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$50,000 in 2025

Past Research Grants Awarded

Each year, monies are set aside to fund the Research Project. Applications are solicited from Canadian Dental Schools and hospitals for the funding of research into dental and dentally repeated interests. The foundation is kept apprised of progress and suitable acknowledgement and recognition is given, in any publications or presentations made by the recipients. The grants committee is made up of 4 members: Guy Aboodi (Ontario), Riley Lewis (Ontario), and Jonathan Albilia (Quebec) reachable via grantapplication@aofoundation.ca.

Eleven worthy projects were awarded in 2023:

Name	School	Research Title
Sarah Boucenna	McGill	Use of extracellular vesicles as a way to deliver biologically active molecules to beta-cells and immune cells in T1D patients
Dempsey Wood	UofT	The effects of periodontitis on oral antibiotic resistance genes
Omnia Elebyary	UofT	The role of innate immune memory on the development of engraftment syndrome in bone marrow transplant recipients
Meenakshi Pundir	Laval	Designing an aptamer-based biosensor for real-time multiplex detection of salivary biomarkers for screening oral diseases
Brian Wong	UofT	Quantifying and Characterizing the Oral Microbiome in States of Health, Gingivitis, and Periodontal Disease
Mary Amure	McGill	Oral Co-infection with Multiple alpha-human papillomavirus and Head and Neck Cancer Risk
Theerthika Dillibabu	McGill	The Risk of Head and Neck Cancer among Solid Organ Transplant Recipients
Abdalgader Alhozgi	UBC	Determinants of Occlusal Changes in Oral Appliance Treatment of OSA – A Randomized Controlled Trial
Yuval Peled	UofT	Investigating neutrophil's degradative mechanism toward resin-based restoratives and dentin
Praveen Bhoopathi Haricharan	McGill	Elucidating the role of Oral Health towards Cognitive Impairment: Analysis of the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA) database
Danielle Stein	UofT	Photomechanical investigation on the impact of endodontic cavity design on the biomechanical response in mandibular first molar and premolar teeth

Seven worthy projects were awarded in 2022:

Kwang Ho (Kyle) Kim, University of Alberta: Research waste in orthodontics
Zahra Abbasiparashkouh, University of British Columbia: Physical, Chemical, and Antimicrobial Properties of a Dental Resin Loaded with ZnO Nanoparticles and Riboflavin for Photodynamic Therapy Applications
Abdalgader Alhozgi, University of British Columbia: Determinants of Occlusal Changes in Oral Appliance Treatment of OSA – A Randomized Controlled Trial
Christina Sperou, University of Toronto: Survival to Reintervention Rates and Predictive Variables of Endodontic Treatment: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Steve Chang, University of Toronto: Assessment of Systemic Inflammatory Load Associated with Peri-Health and Peri-implant Diseases
Hetal Desai, University of Toronto: Development of topical medicaments for caries management
Zachary Gouveia, University of Toronto: Development of Novel Biostable Dental Resins

Six worthy projects were awarded in 2021:

Omnia Elebyary, University of Toronto: Oral inflammation as a tool to understand the debilitating side effects of bone marrow transplantation in patients with leukemia
Zach Gouveia, University of Toronto: Development of Novel Biostable Dental Resins
Yihan Li, University of Toronto: Self-assembled nano composite coatings for controlled peri-implant drug delivery
Kwang Ho (Kyle) Kim, University of Toronto: Efficacy of the GentleWave system to remove biofilm from infected root canal system before or after minimal instrumentation
Brian Wong, University of Toronto: Quantifying and Characterizing the Oral Microbiome in States of Health, Gingivitis, and Periodontal Disease
Rima Siauciunaite, University of Saskachewan: Mechanisms Linking Circadian Clock Disruption and HNC

Nine worthy projects were awarded in 2020:

Cameron Stewart, University of Toronto: Self-assembled coatings for controlled peri-implant drug delivery.
Faez Al-hamed, McGill University: Differences in platelet concentrates (PCs) composition influence bone healing.
Fang-Chi (Alice) Li, University of Toronto: Deciphering macrophage - stem cell from apical papilla (SCAP) choreography in a novel 3D tissue graft model.
Sonia Huang, University of Toronto: Neutrophils responses to multispecies oral biofilms.
Zach Gouveia, University of Torotno: Development of Novel Biostable Dental Resins.
Farinaz Ketabat, University of Saskachewan: Development of a Novel Drug Delivery System Based on Circadian Profile for Head and Neck Cancer Treatment.
Babatunde Alli, McGill University: Chemoprevention of HPV-related HNCs: A translational approach.
Tomas Vilde, University of Toronto: An accelerated aging protocol based on thermomechanical and biochemical challenges for dental bonding agent development.
Meenakshi Pundir, University of Saskachewan: Development of a non-invasive biosensors for detecting salivary biomarkers linked to circadian rhythm disruption.

Eleven worthy projects were awarded in 2019:

Leah Mender, University of Toronto: Comparison between intranasal midazolam and dexmedetomidine for procedural sedation in pediatric dental patients.
Qiman Gao, McGill University: Needle-free Dental Anesthesia Technique: From Laboratory to Dental clinic.
Iris Lin, University of British Columbia: Oral Dysplasia and Immune Cell Spatial Relationships: Potential Indicators of Malignant Progression.
Meenakshi Pundir, University of Saskatchewan: Development of a non-invasive biosensor for detecting salivary biomarkers linked to circadian rhythm disruption.
Farinaz Ketabat, University of Saskatchewan: Development of a Novel Drug Delivery System Based on Circadian Profile for Head and Neck Cancer Treatment.
Silvia Gianoni-Capenakas, University of Alberta: Skeletal, Dental, and Upper Airway changes in skeletal Class II devision 1 patients with the constricted Mx treated with Twin Block and Hyrax.
Faez Al-hamed, McGill University: How blood aging affects the bone regenerative potential of platelet rich plasm (PRP)?
Wenji Cai, McGill University: The electrochemical properties of titanium implants to eliminate pathological biofilm while preserving their osteointegration.
Rana Badewy, University of Toronto: The Association Between Maternal Oral Inflammation and The Composition of Breast Milk: A cross-sectional study.
Fatemeh Mohabatpour, University of Saskatchewan: Regeneration of the enamel-dentin tissue using a 3D printed dual-compartment scaffold.
Zohre Gheisary, University of Saskatchewan: Lifestyle traits effect on microbiome population and the circadian clock in patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Nine worthy projects were awarded in 2018:

Dr. Harsimrat Kaur, University of Alberta: An in-vitro study to evalud by clear aligners in full arch mechanics.
Dr. Faez Al-hamed, McGill University: Effect of serotonin depletion and FXIII-A enrichment on the bone healing properities of platelet.
Dr. Madhurima Datta, University of British Colombia: A computer facilitated non-invasive approach to detect potentially malignant lesions in the oral cavity using alterations in cell DNA quantity and organization.
Dr. Iris Lin, University of British Columbial: Malignant Potential of Oral Lichen Planus.
Dr. Patricia Brooks, University of Toronto: Multinucleated giant cell formation.
Dr. Petros Kechagioglou, University of Saskatchewan: Improving clinical outcomes through personalized diagonsis of human papillomavirus related to oral cancer: a pilot in vitro study.
Dr. Farinaz Ketabat, University of Saskatchewan: Biomedical applications of injectable hydrogels for intra-tumoral drug delivery and assessment of combination of anticancer drugs in oral cancer.
Dr. Fatemeh Mohabatpour, University of Saskatchewan: Regeneration of the enamel-dentin tissue using a 3D printed dual-compartment scaffold.
Dr. Meenakshi Pundir, University of Saskatchewan: Non-invasive Saliva based Biosensor for early oral disease detection using oral cavity as a sensing site.

Thirteen worthy projects were awarded in 2017:

Dr. Claudie Laprise, McGill University: Human papillomavirus and head and neck cancers: a lifecourse epidemiologic approach.
Dr. Haider Al-Waeli, McGill University: Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs' Chronotherapy could enhance post operative recovery of bone fracture surgery
Dr. Raquel V Rodrigues, University of British Colombia: Approaches for increasing durability of hybridized mineralized tissues.
Dr. George Dinh-Khang Le, Universit? de Montreal: Evaluation of the effects of osteoperforation and piezocorticision on canine retraction: Randomized controlled clinical trial.
Dr. Morvarid Oveisi, University of Toronto: Development of a novel technique to be able to detect neutrophil activation phenotypes in response to specific oral commensal and oral pathogenic bacteria.
Dr. Zeeshan Sheikh, University of Toronto: Development of a novel weight bearing bone biomaterial of calcium polyphosphate (CPP) infiltrated with dicalcium phosphate containing a bone anabolic drug for use in maxillofacial and orthopedic surgical applications.
Dr. Petros Kechagioglou, University of Saskatchewan: Improving clinical outcomes through personalized diagnosis of human papillomavirus related to oral cancer: a pilot in vitro study.
Dr. Mohammed AL Saloum, University of British Colombia: Marginal fit of CEREC E.max and Celtra duo crowns.
Dr. Zahra Dorna Mojdami, University of Toronto: Correlation Between Clinical Periodontal Parameters, Periodontal Biological Markers & Self Perceived Oral Health Status in Type 1 & Type 2 Diabetic Patients: A Cross Sectional Study
Dr. Rebecca Chan, University of Toronto: Micro-computed tomography evaluation of the efficacy of hard-tissue removal from the root canal and isthmus area by the Gentlewave system.
Dr. Anca Serbanescu, University of Toronto: Effect of Metronidazole in Modulation of Neutrophil Activity Against Periodontal Pathogens.
Dr. Jocelyne Shim, University of Toronto: Impact of orthodontic finishing on masticatory performance.
Dr. Fatemeh Mohabatpour, University of Saskatchewan: Regeneration of the enamel-dentin tissue using a 3D printed dual-compartment scaffold.

Ten worthy projects were awarded in 2016:

Dr. Mahmood Abu Ruja, University of Toronto: Improving bond strength to zirconia - characterization of the material after different surface treatment methods.
Dr. Mohamed El-Rabbany, University of Toronto: A critical evaluation of the therapeutic efficacies of current Medication-Related Osteonecrosis of the Jaw (MRONJ) management strategies: a retrospective cohort study.
Dr. Aaron Fox, University of Toronto: Artificial vertical root fracture detection in endodontically treated single-rooted teeth using a root filling material with reduced beam hardening artefact and cone beam computed topography imaging.
Dr. Jacqueline Lopez-Gross, University of Toronto: Astroglial plasticity within the rat orafacial sensorimotor cortex after endodontic treatment vs. tooth extraction.
Dr. Turney McKee, McGill University: Regulation of pro-inflammatory macrophages by fibrillin-1: potential role in periodontitis.
Dr. Corey Ng, University of Toronto: The prevalence of dental and skeletal malocclusions in children with obstructive sleep apnea and the effects of positive airway pressure therapy on the skeletal base in those with down syndrome or obesity.
Dr. Ouliana Oguienko, University of Toronto: Mechanical properties of graded thermodynamic nickel titanium archwires in bending and torsion.
Dr. Zeeshan Sheikh, University of Toronto: A novel strategy for treating peri-implant disease by immuno-modulatory polyurethane biomaterials.
Dr. Cameron Stewart, University of Toronto: Novel drug-templated mesoporous silica for dental adhesive applications.
Dr. Farzeen Tanwir, University of Toronto: Identification of Novel Neutrophil Phenotypes associated with infection susceptibility in Pediatric Neutropenia.

Fourteen worthy projects were awarded in 2015:

Dr. Maryam Elyasi, University of Alberta: OModelling the theory of planned behaviour to improve adherence to oral health preventive measures in preschool children.
Ms. Leigha Rock , University of British Colombia: Can toluidine blue uptake predict malignant progression of low grade oral lesions?
Dr. Luisa Schuldt, University of British Colombia: disinfection of dental implant surface by Leukocyte-Platelet rich fibrin.
Dr. Mohamed Al-Saleh, University of Alberta: Assessment of Temporomandibular Joint internal derangement using MRI-CBCT image registration.
Dr. Yuli Berlin-Broner, University of Alberta: Association between apical periodontitis and atherosclerosis.
Dr. Matthew Kotyk, University of Manitoba: Dental, Skeletal and growth effects of malocclusion treate with the van Beek headgear activator and comprehensive fixed orthodontic appliances.
Dr. Faryn Berger , University of Toronto: resveratrol effect on oral inflammatory load in chronic periodontitis.
Dr. Amarjot Singh , McGill University: the DNA methylation signature in orofacial neuropathic pain patients.
Dr. Amarjot Singh , McGill University: the DNA methylation signature in orofacial neuropathic pain patients.
Dr. Zeeshan Sheikh, University of Toronto: Monetite cement grafts loade with a novel C3 conjugate drug to achieve more predictable and greater bone regeneration.
Dr. Annie Shrestha, University of Toronto: dentin conditioning with functionalized bioactive nanoparticles for tissue integration.
Dr. Harsimrat Kaur, McGill University: Role of Salivary cytokines and severe pain after breast cancer surgery.
Dr. Eri Ikeda, University of Toronto: esveratrol dimer (Melinjo) induces healing of experimental periodontitis in a mouse model.
Dr. Ralph Dana, University of Toronto: treatment of non-traumatic dental emergencies by family and emergency physicans.

Five worthy projects were awarded in 2014:

Dr. Guy Aboodi, University of Toronto: Oxidative stress: A key player in the host response to periodontal diseases.
Dr. Ashwaq Al-Hashedi , McGill University: Titanium implant decontamination.
Dr. Kelvin Afrashtehfar, McGill University: Creation of a knowledge translation tool in Restorative Dentistry.
Dr. Siavash Hassanpour, University of Toronto: Characterization of local and systemic neutrophils in health and disease.
Dr. Harsimrat Kaur, McGill University: Salivary cytokines and severe pain after breast cancer surgery: A productive insight.

Seven worthy projects were awarded in 2013:

Dr. Guy Aboodi, University of Toronto: The oral innate immune response during periodontal disease.
Dr. Andrei Lonescu, University of Toronto: To develop a protocol for the delivery of charged antimicrobial nanoparticles in suspension through the portals of exit of a root canalsystem and into the periapical tissue using custom electric fields
Dr. Kerry D'Costa, University of Toronto: MMP cleaved fetuin may lose its ability to inhibit TGF-Beta and BMP-2 activity.
Dr. Jason Yee, University of Toronto: The impact of maternal oral inflammation on the neonatal quality of life.
Dr. Sebastien Dostie, University of British Columbia: Disinfection of Straumann SLA dental implants colonized by multispecies oral biofilm.
Dr. Mohamed ElSalhy, University of Alberta: Roles of DMP-1 in root resorption after dental trauma.
Dr. Humam Saltaji, University of Alberta: Methodological Characteristics and treatment effect sizes in oral health randomized controlled trials: is there a relationship?

Five worthy projects were awarded in 2012:

Dr. Guy Aboodi, University of Toronto: The oral innate immune response during periodontal disease.
Dr. Abbasali Hassanali, University of Toronto: Role of Filamin A in mechanical protection of periodontal tissue.
Dr. Flavia Lakschevitz, University of Toronto: Phenotypic changes in neutrophils from blood to oral cavity in periodonal patients.
Dr. Gillian Layton, University of Toronto: Understanding fluid dynamics in conventional and two ultrasonic irrigation methods using a novel experimental approach.
Dr. Quyen Su, University of Toronto: Genomic loci involved in alveolar bone loss and neutrophil recruitment in AXB/BXA inbred mice.

Four worthy projects were awarded in 2011:

Dr. Michael Major, University of Alberta: Evaluation of CBCT imaging for dianosing adenoid hypertrophy and deviated nasal septum.
Dr. Anousheh Pesadmehr, University of Toronto: An in vitro evaluation on the ability of a biologically active nano-carrier based photodynamic therapy to stabilize dentin matrix metalloproteinases.
Dr. Tom Wierzbicki, University of Manitoba: Cytokine and Prostaglandin Expression in Primary HUman Osteoblasts UNder Inlammatory Conditions.
Dr. Rajan Saini, University of British Colimbia: Role of MicroRNAs in Oral Cancer Tumorigenesis.

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