Researchers share knowledge, showcase ideas at IADR annual meeting

Members of the School of Dentistry shared research and gained insights with one another at this year’s International Association for Dental, Oral and Craniofacial Research (IADR), American Association of Dental, Oral and Craniofacial Research (AADOCR) and Canadian Association for Dental Research (CADR) joint General Session and Exhibition.

Held March 25-28 in San Diego, CA, the event marked the 104th IADR general session, 54th AADOCR annual meeting and 50th CADR annual meeting. Nearly 40 individuals, including faculty, students and residents, attended the event.

Dean Keith Mays, DDS, MS, PhD, joined fellow deans for a panel discussion entitled “Sustainable Academic Models: Leadership Finance and Accreditation,” where he discussed the future of dental education through the lens of accreditation, financial sustainability, faculty and hiring, and the overall landscape of higher education.

“It was a rich conversation, and audience members spoke positively about our discussion,” Mays reflected. “We conveyed the multi-dimensional layers and aspects of dental education. Today, leadership is not just about tooth preparation or surgery. It’s about public opinion, social media, political opinion and leadership. We were able to address the multitude of approaches leaders have to take to prepare for the future.”

Mays was proud of the school’s showing at the event—from a University of Minnesota Reception to student and faculty engagement across disciplines. “Our students won some great awards, and they shared some excellent presentations and posters,” he said.

One award-winning student was Yiyun (Freya) Xing, DDS ’28, who received the Consortium for Translational Orthodontic Research (CTOR) Award for Student Excellence in Orthodontics Research for her work on “Correlation of Aligner Surface Strains and Forces Exerted on Teeth.”

Xing  called the experience “very rewarding.” She shared, “I had the opportunity to connect with researchers from around the world and engage in meaningful discussions about our work. Winning the CTOR award is a recognition of our efforts, and it truly encourages me to continue pursuing research that can make a meaningful impact.”

Students from the DDS Summer Research Program and those in the Graduate Program in Oral Biology presented posters showcasing their research. Johan Alfaro Carballo, DDS ’29, received the International Network for Orofacial Pain and Related Disorders Methodology (INfORM) Samuel F Dworkin Predoctoral Award, which honors an outstanding translational research project. Alfaro, who presented his poster based on the project he supported during his summer research program, delivered an oral presentation and presented to a panel of judges. He was thrilled to be honored at his first international conference.

“One of the most memorable aspects of the experience was connecting with fellow finalists from Italy and Canada,” he recalled. “Sharing insights about our research while waiting for our presentations was meaningful. The conference was incredible, and it was fascinating to see the breadth of research being conducted across the world, with diverse perspectives and approaches.”  

Long Tran, DDS ’28, also presented his summer research, a public health study to screen for unmet needs among dental clinic patients and explore the impact of those factors on treatment plan completion. “It was my first time presenting a scientific poster to an international audience, and I felt greatly honored to have the chance to represent the school,” he reflected. “I was amazed by the strength and progress of the international dental research community.”

Tran felt the experience of performing research through the Student Summer Research Program—and the opportunity to present his poster at Research Day—prepared him well for the challenge of his first conference poster presentation.  

“The experience was an immense learning experience and broadens my understanding of what my colleagues around the world are accomplishing,” he said. “I also left feeling that there is still a lot of unknown in the dental field, and a lot of work to be done.” 
Estephan Moana-Filho, DDS, MS, PhD, assistant professor of TMD and orofacial pain and Alfaro’s mentor, chaired an oral session sponsored by the IADR’s neuroscience group, which “brought together innovative, cutting-edge 10-minute presentations to share the latest advances in nociceptive transmission, pathophysiology and modulation in the orofacial region.” He  enjoyed the “opportunity for researchers and clinicians to interact and learn basic science novel findings that could positively influence clinical care in the future.” 

In addition to his chaired session, Moana-Filho provided his own oral presentation, where he shared work completed exploring evidence for brain mechanisms of pain amplification in chronic TMD pain. 

“Specifically, we found that chronic TMD cases, relative to pain-free controls, presented with increased excitatory neurotransmitter levels in brain areas relevant for pain processing; that is, the posterior insula and the sensory thalamus,” he explained. “While a small pilot study, these preliminary results support the clinical notion that pain amplification at the brain level is present in at least some chronic TMD pain patients.” The talk was well-received and resulted in connections for future collaborations. 

Additional experts represented the school across disciplines—showcasing translational science, basic science and leadership in care. Together, they showcased the depth and breadth of the school’s commitment to research that impacts lives.