Jayesh Patel Presents at the 21st Annual Hinman Symposium
Jayesh Patel DMD 18 represented the Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (GSDM) at the 21st Annual Hinman Student Research Symposium in Memphis, Tennessee, which took place from October 30 to November 1, 2015. The Hinman Research Symposium is a national meeting that highlights the research of dental and graduate students from schools across the nation.
Patel presented his poster, “Kava Treatment Reduced Porphyromonas gingivalis-Induced Alveolar Bone Loss,” on Saturday, October 31. He was mentored in his research by Dr. Salomon Amar, Professor in the Department of Molecular & Cell Biology and the Department of Periodontology, and Director of the Center for Anti-inflammatory Therapeutics. The paper’s other co-authors are Abdulsalam Alshammari MSD/PERIO 2017, and Jacob Al-Hashemi DScD/ENDO 2019. Currently, the same team is preparing a paper on the same topic.
Patel’s paper used a quantitative approach to measure alveolar bone loss and osteoclastic activity in mice infected with Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis), a pathogen in chronic periodontitis. Kava, a compound extracted from the Kavain plant shown to have anti-inflammatory effects, was administered to the treatment group of mice. Mice that received treatment after infection showed a significant decrease in bone loss and osteoclastic activity, while mice that received a preventative treatment showed even more significant decreases. This research is promising, suggesting that further modification of Kava could yield a more effective mediator of inflammation in periodontitis.
“I would like to thank my mentor, Dr. Salomon Amar, as well as the Office of Research at the Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine, for providing me with the opportunity to present at this year’s Hinman Research Symposium,” Jayesh Patel said. “The conference was an amazing experience that further solidified my belief that dental schools should continue to encourage active student research participation to further advance the field of dentistry.”
Patel started his research training at GSDM during his Apex rotation under the Intensive Research Elective Course IREC1. He continues to do research under Dr. Amar’s mentorship during IREC2 and serves as the Secretary of the Student Research Group at GSDM, a chapter of the National Student Research Group.
“Jayesh Patel is a very hard worker and very dedicated,” said Dr. Amar. “I’m very pleased to have him in my group.”
Dean Jeffrey W. Hutter praised Patel for a successful presentation. “I would like to congratulate Jayesh Patel for a wonderful job presenting his research at the Annual Hinman Symposium,” said Dean Hutter. “Our students continue to impress me with the diligence they demonstrate while working on research projects.”
GSDM students have participated in the Hinman Student Research Symposium for the past several years and many have received awards for their work. GSDM participants from previous years include Nicolas Branshaw DMD 16 (2014 presenter); Mohamed Bayoumy DMD 16 (2013 presenter); Sultan Muhammed DMD 13 (2011 presenter); and Jeffrey Clark DMD 11 (2009 presenter).