Roseman Hosts 11th Annual Research Symposium

On Wednesday, February 19, Roseman University hosted its Annual Research Symposium at the Henderson and South Jordan campuses.

This symposium included 2 keynote addresses, 7 podium presentations, and 298 posters by students and professionals from 38 institutions around the world. Of the nearly 300 participants, 16 were awarded for their outstanding research including 4 College of Dental Medicine students: Aman Kaur (DMD Class of 2027), Derrek Bush (AEODO Class of 2025), Jacob Schvaneveldt (AEODO Class of 2024), and Logan Ponder (DMD Class of 2026).

Since its inception, 11 years ago, this symposium has been a place where Roseman University celebrates young researchers as they collaborate, discover, and innovate in their respective fields.

“Research is the foundation of progress,” explained Symposium Chair Dr. Shankargouda Patil. “This symposium serves as a platform to showcase groundbreaking ideas, foster meaningful discussions, and inspire the next generation of scholars.”

The symposium began with a poster session in which students shared their research and answered questions. For the symposium chairs, this was the highlight of the evening.

“The most rewarding aspect of chairing the symposium was witnessing the diverse and high-quality research presented by students from multiple disciplines and institutions,” Dr. Patil shared. “It was particularly exciting to see the enthusiasm of young researchers, the exchange of ideas, and the collaboration fostered among participants from different academic backgrounds and countries.”

Following the poster session, keynote speakers Dr. Ajay P. Singh and Dr. Tim Wright addressed the symposium.

At the Henderson conference, Dr. Ajay P. Singh, professor of cell and molecular biology at the University of Mississippi Medical Center and associate director of basic and translational research at the Cancer Center and Research Institute, shared a presentation entitled “Decoding cancer mechanisms: uncovering novel biomarkers and therapeutic targets.” In his address, he discussed his recent cancer research and what he’s learned about the disease’s progression.

“With the cancer incidence rising and more and more cancers developing therapeutic resistance, it was a very relevant topic,” remarked Symposium Chair Dr. Ranjana Mitra.

She added, “Dr. Singh’s talk provided valuable insights into the underlying mechanisms of cancer progression and highlighted the urgent need for innovative biomarkers and targeted therapies. His research not only advances our scientific understanding but also offers hope for developing more effective treatment strategies for patients facing resistant cancers.”

Professor at University of North Carolina at Chappel Hill and Editor in Chief of the Journal of American Dental Association, Dr. Tim Wright, addressed the South Jordan campus. In his presentation, “Development of The Dentition: The Good, Bad and Ugly” he explained how teeth form and how to diagnose and treat genetic disorders that affect dentin.

“[Dr. Wright] provided a comprehensive and engaging overview of the complexities involved in dental development, covering both the normal processes and the challenges that can arise,” recalled Dr. Patil. “This offered valuable insights for our students, giving them a deeper understanding of the various factors that influence dental health.”

Dr. Patil continued, “Additionally, his presentation highlighted the real-world implications of dental development, helping students recognize the importance of early intervention and the potential impact on long-term patient care.”

After the keynote speakers’ remarks, 7 researchers were invited to the podium to share their findings.

• Gabriel Eisenhuth, Roseman University, College of Dental Medicine
  “Comparative Analysis of Performance and Reliability of Four AI Large Language Models in Orthodontic Knowledge Evaluation”
• Jeremy Kasik, Roseman University, College of Dental Medicine (AEODO class of 2026)
  “Comparison of Minimally Invasive Treatment Modalities for Post Orthodontic White Spot Lesions”
• Justin Sigmund, Touro University, College of Medicine
  “Comparative Analysis of Buprenorphine and Buprenorphine-Naloxone treatment on adherence”
• Kelly Chung, Roseman University, College of Pharmacy
  “Environmental Parasite Contamination: A Study Evaluating Soil in Urban Dog Parks”
• Matthew Thomson, Noorda College of Osteopathic Medicine
  “Physiological Biomarkers in Generalized Anxiety Disorder: Wearable Devices Integration”
• Omar Badawi, University of Saskatchewan (Canada)
  “Evaluation of Nasal Airway Volume in Adults after Maxillary Expansion with Clear Aligners”
• Sarah Ngo, Noorda College of Osteopathic Medicine
  “Prevention of Melanoma Growth and Invasion by Lipophilic Vitamin B1 Derivatives”

At the end of the evening, the symposium chairs presented awards. Please join us in congratulating these incredible researchers!

1st Place

• Derrick Bush, Roseman University College of Dental Medicine
  “Hidden pathologies: The diagnostic benefits of a CBCT on craniofacial diagnosis”
  Contributors: Derrick Bush and Kimberly-Jones Rudolph
• Edward Ramirez, Roseman University, College of Pharmacy (Class of 2024)
  “The impact of N-Acetylcysteine in non-acetaminophen-induced acute liver failure: A retrospective analysis” (in progress).
• Mason Terry, Noorda College of Osteopathic Medicine
  “Use of Synthetic Water-Soluble KCC2 to Modulate Chloride Homeostasis in Cultured Dopamine-Neuron-Like Cells”
• Samah Olomi, Touro University College of Medicine

  “From AI to OSCE: Evaluating ChatGPT’s contributions to medical student training”

• William Ho, Noorda College of Osteopathic Medicine
  “Small Molecule Direct Agonist Identifies Potential Binding Sites for Modulating Behaviors Associated with Substances of Abuse”

2nd Place

• Aman Preet Kaur, Roseman University College of Dental Medicine
  “Temporary Anchorage Devices: The Cornerstone of Precision in Orthodontics”
  Contributors: Aman Preet Kaur, Shilpa H. Bhandi, Frank W. Licari, and Shankargouda Patil
• Jennifer Bermudez, Roseman University, College of Graduate Studies (Class of 2026)
  “The benefits of probiotic and prebiotic use in the gastrointestinal tract primarily focused on Bacillus coagulans and β-glucans for potential synergistic effects on beneficially modulating the GI tract and microbiome in humans” (in progress).
• Lilian Huynh, Roseman University College of Pharmacy (Class of 2025)
  “Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy: A case of the broken heart”
• Maia Stokes, Mountain View Hospital
  “N-acetylcysteine in non-acetaminophen induced acute liver failure (NAI-ALF): A retrospective analysis of outcomes and treatment efficacy”
• Tallon Muhlestein, Noorda College of Osteopathic Medicine
  “Blunt and Penetrating Trauma in Resource-Limited Settings: Challenges, Innovations, and Opportunities for Improvement”

3rd Place

• Austin Mullaly, Touro University College of Medicine
  “A review of total hip arthroplasty dual mobility constructs from conception to outcomes”
• Giovanna Park, Touro University, College of Medicine
  “Fecal Virome Transplantation as treatment for Metabolic Syndrome: A review of current literature” (in progress).
• Jacob Schvaneveldt, Roseman University College of Dental Medicine
  “Microabrasion for post orthodontic discoloration”
  Contributors: Jacob Schvaneveldt, Caden Probert (Class of 2026), and Val J. Cheever
• Kyle Dahlmeier, Roseman University College of Graduate Studies (Class of 2025)
  “Phage Therapy: Potential Applications in Oral Health and Biofilm Control”
• Logan Ponder, Roseman University College of Dental Medicine
  “RAGE Signaling in Smoke-Induced Chronic Sinusitis: Inflammation and Therapeutic Targets”
  Contributors: Logan Ponder, Ryan Kinney (Class of 2026), Ankita Chatterjee (Class of 2026), Kristina Vu (Class of 2026), Harishma Sidhu (Class of 2026), Neha Patel (Class of 2026), Juan A. Arroyo, and Paul R. Reynolds

Special Certificate

• Parv Kale, Waterford High School
  “Retrospective Analysis of Angiotensin Receptor Blockers and Knee Cartilage Volume in Osteoarthritis: Evidence from the Osteoarthritis Initiative”

Since its humble beginnings in 2014, the symposium has grown tremendously. This progress would not be possible without our visionary symposium chairs Dr. Ranjana Mitra and Dr. Shankargouda Patil. Please join us in thanking them for serving as this year’s symposium chairs.