21st Annual Research Day: The pace accelerates
If you’ve been impressed by strides made in recent research that uncovers connections between brain function and issues like head, neck and facial pain, then the presenters at the recent Research and Discovery Day at the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry offered a look into a whole new world. Scientists all over the world are connecting the dots and bringing practical applications to new theoretical learnings, and this day offered glimpses into improving technologies, data-driven capabilities and the potential for significantly improved patient outcomes. Their findings were an inspiration to an audience that included many members of the newest generation of dental professionals.
This annual day at the university brings together dental researchers, providers and students to showcase oral presentations and poster sessions on relevant topics in oral health care and oral biology. The goal of the day, which was held March 7 this year, was to promote discussion, collaboration and education to celebrate research and facilitate the translation of research findings into clinical practice. One of those providers, who made an early-morning drive down from Duluth, was Prabhjot Arora, DDS, who practices at the Lake Superior Community Health Center. “I come to Research and Discovery Day every year,” she said. “I always learn something, especially in the areas of new research.”
The day began with remarks from Dean Keith Mays, DDS, MS, PhD, who welcomed attendees and then announced the winner of the Century Club Professor of the Year for 2025 — Karl Self, DDS, MBA. Self is an associate professor, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and director of the Division of Dental Therapy Education. Mays cited his leadership in the field of dental therapy, and noted that, thanks to Self, the dental therapy program was the first associated with a dental school to achieve accreditation from the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA). Mays also spotlighted the impact and achievements of the work done by Self and noted his outstanding community involvement, which includes the establishment of the Karl D. Self Student Achievement Award, given to a senior dental therapy student to recognize outstanding leadership, scholarship and personal character.
Kristin Artinger, PhD, professor in the Department of Diagnostic and Biological Sciences and Associate Dean of Research and Discovery at the School of Dentistry, then took the podium to highlight the day’s focus on the brain, and on cutting-edge research that encompassed a number of different perspectives, including that of the patient.
She introduced the keynote speaker, Damian Fair, PA-C, PhD, a professor in the Institute of Child Development, Department of Pediatrics and University of Minnesota Medical School and the Redleaf-endowed director of the Masonic Institute for the Developing Brain (MIDB). Fair, a cognitive neuroscientist, discussed functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), a neuroimaging technique that measures brain activity by detecting changes in blood flow as it comes of age. He touched on the accelerated pace of new discoveries about the brain that use this technology, saying, “The field continues to evolve as data are collected in broader populations and at a faster pace than ever before.”
He told the audience that, in his 20 years working in this field, he’s seen both skepticism and overenthusiasm. “It probably was overhyped for a while there,” he said. But his impressive case study shared the successful treatment that successfully used precision cortical stimulant (pCS) on a patient with treatment-resistant depression, which affects close to three million individuals in the US annually. Fair showed some of the latest work in that area, demonstrating that some of that early hype he mentioned is on the cusp of turning into accepted clinical practice that cures diseases and saves lives. Looking ahead, he has hopes for new potential treatments for OCD, Tourette syndrome, chronic pain and more.
The day also featured a session for the presentation of 30 posters, in which students pursuing graduate education in oral biology showcased their research. Presentations ran the gamut from studies of racial differences in orofacial pain-related quality of life among dental patients, to the effect of dental treatment on post-operative outcomes following left ventricular assist device placement (LVAD), to increased decay and missing teeth associated with unmet social needs. Students had the opportunity to discuss their posters with peers, professors and attendees.
Many appreciated having some time to reflect on all the significant work being done at the University. “I love seeing all the collaboration we do together,” said Sophie Schmitz DDS ’26. “One of my professors, Estephan Moana-Filho, presented his work on brain connectivity patterns in chronic TMD. My brother is in neuroscience, and I can’t wait to talk to him about what I learned.”
Her enthusiasm was echoed by Barbara Azevedo ‘28, who said that she’d covered Moana-Filho’s research during classwork and was fascinated to see it presented to a larger audience. “I love learning how the brain connections play a part in TMD treatment,” she said. Also reviewing the posters were Ashley Messner and Ashley Bjorklund, both dental hygienists from Southdale Dental Associates. Borklund said she had attended Research Day last year and found herself newly energized by all that she learned, so she invited Messner to join her this year. “It’s all been very interesting,” Messner said. “I was especially intrigued by the research into the treatments for depression.”