Drs. David Mooney and Cun-Yu Wang received the William J. Gies Award for the best paper published in the Journal of Dental Research during the preceding year.

Mooney, a professor in the Department of Biologic and Materials Sciences, described a new material, based on alginate (the same polymers used in impression materials) to transplant bone-forming cells in the November 2001 issue of the JDR.

“The new material enhances the ability of the transplanted cells to form bony tissue by promoting the multiplication and expression of bone-specific genes. The material can be injected into a tissue and may one day provide a useful means to regenerate bone tissue in various dental and craniofacial applications,” Mooney said.

Among the School of Dentistry co-authors of the paper included Eben Alsberg, who recently earned his PhD at U-M, Amru Albeiruti, a fourth-year dental student; and Renny Franceschi, a professor at the School of Dentistry.

Wang, an associate professor in the Department of Biologic and Materials Sciences, described the results of research in his lab that provides an important framework for improving oral cancer therapy in humans in an article that appeared in the publication’s February issue.

“In this paper, we explore whether we can render oral cancer cells more efficiently using gene therapy,” Wang said. He said members of his research team discovered that a specific transcription factor significantly increased oral cancer sensitivity to cancer therapy.

Co-authors of the article include Shaoqioang Chen, a postdoctoral fellow in Wang’s laboratory, and Andrew Fribley, a graduate student in the School’s oral health science program.

Students Win 40 Percent of Research Fellowships

U-M School of Dentistry students also won more than 40 percent (9 of 22) of fellowships for their research efforts at this year's AADR conference. The winners and their faculty advisors are:

• Student: Brent Accurso; Faculty Advisor: Dr. Paul Krebsbach
  
• Student: Matthew Artley; Faculty Advisor: Dr. G. Rex Holland
  
• Student: Miranda Attia; Faculty Advisor: Dr. Dennis Fasbinder
  
• Student: Curtis Godfrey; Faculty Advisor: Dr. Peter Yaman
  
• Student: Anne Lin; Faculty Advisor: Dr. Michael Ignelzi
  
• Student: Matthew Pinsky; Faculty Advisor: Dr. Jacques Nor
  
• Student: Swati Shah; Faculty Advisor: Dr. Lloyd Straffon
  
• Student: Maura Stanchak; Faculty Advisor: Dr. Stephen Eklund
  
• Student: Jeffrey Wessel; Faculty Advisor: Dr. George Taylor
  

In addition, dental student Azadeh Yavari won second place in the AADR Pfizer Hatton Awards Competition, Junior Division. The award is presented to a student who demonstrates potential for a productive career in dental research. Competition for this award is limited to students who have conducted their research as part of their professional training or undergraduate studies.

Franceschi, associate dean for research, said of the achievements, “The success of our students in obtaining these competitive fellowships and awards is a tribute to their dedication to dental research and the quality of our faculty mentors.”

The University of Michigan School of Dentistry is one of the nation’s leading dental schools engaged in oral health care education, research, patient care, and community service. General dental care clinics and specialty clinics providing advanced treatment enable the School to offer dental services and programs to patients throughout Michigan. Classroom and clinic instruction prepare future dentists, dental specialists, and dental hygienists for practice in private offices, hospitals, academia, and public agencies. Research seeks to discover and apply new knowledge that can help patients worldwide.

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