Research Day
CU Anschutz School of Dental Medicine
41st Annual Research Day
Friday, February 27, 2026
9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Anschutz Health Sciences Building, Elliman Conference Hall
Free to attend. Continuing Education credits available.
Program & Abstracts
Poster Session
8:00-8:30 Poster check-in
8:30-8:50 Participant & Judges briefing
9:00-9:30 Poster Preview
9:30-11:30 Poster Judging
Lunch
11:45-1:00 Lunch
Welcome Address
1:00-1:10 Jeffrey Stansbury, PhD, Senior Associate Dean for Research Denise Kassebaum, DDS, MS, Dean
Keynote Samantha Brugmann, PhD
1:10-2:15 “Dissecting ciliopathies: From molecular mechanism to potential treatments” This talk will describe the role of the cellular organelle; the primary cilium, during craniofacial development. It will focus on molecular readouts and address possible modes of treatment for diseases caused by aberrant primary cilia.
Comfort Break
2:15-2:25
Nisali Piyasena, BS, DDS Candidate Class of 2027, and Mason Gueller, BS, DDS Candidate Class of 2029
2:25-2:50 “The Antimicrobial Effects of Acrylated Hydroxyazobenzene Copolymers” Acrylated Hydroxyazobenzene (AHA) copolymers have been found to have antimicrobial effects on multiple organisms including Streptococci and Candida species. AHA copolymers can be incorporated into dental resins, therefore allowing for various dental materials and appliances such as denture resins to exhibit the visualized antimicrobial effects. This study focuses on understanding the mechanisms behind this copolymer’s activity, optimizing its effects, and analyzing its efficacy within the oral microbiomes of denture wearers.
Grace Gustafson, BS
2:50-3:15 “A developmental buffering mechanism of initiation codon mutations” Mutations can display a range of severity among individuals. This phenomenon is due to differences in buffering: lessening the effects of genetic perturbation. There are no transcriptional mechanisms that protect against start codon mutations. Here we study an allele with a mutation in the initiating methionine of the zebrafish transcription factor encoding gene mef2ca. This gene has a key role in craniofacial development, mutants display a range of phenotypes. This mutant, predicted to produce no protein, unexpectedly produces very mild phenotypes. Here we propose a novel mechanism of buffering against start codon mutations functioning at both protein and mRNA levels.
Maria Campana, PhD
3:15-3:40 “PDGFRa/b heterodimer activation negatively affects downstream ERK1/2 signaling and cellular proliferation” The platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR) family of receptor tyrosine kinases allows cells to communicate by binding to growth factors, activating intracellular signaling pathways. The PDGFR family consists of two receptors, PDGFRa and PDGFRb, that dimerize to form PDGFRa homodimers, PDGFRa/b heterodimers and PDGFRb homodimers. Here, we tested the hypothesis that differential internalization and trafficking dynamics of the various dimers underlie differences in downstream signaling. Using bimolecular fluorescence complementation, I demonstrated that PDGFRa/b heterodimers are rapidly internalized and its activation does not induce downstream phosphorylation of ERK1/2. Collectively, our findings impart valuable insight into the molecular mechanisms of PDGFR activation.
Shahbaz Katebzadeh, DMD, MS, ABPD Diplomate
3:40-4:05 “Healthy lungs, Healthy Smiles: Where Airway Care Meets Oral Care” Hospitalized children with long-term airway support face preventable respiratory risks linked to poor oral hygiene and oral dysbiosis yet are rarely dentally assessed. Many providers remain unaware of the oral–pulmonary connection and its impact on respiratory outcomes. This session addresses this gap and introduces the Healthy Lungs, Healthy Smiles (HLHS) study as a first step toward integrated oral–pulmonary care. It presents the rationale, design, and anticipated clinical significance of the HLHS Study (COMIRB 25-0189), which evaluates oral findings and orotracheal microbial diversity, equipping learners with foundational knowledge to integrate dental screening into inpatient care and reduce respiratory complications.
Awards and Recognition
4:05-4:25