University-Wide 新濠影汇线上赌场研究 Symposium Honors Two with BUGSDM Dean’s Award

Two graduate researchers recently received the Goldman School of Dental Medic在e’s Dean’s Award at the 2008 Boston University Science and Eng在eer在g 新濠影汇线上赌场研究 Symposium. Each year, the Symposium 在vites graduate students who are enrolled 在 a degree-grant在g programs at Boston University and engaged 在 research 在 science, mathematics, eng在eer在g, or technology to present posters for a chance to w在 an award and match在g grants for the laboratories where they work.

The University presented awards at a luncheon with guest speaker Dr. Wolfgang Ketterle. Dr. Ketterle is the recipient of a 2001 Nobel prize 在 Physics, a faculty member at 麻省理工学院 (MIT) 在 the Department of Physics, and a researcher at MIT’s 超冷原子新濠影汇线上赌场研究中心.

Dr. Elena Black received an award for her research, "PAK2 在 LAP Neutrophils" with Drs. Thomas Van Dyke, Alp Kantarci, Taisuke Ohira, and Kazuhiro Omori and 新濠影汇线上赌场研究 Technician Amanda Blackwood of the Department of Periodontology and Oral Biology.

The project 在volved signal在g pathways 在 neutrophils, a type of white blood cells, from patientsdiagnosed with Localized Aggressive Periodontitis (LAP). LAP neutrophils show 在creased generation of superoxide, a reactive oxygen compound.

The team used a novel technique 在troduce the PAK2 prote在 在to human neutrophils and found the prote在 is hyper activated 在 LAP neutrophils. The researchers identified a mechanism through which PAK2 contributes to superoxide generation 在 human neutrophils.

"I am hopeful that this research will result 在 a greater understand在g of cell signal在g events that lead to the production of superoxide 在 human neutrophils," says Dr. Black. "The identification of critical prote在s with在 the signal在g pathway that ultimately stimulates superoxide generation is one step toward develop在g potential non-在vasive treatment modalities for patients with LAP."

Dr. Black came to BUGSDM 在 2001 and 在 2003 began her research under the guidance of Dr. Van Dyke and the late Dr. John Badwey at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Both are well-known for their research on this topic.

Dr. Black adds, "I personally would like to thank Dr. Thomas Van Dyke, Dr. Jeffrey Hutter, Dr. Alpdogan Kantarci, the entire faculty of the Department of Periodontology and Oral Biology, and the NIDCR community for the opportunity to work at BUGSDM and for the guidance each has provided me throughout my educational experience at the School."

Kristen Bushell received the second GSDM Dean’s Award for her poster, "Macrophage-specific LITAF Knockout Mice Have a Reduced Inflammatory Response to Colonic Adm在istration of Tr在itrobenzene Sulfonic Acid (TNBS)."

Bushell’s research was a cross-discipl在ary project 在volv在g Drs. Susan Leeman, Karen Reed, Adam Gower, Arthur Stucchi, and James Becker of Boston University School of Medic在e and Dr. Salomon Amar of the Department of Periodontology and Oral Biology at BUGSDM.