2025 COHR ANNUAL REPORT
Contents 1
College Updates
9
Research Events
14
Student Research Awards
18
Upcoming Events & Presentations
This past year marked a time of significant challenges for science and research. Despite these obstacles, we remained focused and determined to continue developing the evidence that supports the exceptional, dedicated, and compassionate clinical work we provide to our patients. That is our mission—and it must remain our mission as we move forward into 2026. As I reflect on this year’s accomplishments, I could not be more proud of our UKCD team and each of you who has made meaningful contributions to research development within our college. Your commitment, perseverance, and collaboration have made a real impact. I sincerely thank you for your hard work and dedication, and I wish you a 2026 filled with continued success in both your personal and professional lives. Thank you for everything you do for the College and for advancing research. Please keep up the great work. — Dr. Luciana Shaddox
College Updates Research Awards & Highlights We are proud that UKCD Research has grown so much in the past few years! Our areas of research focus are: periodontal inflammation, microbiology, pain and opioid use. See details below on some of our funding trajectory and some of our active projects! $ 6.2 M + 32%
$ 4.7 M + 52%
$ 3.1 M + 41% $ 2.2 M + 120%
$ 0.7 M - 76.0%
$ 1.0 M + 36.4%
Figure 1. UKCD awards FY2020-2025
The College of Dentistry's research continues to demonstrate strong momentum and broad collaboration across the university. To date, the college has submitted 20 grant proposals, representing more than $7 million in funding requests in partnership with several other colleges and research centers, including the College of Medicine, College of Pharmacy, the College of Communication, and the Markey Cancer Center. These efforts have resulted in 18 total awards, including 12 external and 6 internal grants, reflecting the depth and impact of UKCD’s research enterprise.
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Periodontology Role of Notch-1/PLA2-IIA in Oral Dysbiosis, Inflammation, and Periodontal Disease – Led by Octavio Gonzalez, this NIH R01: evaluates innovative strategies to prevent and treat periodontal disease and its systemic health impacts
Susceptibility Patterns for Grade C Periodontitis in Young Individuals – Led by Dr. Luciana Shaddox: international multi-center NIH U01 study collects cases from 7 countries to investigate genetic, inflammatory, and microbial factors in rapidly progressive periodontitis in youth.
Understanding Mechanisms of Oral Mucosa Wound Healing – Led by Dr Mauro Santamaria, funded by UK pilot awards: examines inflammatory markers and the microbiome during oral mucosa healing, aiming precision therapies for vulnerable populations.
MODERN-Dental: Pediatric Obesity, Cardiometabolic Risks, and Periodontal Disease: Effects of Semaglutide Treatment – UKINSPIRE-funded project by Dr Adriankaja, aims to expand on Dr. Shaddox’s NIH international study to Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic, focusing on aggressive periodontitis in youth.
Fostering Collaborations with Hispanic Populations to Better Study Population-Specific Susceptibility Factors for Periodontal Disease – UKINSPIRE-funded project by Dr Adriankaja, aims to expand on Dr. Shaddox’s NIH international study to Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic, focusing on aggressive periodontitis in youth.
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Oral Diagnosis
SCOPE: Surveillance and Characterization of Oral Health in Opioid Use Disorder - This study investigates the association between sublingual buprenorphine and oral health outcomes. Funded by NIH-NIDCR and led by Dr. Marcia Rojas and collaborators Drs. Boggero, Gonzalez, Shaddox, Oyler (Pharmacy, Co-PI) and Flagan (UNC) ADOPT Study - This study tests a practical, multi-component approach to help dental providers and patients choose safe, effective, non-opioid pain management options. The goal is to reduce opioid prescribing by at least 18% in participating clinics
Orofacial Pain
over four years, while maintaining excellent pain control and high patient satisfaction.
Initial Evidence for a Brief Psychological Telehealth Intervention for Chronic Masticatory Muscle Pain – Led by Dr. Ian Boggero, this NIH-funded Research Career Development Award aims to test a novel psychological intervention for chronic orofacial pain. The Role of Pain, Parafunctional Habits, and Stress on Masticatory Muscle Activity – Also led by Boggero and a UK InSPIRE-funded collaborative project, aims to investigate how stress and habits impact jaw muscle activity.
Public Health HPV Vaccination and Oral Cancer Prevention in Dental Settings- Led by Drs. Stein & Shaddox, these Merck-funded projects include: • A randomized controlled trial evaluating the effectiveness of HPV vaccine recommendations delivered by dental providers • A community-engaged study in Appalachian Kentucky to reduce oral cancer and increase HPV vaccine uptake through strategic campaigns
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Faculty Achievement We are excited to recognize Dr. Boggero for receiving a Travel Award in support a collaborative work with the University of Florida to strengthen ongoing research partnerships and further enhance Oral Facial Pain research.
Dr. Bazina has been selected for the AAO-sponsored scholarship award to attend the Academy for Advancing Leadership’s 2025 Chairs & Academic Administrators Management Program (CAAMP).
Dr. Santamaria has been selected by their college as one of the 2025–26 University Research Professors, an honor recognizing outstanding research contributions and excellence in scholarship at the University of Kentucky.
Dr. Shaddox has been inducted as a Fellow of the American College of Dentists (ACD) this year. This honor recognizes her exceptional contributions to the dental profession, outstanding leadership, and dedicated service in dentistry.
Dr. Luciana Shaddox also recently joined leaders in dental research as part of the AADOCR government affairs committee for a visit to Washington, D.C. to advocate for dental research.
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Publications Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years Recent external collaboration from the last 5 years worldwide!
Visit scholars.uky.edu to see all publications from the UKCD family: UKCD faculty and students produced 59 publications in 2025. 6
Faculty Presentations Around the World Dr. Octavio Gonzalez was an invited speaker at several prestigious conferences: • 103rd IADR General Session & Exhibition of the IADR Congress in Barcelona, Spain (June 2025): Human Phospholipase A2-IIA Enhances Alveolar Bone Loss • 7th Penn Periodontal Conference 2025 at University of Pennsylvania, PA (July 2025): The Role of Phospholipase A2-IIA in Oral Dysbiosis and Periodontal Disease • Gamma-delta T Cells – Club Webinar Series. Harvard University, New York University, University of Cardiff ( September 2025): Effect of Aging on Gingival Gamma-delta T Cells
Dr. Mauro Santamaria shared his expertise through a series of invited lectures at renowned institutions: • Ribeirão Preto School of Dentistry, University of São Paulo. (September 2025): From Clinical to Translational Science: Making Your Research Internationally Competitive • Specialization Program in Periodontics and Implantology, IOA Campinas, Brazil. (September 2025): How to Manage Gingival Recession Associated with Non-Carious Cervical Lesions. • São Paulo State University – Implantology Graduate Program: Peri-implant Tissue Biology: Importance of Soft Tissue Around Implants and Peri-implant Diseases • UCLA Symposium, Hawaii. (June 2025): How to Manage Gingival Recession Associated with Non-Carious Cervical Lesions
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Dr. Ian Boggero shared his expertise through a series of invited lectures and presentations at national and international forums: • High Point University, North Carolina: Too Tired to Sleep: Associations of Poor Sleep and Fatigue to Chronic Orofacial Pain • Pain Research Center Intervention Center of Excellence, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL: No Pain, More Gain: Developing and Implementing Brief Psychological Interventions for Chronic Orofacial Pain • 2nd Annual Treat TMD Conference, Las Vegas, NV | 3 Consecutive Days • Lectures: ▪ Psychological Considerations in the Management of TMDs ▪ Behavioral Interventions for Insomnia in Patients with TMD ▪ Clinical Interviewing for Patients with TMD and Orofacial Pain
Dr. Luciana Shaddox represented the University of Kentucky College of Dentistry at multiple prestigious events, sharing her expertise on Grade C Molar-Incisor Pattern Periodontitis and advancing the field of periodontal research: • EuroPerio 2025 – Vienna, Austria (May 2025): Exome Sequencing Profile in Grade C Molar-Incisor Pattern Periodontitis. • 7th Penn Periodontal Conference 2025, University of Pennsylvania (July 2025): Grade C Molar-Incisor Pattern Periodontitis: What Have We Learned So Far? • University of Michigan Dental Hygiene Symposium (September 2025): AI for the Early Diagnosis of Periodontitis. • Task Force on Design & Analysis in Oral Health Research, Newark, NJ (October 2025). Served as Session Moderator on Communication of Science.
• UCSF Research Day (October 2025): Grade C Molar-Incisor Pattern Periodontitis. • American Academy of Periodontology Meeting, Toronto, CA (October 2025): “What Constitutes a Good Peer Review?”
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Research Events S3 Lunch & Learns JANUARY • "UK AI/ML Hub: How AI/ML Work Relates to Dentistry" by Katherine Thompson, Department of Statistics FEBRUARY • Students Practice for AADOCR MARCH • "The Twin Disparities of Oral Health and Access to Dental Care" by Mohannad Khandakji APRIL • Research Presentation by Dr. Ingrid Fernandes Mathias Santamaria MAY • "Generative AI and Research: Current Issues and Emerging Practices" by Trey Conatser
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AUGUST • "The New CCTS Pilot Program" by Joel Thompson SEPTEMBER • "Generative AI and Research: Current Issues and Emerging Practices: Part II" by Trey Conatser and Jill Abney OCTOBER • "From Data to Discovery: How Statistics and the UK PADAS Hub Can Elevate Your Research" by Dr. Hawk, Department of Statistics NOVEMBER • "Novel Therapeutic Approaches to Treat and Prevent Infectious Diseases" by Dr. Diamond
20th Annual CCTS Spring Conference & College of Dentistry Research Day The event happened on April 1 at Central Bank Center in Lexington. The conference attracted a total of 1,154 attendees, with 204 attending the featured KNAPP Lecture with Dr Luigi Nibali from King’s College London, delivering a lecture on Research Trials using a dental Biobank. This year’s CCTS featured a total of 387 research posters, 42 presented by College of Dentistry students, highlighting the college's strong research presence.
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AADOCR 2025- New York
IADR 2025 - Spain
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7th Penn Perio 2025 - Philadelphia
AAP 2025- Toronto
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Dental Implant Symposium 2025 The 10th Annual Dental Implant Symposium was held on March 14, 2025 at the Gatton Student Center and welcomed 170 attendees. This year featured oral presentations by residents and poster sessions by DMD students, highlighting innovative research and clinical applications in dental implantology. DMD Student Winners: • Natalie Siddoway & Celine Arce – "Prosthetic Rehabilitation of Posterior Implants with Challenging Positions Using a Digital Workflow: A Case Report." • Samuel Callister, Ahmad Kutkut, & Galal Omami – "New Consideration for Using Limited View Cone-Beam Computed Tomography for Accurate Planning Guide Implant Surgery" Graduate Student/Resident Winners: • Monica Yacoub & Mohanad Al-Sabbagh – "Optimizing Guided Bone Regeneration with Customized Titanium Mesh: A Clinical Case Study and Treatment Approach" • Manuela Viana Miguel, Ingrid Santamaria, & Mauro Santamaria – "Prosthetic-Surgical Approach to Treat Severe Peri-Implant Soft Tissue Dehiscence (PSTD) in the Aesthetic Zone"
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Student Research Awards CCTS 2025 - Undergraduate Category
1st Place: Jessie Bryant. Mentor: Courtney Brown and team.“Investigating Emergency Department Use for Non-Traumatic Dental Conditions in Kentucky: A Study on Social Vulnerability”
2nd Place: Peyton Ash, Mentor: Ian Boggero and team. “Chronic Overlapping Pain Conditions Predict Pain Intensity and Fatigue in Young Adults with Temporomandibular Disorder”
CCTS 2025 - DMD/Graduate, Case Report & Literature Review Category
1st Place: Scott Guthrie, mentored
3rd Place: Claudia Jennings, mentored by
by Ian Boggero and team on “Effect of Tongue Posture on Masticatory Musculature Activity, A Review of
Lina Sharab and team, on “A Review of Exercise as an Adjunctive Pain Management Strategy in Orthodontics:
Electromyography Studies”
Optimizing Patient Comfort and Treatment”
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DMD, Clinical & Translational Science Category
1st Place: Sophia Li, mentored by Marcia Rojas/Doug Oyler and team, on “Self-Reported Opioid Use and Disposal Among Adolescents and Young Adults After Tooth Extraction”
2nd Place: Alyssa Saltz, mentored by Marcia Rojas/Craig Miller and team, on “Factors Influencing Opioid Prescription in a Dental Academic Setting: A Qualitative Analysis”
Graduate & Postdoc, Basic & Clinical Science 1st Place: Manuela Viana Miguel, mentored by Ingrid and Mauro Santamaria and team, on “Insulin-Loaded Silk Fibroin/Chitosan Film for Oral Mucosa Healing - A New Drug Delivery System.”
3rd Place: Matthew Jacobson, mentored by Luciana Shaddox and endodontics team, on "Impact of 3D-Printed Model Designed for Apicoectomy Training on User's Knowledge, Confidence, and Interest"
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2nd Place: Bridget Faltas, mentored by Mauro Santamaria and team, on “Comparison Between Two Types of Collagen Matrices to Treat Single Gingival Recession: a Data Reanalysis” 3rd Place: Tyler Parrish, mentored by Cristina Perez and team, on “Understanding and Implementation of Vital Pulp Therapy: A Nationwide Survey”
Research Elective This year marked a significant research elective milestone, with 27 students participating —the highest number since 2019.
AADOCR Mind of the Future Program Dr. Manuela Miguel, Selected for AADOCR Mind the Future Program. The Mind the Future initiative plays a pivotal role in shaping the next generation of leaders in dental, oral, and craniofacial (DOC) research. Miguel’s participation reflects her outstanding potential as a researcher and underscores our institution’s strong commitment to fostering excellence in DOC research and future scientific leadership.
Hinman Student Research Symposium We are pleased to announce that Gabrielle Thompson (UKCD DMD student) has earned an Honorable Mention in the Clinical Research Poster Presentation Session at the 2025 Hinman Student Research Symposium, presenting “Diabetes Prevalence and Dental Care in Kentucky”. She was mentored by Dr. Luciana Shaddox.
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Other Awards Block Grant Award Winner of AADOCR 2025 Meeting • Alyssa Saltz (Mentor: Dr. Rojas) Quintessence Award Recipients Jooyong Choo (Mentor: Dr. Sharab). Named Quintessence Awardees, recognizing their excellence in research and scientific contribution. Research Proposal Award Recipients • Matthew Jacobson (Mentor: Dr. Morford), • Alyssa Moreland & Omar Salem (Mentor: Dr. Sharab) Travel Proposal Award Recipients These awards recognize outstanding trainees and researchers who will be presenting their work at upcoming conferences: • Mina Sami (Mentor: Dr. Santamaria) • Matthew Jacobson (Mentor: Dr. Morford) • Alyssa Alyssa Saltz (Mentor: Dr. Rojas)
• Hunt (Mentor: Dr. Sharab) • Jooyong Choo (Mentor:Dr. Sharab) • Robert Payne (Mentor: Dr. Rojas)
Undergraduate Research Proposal Award Recipients These awards honor their dedication, creativity, and scientific curiosity, supporting them in advancing their research projects. • Nidhi (Mentor: Dr. Boggero), • Peyton Ash (Mentor: Dr. Boggero) • Faith Hall (Mentor: Dr. Boggero) Undergraduate Travel Proposal Award Recipient Jason Stroud (Mentor: Dr. Shaddox). This award supported Jason’s travel to present his research at the AADORC.
Gene Lewis Fellowship Awardees This year, the Gene Lewis Fellowship recognized outstanding scholars for their excellence, innovation, and commitment to advancing oral health research in health disparities: • Himala Gonzales (Dr. Shaddox/Brown)
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• Manuela Miguel (Dr. Santamaria) • Ben Vickery (Dr. Shaddox/Dr. Stein/Brown)
Upcoming Events 2026 S3 Meetings • January 27 • February 24
• March 17 • April 28
• May 26
March 25-28,2026 San Diego, CA, USA
Frederico Canato Martinho DDS, MSc, PhD University of Maryland, Baltimore
"AI in Endodontics" Keynote Presentation 18