Color Stability of Potentially Color Adjusting Composite Resins.
Third place was awarded to Joyce Lee, University of Tennessee, for research on Strength and Stiffness of Three Temporary Crown and Bridge Materials.
Category 2, Basic and Translational Science
First place was awarded to Alexandra Rogers-DeCotes, Medical University of South Carolina, for her research on The TMJ Fibrocartilage-Bone Interface Requires ADAMTS5 and Mechanical Load.
Second place was awarded to, Kazune Pax, The Ohio State University, for her research on Sources of the Placental Microbiome in Pre-Term Birth & Pre-Eclampsia.
Third place was awarded to James Seung Jin Jang, for his research on Gene Regulatory Mechanisms of Viral Interferon Regulatory Factor 1.
“Whether embarking on a career in academia or in their own practices, the research experience will benefit these young professionals throughout their professional lives,” said Dr. Teresa A. Dolan, Dentsply Sirona vice president and chief clinical officer, according to the press release. “I am so impressed by the level of research demonstrated by this year’s group of SCADA program participants. The diversity and depth of their research was truly inspiring, and their enthusiasm came across clearly, even using a virtual format, as they presented their work.”
The SCADA Board of Directors also announced two fellowship recipients and presented awards recognizing leaders in dental research. SCADA provides fellowship funding to promote continued scholarship and help support graduate education. Two post-doctoral students were awarded Henry M. Thornton SCADA Fellowships: Dr. An Nguyen, University of California, San Francisco and Dr. Deepti Karhade, The Harvard School of Dental Medicine.
In collaboration with the American Dental Association, SCADA also awarded the ADA Foundation/Dentsply Sirona Research Award for Dual Degree Candidates to Dr. Lauren Katz, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Dr. Francesca Gori from the Harvard School of Dental Medicine received the Burton C. Borgelt / SCADA Faculty Advisor Award. The Alan J. Davis / SCADA Achievement Award recognizing a clinician scientist for outstanding service to the dental profession was awarded to Dr. Martha Somerman.
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