The School of Dentistry Office of Research was established in 2023 as part of a strategic investment in oral health research. Our growing research program complements the school’s already exceptional educational and clinical missions - positioning us to become a leading model among dental schools for oral health innovation and discovery. This report outlines our activities and accomplishments during fiscal year 2025 - our second year of operation.
04 MESSAGE FROM THE ASSOCIATE DEAN FOR RESEARCH
06 MISSION, VISION, & RESEARCH PRIORITIES
08 ABOUT THE OFFICE OF RESEARCH
10 WELCOMING NEW FACULTY
14 EXTRAMURAL FUNDING
16 INTRAMURAL FUNDING
17 NOTABLE HONORS
18 ACTIVE RESEARCH
20 COLLABORATORS & PARTNERS
22 WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
26 2025 RESEARCH DAY
WHAT WE DO OFFICE OF RESEARCH
Building research capacity at the School of Dentistry.
We envision our school as a premier oral health clinical research center - partnering across the University of Utah, our health system, our communities, and the dental industry to advance oral health for everyone.
To support that vision, the Office of Research has assembled a team with deep expertise in clinical & translational research, grant writing, program management, and University research administration.
In our second year, we focused on recruiting and mentoring faculty, launching new projects, fostering a collaborative research culture, and strengthening research resources and support at our school.
Faculty. We recruited 3 new tenure-line faculty to the School of Dentistry this year. We also helped 5 clinically-focused faculty submit their first grants and supported one new clinical faculty in the Master of Science in Clinical Investigation degree program for a total of 4 enrolled.
Project support. Recognizing faculty needs in study design and data analysis , we hired two PhD-level Research Associates with partial effort dedicated to helping faculty increase their research rigor and productivity.
Community. We are fostering a culture of research that bridges our school’s education and clinical missions. This year, we hosted 7 distinguished visiting scholars, held 14 research seminars, published 6 newsletters, staffed 2 conference booths, and coorganized the annual Research Day event.
Rebecca Wayment, MPA Program Manager
Michael Bingham Clinical Research Coordinator
Mary Anne Karren, PhD Research Development Associate
Hye Jin Park, PhD, MPH Research Associate
Aachal Devi, DDS, PhD Research Associate
Diane Cannon Jones, RDH, MPH, Clinical Research Coordinator
Austin Strebel, MS Grants & Contracts Officer
Brenda Heaton PhD, MPH Associate Dean for Research
Infrastructure. We are building key research infrastructure. This year we established tools for accessing dental data and procedures for using clinic spaces in research.
Partnerships. We helped establish School of Dentistry partnerships with diverse groups, including internal University of Utah researchers and strategic initiatives, and external philanthropic foundations, government offices, and industry partners.
Administration. We hired a senior Grants & Contracts Officer, and developed a comprehensive Research Guide to help faculty, students, and staff navigate research at the University.
TYPES OF SUPPORT
RESEARCH ADMINISTRATION
Financial management
Policies & procedures
Grants & contracts
Regulatory compliance
Tracking & reporting
University systems
PROJECT SUPPORT
26 NEW PROJECTS
We have provided essential support to launch 26 new clinical & translational studies at the School of Dentistry since our office was formed in 2023.
Study design
IRB applications
Data access & collection
Data analysis & statistics
Project management
Participant recruitment
Clinical research workflows
RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT
Strategic planning
Funding & grant writing
Infrastructure
Partnership building
Communication
Events & outreach
Faculty recruitment
Mentorship & training
Workforce development
Fabio Renato Manzolli Leite, DDS, MSc, PhD
Dr. Fabio Leite joins our faculty as a Professor of Population Health at the School of Dentistry and as a joint faculty recruit with the Diabetes & Metabolism Research Center.
Dr. Leite is a clinician-scientist who has shown that oral health reflects systemic dysregulation, environmental exposures, and social vulnerability. He joins us from Duke-NUS Medical School and National Dental Centre Singapore, where he led the Singapore Oral Multi-Omics Initiative and served as Director for Basic and Translational Research.
His research bridges molecular biology, clinical care, and public health. He has advanced our understanding of how harmful exposures—from metabolic conditions like diabetes and dyslipidemia to
diet, pesticides, and pollution—shape health. He has also explored new therapeutic strategies for periodontitis and developed diagnostics and predictive models for oral and systemic conditions.
During his Master’s and PhD training, he investigated molecular pathways in periodontitis and their links to chronic systemic diseases. As a dentist, scientist, and educator, Dr. Leite is committed to interdisciplinary collaboration and to research that advances practice and improves patient outcomes.
At the University of Utah, Dr. Leite will build on this work to study infectious and noninfectious components of diseases and create predictive models and diagnostic tools with direct impact on population health.
My work at the U will strengthen health systems, inform policy, and create solutions for early intervention, positioning oral health at the forefront of chronic disease prevention. I am excited to help shape the future of oral health research and education in this vibrant community.
- Dr. Fabio Leite
NEW FACULTY WELCOMING
Gustavo G. Nascimento, DDS, MPH, PhD
Dr. Gustavo Nascimento is an internationally recognized scientist who joins our faculty as a Professor of Population Health at the School of Dentistry and a joint faculty recruit with the Digital Health Initiative.
Dr. Nascimento helped pioneer the study of oral health as an essential component of systemic well-being—deeply shaped by social, economic, and environmental determinants. He has made sustained, highimpact contributions to the fields of oral epidemiology and oral-systemic health, and is now moving toward digital health and implementation science. He holds several editorial board positions with scientific journals, and received a Distinguished Scientist - Young Investigator Award from
the International Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research, among other top honors.
Dr. Nascimento is a dentist with a PhD in Oral Epidemiology with a focus on Periodontology. He joins us from Duke-NUS Medical School and National Dental Research Institute in Singapore, where he served as Director for International Affairs.
At the University of Utah, Dr. Nascimento plans to integrate medical, dental, and population-level data to create tools for disease prediction and surveillance, and to develop and implement clinical and health system tools that improve care delivery.
At the U, I hope to support inclusive and innovative teaching, build global networks that advance population oral health, and help make the University of Utah School of Dentistry a recognized leader in translational oral health research.
- Dr. Gustavo Nascimento
FACULTY RECRUITMENT
Enihomo Obadan-Udoh, DDS, MPH, DMSc
I’m thrilled to join the University of Utah’s dental and digital health communities. The school’s commitment to innovation and population oral health aligns perfectly with my research vision. I look forward to working with new colleagues across disciplines to innovate and improve oral health outcomes for all populations.
- Dr. Enihomo Obadan-Udoh
Dr. Enihomo Obadan-Udoh joins our faculty as an Associate Professor of Population Health at the School of Dentistry and as a joint faculty recruit with the Digital Health Initiative. She brings an impressive background in dental public health, quality improvement, patient safety, and dental informatics.
Dr. Obadan-Udoh joins us from the University of California, San Francisco, where she established herself as a leading researcher in Oral Epidemiology and Dental Public Health, securing significant intramural and extramural grant funding.
Her previous work has focused on expanding oral health access for rural children in California through tele-dentistry, enhancing
dental education via practice-based research, and improving dental quality and safety by investigating diagnostic failures in dental practice.
She is a diplomate of the American Board of Dental Public Health and holds a dental degree, a master’s in public health, and a doctoral degree specializing in Oral Health Policy and Epidemiology from the Harvard School of Dental Medicine.
At the University of Utah, Dr. Obadan-Udoh will leverage digital health technology, bioinformatics, machine learning, and artificial intelligence to improve the quality & safety of dental care, promote access to dental care, and reduce oral health disparities.
PROPOSALS EXTRAMURAL FUNDING
EXTRAMURAL FUNDING PROPOSALS SUBMITTED*
We targeted diverse federal, industry, and philanthropic funding opportunities to support our growing oral health research and workforce development initiatives. Proposals totalled $12,522,867.
6 proposals by clinician faculty applying for their first extramural funding, with mentorship from the Office of Research.
6 proposals submitted to 5 distinct foundations - all potential new funders for the School of Dentistry.
5 proposals with community partners, underscoring our focus on community-engaged research.
2 cross-disciplinary proposals with MPIs from School of Dentistry and another department.
PROPOSED DOLLARS BY SPONSOR
PROPOSALS BY TOPIC
AWARDS
2.1 M DOLLARS AWARDED*
$1,500,000 $2,000,000 $2,500,000 $3,000,000
$1,000,000
Our faculty were awarded 7 grants & contracts totalling $2,116,455. Five of the 7 awards were new this year, and 2 were awarded to clinician faculty receiving their first research funding.
2 federal grants, including an 8-year NIH R35 award and a 5-year subcontract to an NIH U01 award.
2 industry contracts from sponsors GlycosBio and 3DIO, both new funders for School of Dentistry.
1 prestigious award for communitybased research from the American Association for Dental, Oral, & Craniofacial Research and the Delta Dental Institute.
DOLLARS BY SPONSOR
INTRAMURAL AWARDS RESEARCH FUNDING
Our faculty received seed grants from the University of Utah Vice President for Research (VPR) and the School of Dentistry to spark innovative new research, expand interdisciplinary collaboration, and lay the groundwork for extramural funding.
FY 2025 SCHOOL OF DENTISTRY SEED GRANTS
Dr. Heidi Iongi was awarded a School of Dentistry seed grant for her translational study “Evaluating Implementation Strategies to Improve Continuity of Oral Health Care for Diabetic Patients.” The project will help diabetic patients get referrals for dental care from primary care providers.
Dr. Xiaoyan Wang was awarded a School of Dentistry seed grant for her interdisciplinary proposal “Advancing Restorative Dentistry by Coupling Materials Characterization & Machine Learning.” The project is a collaborative effort with faculty in Materials Science & Engineering.
VPR INTERPROFESSIONAL EDUCATION SMALL GRANT
Drs. Maggie Liskutin and Sonja Raaum (Department of Internal Medicine) were awarded VPR Interprofessional Education funds to develop an integrated care training program for medical and dental students at the Rose Park Population Health Center.
VPR FACULTY SMALL GRANT
Drs. Martin Evers and Jerald Boseman were awarded the School of
Dentistry’s first ever VPR Faculty Small Grant to develop a testing stand that will be used to help determine the optimal sensor placement, geometry, and radiation dosage for a new 3D imaging system.
NOTABLE HONORS
Optimizing Population Oral Health
Dr. Brenda Heaton received an 8-year R35 award from the National Institute for Dental and Craniofacial Research through the Sustaining Outstanding Achievement in Research program.
The award recognizes Dr. Heaton’s impactful body of research, mentoring, and service, and represents a notable acheivement for the school.
School-based care at the West High School integrated clinic
Drs. Heidi Iongi and Jeri Bullock were recognized for their outstanding work in community-based integrated care. They received the prestigious Oral Health Equity Research Award from the American Association for Dental, Oral, & Craniofacial Research (AADOCR), sponsored by Delta Dental Institute.
Their project studies the impact of medical-dental integrated care for adolescents at the West High School Clinic. The award was presented at the AADOCR annual meeting in New York, NY.
Our faculty and students participated in 42 different studies across our five strategic priority areas, up 156% from 27 active studies in FY 2024.
Population Oral Health
Oral Health & Disease
Advancing Clinical Care
Innovation & Technology
Education & Workforce
*Active projects includes those with grant funding, an approved IRB, a publication, or ongoing data collection/analysis in FY 2025.
PARTICIPATING FACULTY PARTICIPATING STUDENTS
PUBLICATIONS
A major goal of the Office of Research is to grow our research funding prospects. In FY 2025, we prioritized support for new, unfunded and seed-funded projects to enhance their success and readiness for extramural funding.
We directly supported two-thirds (28) of the school’s active research projects, providing essential support for more than half (22).
Our most frequent support included study design, IRB assistance, study coordination, and administrative help with grants & contracts.
In FY25, the Office of Research directly supported two-thirds of the school’s active projects. We also indirectly strengthened research capacity by mentoring faculty, developing and streamlining processes, building data access tools, offering pre-research guidance, and fostering a research community.
COLLABORATORS & PARTNERS RESEARCH
UNIVERSITY OF UTAH
College of Nursing
Department of Biomedical Informatics
Department of Chemical Engineering
Department of Family & Preventive Medicine
Department of Geology & Geophysics
Department of Industrial Hygiene
Department of Internal Medicine
Department of Materials Science & Engineering
Department of Pediatrics
Department of Population Health Sciences
Department of Psychiatry
Department of Radiology & Imaging Sciences
Department of Surgery
Diabetes & Metabolism Research Center
Digital Health Initiative
Haumana ‘O Pasifika Program
Huntsman Mental Health Institute
Native American Summer Research Internship
GOVERNMENT AGENCIES
Bear River Health Department
Central Utah Public Health Department
Salt Lake City School District
Southeast Utah Health Department
Southwest Utah Public Health Department
Tooele County Health Department
TriCounty Health Department
Utah Department of Health & Human Services
Veterans Administration
47
COLLABORATORS
Collaborators and partners are vital for a strong research program. The School of Dentistry brings oral health expertise and clinical insight, while our partners bring complementary expertise from across the sciences, from the communities we serve, from our local government agencies, and from the dental industry.
EXTERNAL ACADEMIC COLLABORATORS
Boston University
Brigham Young University
Columbia University
Texas A&M University
University of Florida
University of Iowa
University of Kentucky
University of Louisville
INDUSTRY PARTNERS
Gilead Biosciences
GlycosBio
3DIO Inc
COMMUNITY PARTNERS
Asian Association of Utah
Catholic Community Services
Clinician’s Report
International Rescue Committee
Midvale Community Building Community
People’s Health Clinic
Utah Area Health Education Center
Utah Community Health Worker’s Assocation
4th Street Clinic
THE FUTURE OF ORAL HEALTH
We believe that including research in dental education is essential to prepare outstanding dental professionals, to accelerate innovation & discovery, and ultimately, to improve health outcomes for everyone.
WORKFORCE GOALS
Integrate research and evidencebased principles into every stage of dental education
Bring oral health training & awareness to other health & science disciplines
Prepare dental professionals to practice population-focused care that helps communities
Create new oral health career pathways
WORKFORCE ROADMAP
Dental Admissions Preparatory Program (DAPP)
Established in 2023, the DAPP helps pre-dental students from many communities prepare and get accepted to dental school. Four students have participated to date.
Research Pathway for DDS Students
The Research Pathway enables DDS students to receive academic credit and mentorship for research activities during dental school. Fourteen students have participated to date.
Resarch Curricula for Dental Training Programs
We are developing didactic courses to teach scientific principles to trainees. In FY 2025, a new Population Health course was launched - all D1 students participated.
Specialty Residency Programs
We are supporting research activities for planned specialty residencies, including Periodontics, Endodontics, Oral Maxilofacial Surgery, and Dental Public Health.
Master of Science in Clinical Investigation (MSCI) Scholars Program
The School of Dentistry supports 1-2 new faculty per year to complete their MSCI degree. Four faculty have been selected to date, with the first two graduating in FY 2026.
Dual Degree Pathways
We are developing pathways for DDS students and future residents to earn a Master’s degree in Public Health or Biomedical Engineering.
HIGHLIGHTS WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
DENTAL ADMISSIONS PREPARATORY PROGRAM (DAPP) FOR UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS
We partnered with DAPP and two University of Utah Undergraduate Research Programs to place pre-dental undergraduate students in summer research internships at the School of Dentistry. DAPP also provides individual mentorship, personal statement workshops, clinical shadowing, and simulation lab experience.
Dr. Carter Bruett, Director for Pre-Dental Programs, reports that DAPP students saw increases of 30% in shadowing hours, 13% in leadership skills, and 23% in interview confidence. They also reported a 10% decrease in perceived barriers related
“Through research, I’ve gained problem-solving skills, learned to ask effective questions and developed a broader, more thoughtful approach to dentistry.”
- Nizhoni Porter
to cultural, socioeconomic, or academic backgrounds.
“There is something incredible about watching students gain confidence and energy for dentistry, especially when they contribute to cutting-edge research,” says Bruett.
Four students have participated in the program since it launched in 2023 - three continued research after their summer internships, one was accepted to dental school, one was accepted into a dental pre-admission program, and two are now applying.
“ Doing research has prepared me to be a more compassionate provider and taught me how important it is to focus on people, not procedures.”
- Numia Kennerley
“ I’ve received personalized mentorship that has reshaped how I view dentistry, medicine, and my own professional path.”
- Asher Barnum
RESEARCH PATHWAYS PROGRAM FOR DOCTOR OF DENTAL SURGERY (DDS) STUDENTS
The Research Pathway enables DDS students to earn academic credit for research, supported by faculty mentorship and study design and implementation guidance from the Office of Research.
In FY 2025, D4 student Kendall Block, mentored by Dr. David Okano, helped design and launch a pilot clinical trial investigating whether placental membrane wound coverings can reduce pain and improve outcomes after periodontal surgeries. She presented her work at Research Day.
Block has now graduated and the project continues with new Research Pathway students contributing to its progress.
MASTER OF SCIENCE IN CLINICAL INVESTIGATION (MSCI) SCHOLARS PROGRAM FOR FACULTY
The MSCI program trains clinician faculty in principles and practice of translational research. Since 2023, the School of Dentistry has selected 1-2 clinical faculty per year to receive scientific mentorship and financial support to complete the program.
In FY 2025, Dr. Xiaoyan Wang was selected as the 4 th School of Dentistry MSCI Scholar, joining Drs. Marcy Rogers, Jeri Bullock, and Heidi Iongi.
Drs. Bullock and Rogers, selected in FY 2023, are on track to graduate in FY 2026.
D4 student Kendall Block presents her work at the 2025 Research Day event.
RESEARCH DAY 2025
The Office of Research joined forces with the Office of Education to host our third annual Research Day at the SJ Quinney College of Law in April.
This year’s Research Day was our largest yet, with clinics closed to enable full participation across the school. The program featured two oral presentation sessions and a poster session, highlighting the work of 21 faculty members, 59 dental students, and 4 staff members.
Students in the periodontics and prosthodontics pathways presented case reports alongside faculty-led research presentations.
29 POSTERS
8 TALKS
A highlight of the day was the poster session, which included 29 posters and formal judging.
The event reflected the continued growth and diversity of our research program and underscored the importance of providing meaningful research opportunities for dental trainees - experiences that support their transition to evidence-based clinical practice.
59 STUDENT PRESENTERS
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
We were delighted to welcome Dr. Jane Weintraub, DDS, MPH, a Distinguished Professor and former Dean at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Adams School of Dentistry as our keynote speaker.
She presented “The Hunt to Understand & Prevent Oral Disease: Clinical Trials, Tribulations, and Other Research Adventures.”
POSTER CONTEST
BEST VISUAL DESIGN
Brenden Jones & Nick Petersen Mucous Membrane Pemphigoid
BEST ORAL PRESENTATION
Chinedu Ahanonu & Gabriella Gonzalez
Brief Overview of Dental Care for the Incarcerated in Utah
BEST PROJECT OR CASE STUDY
Diane Donaldson & Reese Fredericksen
AI in Orthodontics: Productive or Problematic?
OVERALL WINNER & SCADA AWARDEE
Hayden O’Dell
Evaluating Long-term Patient Outcomes
Following Lip Switch Vestibuloplasty (LSV) and Implant-Retained Overdenture
As the School of Dentistry’s Student Competition for Advancing Dental Research & its Application (SCADA) winner, Hayden will represent the School of Dentistry at the 2026 American Association for Dental, Oral and Craniofacial Research Conference in San Diego, CA.
