Students at the UNLV School of Dental Medicine are invited to participate in research. Contact Dr. Karl Kingsley at 702-774-2623 for research opportunities.

UNLV School of Dental Medicine Student Research Day was held on February 29th with the following student presenters.

Pre-doctoral Research Posters

Folic acid-modulated growth of dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs)-Kristi Agari, Weiye Lin, Byron Junio, Karl Kingsley, PhD, MPH

Differential miRNA expression in oral cancer oncosomes-Dannica Brennan, Kunal Patel, Nicole Howard, Karl Kingsley, PhD, MPH, Katherine Howard, PhD

Differential induction of PAF acetylhydrolase expression in differentiated and undifferentiated HL-60 cells-John Bui, Brady Lybert, Julia Lam, and Katherine Howard, PhD

Differential microRNA expression patterns in human dental pulp derived stem cells (DPSC)-Taylor Cohen, Rachel Bush, Karl Kingsley, PhD, MPH

Expression of NKX2-1 and matrix metalloproteinases in oral cancers-Evan Davis, Karl Kingsley, PhD, MPH

Melatonin-modulation of histone deacetylase (HDAC) in oral cancer-Michelle Farnoush, Daniel Swint, Seth Jennings, Karl Kingsley, PhD, MPH

Predicted translation of a newly sequenced zinc-finger transcription factor from dental pulp stem cell mRNA-Sheila Heraypur, Karl Kingsley, PhD, MPH

All-trans retinoic acid (ATRA)-induced effects on dental pulp-derived mesenchymal stem cells (DPSC)-Yikwon Jang, Inyoung Chong, Karl Kingsley, PhD, MPH

Differential expression of micro(mi)RNA within Cancer Stem Cell (CSC) subpopulations-Toni Jilka, Beau Seager, Karl Kingsley, PhD, MPH

Racial and ethnic oral health disparities among patients in community-based programs in the greater Las Vegas area-Adam Marina, Christina Demopoulos, DDS, MPH

Differential expression of Vitamin D3 metabolism enzyme CYP27A1 in oral cancers-Behfar Osafi, Naweed Najand, Karl Kingsley, PhD, MPH

Evaluation of differential oral cell type-specific responses to e-cigarette components-Ian Pearson, James Taylor, Karl Kingsley, PhD, MPH

Overexpression of B7-H1 or PDL-1 (CD274) in oral cancers-Jorge Quiroz, Karl Kingsley, PhD, MPH

Cariogenic pathogen Scardovia Wiggsiae screening among pediatric orthodontic patients: A pilot study-Ghazaleh Rezaei, Weston Milne, Karl Kingsley, PhD, MPH

Folic acid (FA)-induced oral cancer growth may be PDK- and PDPK-independent-John Russell, John Silvaroli, Karl Kingsley, PhD, MPH

Propolis or caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) inhibits oral cancer growth and viability-Whitney Saarem, Fang Yu Wang, Karl Kingsley, PhD, MPH, Elena Farfel, DMD

Association of mamelon like serrations on newly erupted deciduous mandibular central incisors: an observational study-Akanksha Sharma, David Diehl, Antonina Capurro, DMD, Elena Farfel, DMD

Coupled antiport LAT1/2 receptor function and input-independent modulation in oral squamous cell carcinomas-Matthew Thacker, Vivi Baldwin, Karl Kingsley, PhD, MPH

Alpha tocopherol mediated inhibition of oral cancer growth-Justin Wang, Karl Kingsley, PhD, MPH

Hydrozytryrosol (HT) suppresses growth and reduces viability in human oral squamous cell carcinomas-Chun Wong, Van Tang, Karl Kingsley, PhD, MPH

Advanced Education Research Posters

Sexual Determination from Frontal Sinus Analysis using Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT)-Erica Crosta, DMD, James Mah, DDS, MS, DMSc

Influences of Oral Health Practices Implemented at the Head Start and WIC Programs in Las Vegas, Nevada-Lily Hoang, DMD, Christina Demopoulos, DDS, MPH, Connie Mobley, PhD, RD

Oral Microbial Burden of Periodontal Pathogen among Orthodontic Patients-David Jolley, DMD, Karl Kingsley, PhD, MPH

Microleakage in Pit and Fissure Dental Sealants: an In Vitro Study-Cecilia Liu, DMD, Cody Hughes, DMD, MS

Differential CBCT Analysis of Collum Angles in Maxillary & Mandibular Anterior Teeth In Patients with Different Malocclusions-Erin Ma, DMD, James Mah, DDS, MS, DMSc

Commercial Advertising Influences on Parental Choices of Children’s Dental Providers-Truska Mahmood, DDS, Christina Demopoulos, DDS, MPH

Comparison of Mouthwashes for the Control of Supragingival Plaque & Gingivitis in Patients Undergoing Fixed Orthodontic Treatment-Satya C Nayak, DMD, Brian Chrzan, DDS, PhD

Parental Perspective of Dental Care Access for Children Diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorders-Jeong Ho Seo, DMD, Christina Demopoulos, DDS, MPH

The Effects of Cryopreservation on Human Dental Pulp-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells-Allison Tomlin, DMD, Michael Brian Sanders, Karl Kingsley, PhD, MPH

Dental Injury in Children 0-2 years During Falls while using Pacifier/Beverage Containers-Keaton Tomlin, DMD, Cody Hughes, DMD, MS

A retrospective study comparing the use of Midazolam & Hydroxyzine with Meperidine in pediatric sedation for dental care-Andrew Vaughn, DMD, Cody Hughes, DMD, MS, Connie Mobley, PhD

Levels of Interleukin-1 in Gingival Crevicular Fluid in the Tension & Compression Sites of Teeth during Orthodontic Tooth Movement-Suzanne Wen, DDS, Brian Chrzan, DDS, PhD

Prevalence of Scardovia Wiggsiae (SW) in Pediatric Orthodontic Patients-Adam Whiteley, DMD, Karl Kingsley, PhD, MPH

Case Report

Hydrozytryrosol (HT) Suppresses Growth and Reduces Viability in Human Oral Squamous Cell Carcinomas-Kory Grahl, Andrew Ingel, DDS

SDM Dean’s Symposium and Student Research Day winners

The winners of Student Research Day were chosen and recognized for their outstanding research efforts and will represent the UNLV School of Dental Medicine at the following national dental research conferences.

First Place Winner

Toni Jilka (Class of 2018) will attend the ADA/Dentsply Student Clinician Research Program to be held Fall 2016 in Washington, D.C. The continuing objectives of the program are to encourage original clinical and research work, promote student membership in the ADA, and introduce students to dental society activities.

Second Place Winner

Kristi Agari (Class of 2018) will attend the ADA Foundation - Colgate Dental Students' Conference on Research this Fall 2016. This is held at the Dr. Anthony Volpe Research Center (VRC) in Gaithersburg, Maryland. The goal of this conference is to introduce dental students to scientists from the VRC, ADA, industry, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, and the ADA Foundation's Dr. Anthony Volpe Research Center to raise their awareness of the wide-ranging careers available in oral health research.

Third Place Winner

Whitney Saarem (Class of 2018) will attend the Hinman Student Research Symposium in Memphis, Tennessee in Fall 2016. This is a national meeting that features oral and poster presentations of research studies by dental students and graduate trainees from dental schools across the United States.

Advanced Education

Differential CBCT Analysis of Collum Angles in Maxillary & Mandibular Anterior Teeth In Patients with Different Malocclusions-Erin Ma, DMD, James Mah, DDS, MS, DMSc

We are also proud to announce at the UNLV Graduate and Professional Student Association (GPSA) research forum on Saturday, March 12th 2016, thirteen (13) of these students won awards, which are listed below.

1^st Place Winners

• Kristi Agari (DS2) 1st place Science/Health Science Poster Session B
• Matthew Thacker (DS2) 1st place Science/Health Science Poster Session C
• Ian Pearson (DS2) & James Taylor (DS2) 1st place Health Science Poster Session E

2^nd Place Winners

• Whitney Saarem (DS2) & Fang Yu Wang (DS2) 2nd place Health Science Poster Session C
• Inyoung Chong (DS2) 2nd place Health Science Poster Session E

Honorable Mentions

• Toni Jilka (DS2) Honorable mention Health Science Poster Session B
• Chun Wong (DS3) Honorable mention Health Science Poster Session C
• Van Tang (DS2) Honorable mention Health Science Poster Session C
• Evan Davis (DS3) Honorable mention Health Science Poster Session D
• Ghazaleh Rezaei (DS2) Honorable mention Health Science Poster Session E
• Weston Milne (DS2) Honorable mention Health Science Poster Session E