Balint Orban and Research Forum Winner Profiles
- Could you briefly describe the results of your award-winning research?
“Our study examined whether diabetes accelerates peri-implantitis via IL-17 signaling and oral microbiome alterations. Using IL-17A blockade, we evaluated its role in peri-implant inflammation and bone loss under diabetic conditions. Diabetic (db/db) mice exhibited greater bone loss, heightened inflammation, increased IL-17F expression, and persistent microbial dysbiosis compared to wild-type mice. Although IL-17A inhibition partially reduced pathology, it was insufficient in diabetes, indicating the need for therapies targeting dysbiosis-associated mechanisms.”
- What challenges did you encounter during your research, and how were they overcome?
“One of the main challenges we faced as a team was developing the technical skills required to work on mice. Performing extractions and implant placement in such a small, controlled environment while maintaining consistency required extensive practice and calibration. On a personal level, grasping the advanced immunologic concepts behind our project was challenging. Although our residency program at NSU has an emphasis on immunology and host response, engaging in post-graduate basic science research required a much deeper and more current understanding of the literature than what we typically apply in clinical practice. Over time, through literature review, discussions with mentors, and repeated exposure to the data, I gradually strengthened my ability to critically evaluate and interpret complex data.”
- How do you anticipate this award will influence your future work?
“Receiving this award has emphasized the critical link between periodontal and peri-implant health with systemic conditions, especially chronic inflammatory diseases like diabetes mellitus. It has reinforced the value of patient education and communication: helping patients understand that managing periodontal disease isn’t just about preserving teeth, but also about supporting overall health. I hope this perspective continues to guide my clinical practice, encouraging a more holistic, evidence-based approach that bridges oral and systemic care.”
- What advice would you offer to aspiring periodontists looking to make their mark in the field?
“My advice is to approach periodontal care and research through the lens of both host response and systemic health. This encourages clinical interventions and research questions that focus on the interactions between the immune system, inflammation, and overall health. Equally important is knowing that your academic background doesn’t limit the impact you can have. If you put in the effort and seek guidance from mentors and peers, you can make meaningful contributions to advancing the field. I’ve been fortunate to learn from exceptional mentors, including Drs. Xiaozhe Han, Saynur Vardar, and Takumi Memida, whose guidance has been invaluable in shaping my approach to both clinical practice and research. Go PerioSharks!”
- Could you briefly describe the results of your award-winning research?
Our results firstly defined what the oral metabolome is for a healthy patient with no periodontal disease across all the oral niches. Secondly, we compared normal, weight, overweight, and obese individuals to see if this can alter the oral metabolome in any way. Our results showed that the metabolome does differ from a normal weight and obese patient across different oral niches. Hopefully laying the groundwork for more metabolomic centered research!
- What challenges did you encounter during your research, and how were they overcome?
One of the biggest challenges was to bring the actual idea of the project to life. There were many confounding variables that could impact our results. Finding healthy periodontal patients that were obese and having minimal other issues to influence the overall body was l very difficult to find. We over came this like any challenge in life, by having patience and keeping a positive attitude. The other big challenge was doing research while being full time in residency. There was a lot of struggles with balancing residency work load with managing a project. What helped me overcome this challenge was having mini-goals set that I could consistently do to make sure I was staying on track and it helped me feel like I was constantly progressing, this helped rid me of a lot of anxiety and made me not feel overwhelmed.
- How do you anticipate this award will influence your future work?
In my mind it doesn’t change or influence my future work. The goal for me was to always give 100% of everything I could to have the best project regardless of what awards or recognition I got. Going forward I want to keep the same level of commitment and have the same drive to make sure it continues to be the best I can possibly make it.
- What advice would you offer to aspiring periodontists looking to make their mark in the field?
Compete with yourself. I think a lot of people are always looking at what others are doing around them and constantly comparing their work to others. For me this would create distractions and could make me feel discouraged if anything. It always helped me to just focus on what exactly I was doing and critiquing my own work to make sure it was always the best it could be. When you follow your own path and give all your attention and commitment to it, there is no telling how far it will take you.
1. Could you briefly describe the results of your award-winning research?
My award-winning research focuses on the definitive identification of human periodontal ligament stem cells, or hPDLSCs. While human skeletal stem cells in long bones have recently been characterized with a precise set of surface markers that enable their reliable isolation for orthopedic therapies, periodontology has lacked this level of specificity. Previously proposed markers for hPDLSCs identify heterogeneous cell populations, which limits their use in targeted regenerative applications.
Our study is the first to identify a specific combination of surface markers, EDNRA, ITGA7, and STEAP4, that may serve as a unique signature for true multipotent hPDLSCs. If these cells are confirmed in vivo, this discovery would provide the field with a precise tool to isolate and harness periodontal ligament stem cells for regenerative therapies.
The broader goal of this NIH funded project in Dr. Intini’s lab is to enable reliable isolation and clinical translation of these cells. By harnessing native PDL stem cells, we aim to regenerate all four components of the periodontal apparatus simultaneously, representing a major advancement in periodontal regenerative medicine. I feel privileged to contribute to this work as we move toward clinical application.
2. What challenges did you encounter during your research, and how were they overcome?
We encountered several challenges during the implementation of this project. One of the primary difficulties was sample collection. We needed to obtain PDL stem cells from extracted premolars that met strict inclusion criteria. Specifically, we aimed to compare surface marker expression in stem cells harvested from periodontally healthy young adults and older adults with periodontitis. Identifying patients who required premolar extractions and met these criteria was not easy, and achieving our target sample size required persistence and careful coordination.
Balancing laboratory research with the demanding clinical and academic responsibilities of a full time periodontology residency was another significant challenge. There were many days when I stayed at school until midnight to complete clinical duties, prepare presentations, and process and analyze samples in the lab. Time management, discipline, and perseverance were essential to moving the project forward.
What sustained me throughout this process was a deep passion for learning and the privilege of working alongside an exceptional research team in Dr. Intini’s lab. I am especially grateful to Dr. Roberta Di Carlo, a postdoctoral researcher in the lab, who provided constant guidance and mentorship. She often stayed late to help troubleshoot experiments, refine techniques, and ensure precision in our procedures, which is essential in this type of cellular research.
I am also deeply grateful for Dr. Intini’s patience in guiding and training me to perform these procedures. His mentorship and commitment to my development were instrumental in helping me grow as a clinician scientist and successfully complete this project.
3. How do you anticipate this award will influence your future work?
One of the most important lessons I learned from this experience is that hard work truly pays off. The late nights in the lab, the persistence required to answer a question that had not been addressed before, and the dedication to refining each experiment with precision and passion were all worthwhile. This award reaffirmed that commitment to rigorous science does not go unnoticed.
Receiving this recognition has further strengthened my dedication to pursuing a career as a clinician scientist. It has given me greater confidence in my ability to contribute meaningfully to the field and motivates me to continue asking impactful questions that bridge basic science and clinical application.
More importantly, this award reinforces my responsibility to advance translational research in periodontology. Our work aims to move from identifying specific stem cell markers to ultimately enabling predictable periodontal regeneration. This recognition encourages me to continue building on these findings, seek collaborative opportunities, and pursue future funding to bring these discoveries closer to clinical reality.
Ultimately, this award is not just recognition of past work. It is motivation to aim higher, remain curious, and continue pushing the boundaries of regenerative periodontal science.
4. What advice would you offer to aspiring periodontists looking to make their mark in the field?
My advice to aspiring periodontists who hope to make their mark in the field is to dream big, but match those dreams with discipline, patience, and consistent hard work. Success in periodontology, particularly in research and advanced clinical practice, does not happen overnight. It requires persistence, resilience, and a genuine commitment to excellence.
Stay curious and remain thirsty for answers. Identify the area of the field that truly excites you and pursue it with passion. When you love what you are investigating or practicing, the long hours and challenges become part of a meaningful journey rather than obstacles. Enjoy the process of growing, learning, and refining your skills. The results will follow.
Equally important is discipline. Talent and ambition are not enough without consistency. If you remain dedicated and patient, recognition and achievement will come, not because you chased them, but because your work will speak for itself.
Finally, never underestimate the importance of generosity. Be generous with your knowledge, your time, and your mentorship. Share what you learn, support your colleagues, and uplift those who come after you. Periodontology is a collaborative field, and our greatest advancements occur when we grow together. When your work not only advances science but also inspires and supports others, that is when you truly leave a lasting mark.
1. Could you briefly describe the results of your award-winning research?
Our research found that circulating matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-7 and MMP-9 show potential as biomarkers in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients who also have periodontitis. We also found that the associations between periodontal measures and plasma MMP-1 appear to systematically differ depending on whether someone has RA or osteoarthritis, which highlights the complexity of shared inflammatory pathways.
2. What challenges did you encounter during your research, and how were they overcome?
One of the biggest challenges was balancing the time demands of residency responsibilities with the additional workload of literature review and research development. I was able to manage this through the consistent support of my co-residents, faculty, and especially my mentor, Dr. Payne, whose guidance and encouragement helped me stay on track throughout the process.
3. How do you anticipate this award will influence your future work?
Receiving this award really motivates me to continue pursuing research, particularly studies that can directly inform periodontal treatment in patients with systemic comorbidities such as rheumatoid arthritis. It reinforces my commitment to evidence-based care and to continue to explore the oral-systemic connection.
4. What advice would you offer to aspiring periodontists looking to make their mark in the field?
I would encourage aspiring periodontists to find a supportive community that challenges them to grow and step outside their comfort zone. Most importantly, stay engaged with the research and literature, it’s one of the best ways to help shape the future of our specialty.
1. Could you briefly describe the results of your award-winning research?
The project titled “The butterfly effect: how JUUL alters microbial mucosal interactions” aims to utilize a multi-omics approach to investigate the effects of JUUL e-cigarettes on oral host-microbial interactions. We found that oral bacteria are capable of metabolizing JUUL aerosol, producing a variety of secondary metabolites that varied based on nicotine concentration. JUUL exposure resulted in alterations to microbial gene transcription depending on both microbial composition and nicotine concentration. Host epithelium exhibited a muted pro-inflammatory response to JUUL conditioned pathogen-rich biofilms. Multi-omics network analysis identified a correlation between the metabolites and an altered pattern of microbial-mucosal interactions with specific cytokines and host genes identified as key contributors to the network, such as TNF-a and IFN-g. Together, these findings suggest that vapers might experience an increased susceptibility to periodontitis.
2. What challenges did you encounter during your research, and how were they overcome?
The biggest challenge I encountered while working on my research was learning to use the multi omics analysis tools. I began testing mixOmics on my old laptop but the code required hours to run, which is why I decided it would be best to reinstall everything on my new laptop I had gotten for residency. However, the new laptop had different versions of all the software I needed and this required additional troubleshooting. I continued to work on fixing and adjusting my original code, which took a lot of time to figure out. Eventually, after a lot of time and patience I was able to run everything quicker and more efficiently so that I could analyze this data and have the code set up for future projects.
3. How do you anticipate this award will influence your future work?
This award will influence my future work both for this project and future projects. I hope to submit this project for publication in the very near future, and the experience that I gained from presenting this project helped me to understand what components of the project still need additional work. For future projects, I plan to use the model that we developed for multi-omics analysis to answer future questions about how vaping impacts oral health and host microbial interactions. I greatly appreciated the opportunity to present my project
4. What advice would you offer to aspiring periodontists looking to make their mark in the field?
I would encourage aspiring periodontists to get involved in the field – whether through research or outreach! Seeing the kinds of questions and challenges faced everyday by clinicians and researchers is a great way to learn about the field. It can also help inspire new ideas to help patients and address unanswered questions.
- Could you briefly describe the results of your award-winning research?
“Our study examined whether diabetes accelerates peri-implantitis via IL-17 signaling and oral microbiome alterations. Using IL-17A blockade, we evaluated its role in peri-implant inflammation and bone loss under diabetic conditions. Diabetic (db/db) mice exhibited greater bone loss, heightened inflammation, increased IL-17F expression, and persistent microbial dysbiosis compared to wild-type mice. Although IL-17A inhibition partially reduced pathology, it was insufficient in diabetes, indicating the need for therapies targeting dysbiosis-associated mechanisms.”
- What challenges did you encounter during your research, and how were they overcome?
“One of the main challenges we faced as a team was developing the technical skills required to work on mice. Performing extractions and implant placement in such a small, controlled environment while maintaining consistency required extensive practice and calibration. On a personal level, grasping the advanced immunologic concepts behind our project was challenging. Although our residency program at NSU has an emphasis on immunology and host response, engaging in post-graduate basic science research required a much deeper and more current understanding of the literature than what we typically apply in clinical practice. Over time, through literature review, discussions with mentors, and repeated exposure to the data, I gradually strengthened my ability to critically evaluate and interpret complex data.”
- How do you anticipate this award will influence your future work?
“Receiving this award has emphasized the critical link between periodontal and peri-implant health with systemic conditions, especially chronic inflammatory diseases like diabetes mellitus. It has reinforced the value of patient education and communication: helping patients understand that managing periodontal disease isn’t just about preserving teeth, but also about supporting overall health. I hope this perspective continues to guide my clinical practice, encouraging a more holistic, evidence-based approach that bridges oral and systemic care.”
- What advice would you offer to aspiring periodontists looking to make their mark in the field?
“My advice is to approach periodontal care and research through the lens of both host response and systemic health. This encourages clinical interventions and research questions that focus on the interactions between the immune system, inflammation, and overall health. Equally important is knowing that your academic background doesn’t limit the impact you can have. If you put in the effort and seek guidance from mentors and peers, you can make meaningful contributions to advancing the field. I’ve been fortunate to learn from exceptional mentors, including Drs. Xiaozhe Han, Saynur Vardar, and Takumi Memida, whose guidance has been invaluable in shaping my approach to both clinical practice and research. Go PerioSharks!”
- Could you briefly describe the results of your award-winning research?
Our results firstly defined what the oral metabolome is for a healthy patient with no periodontal disease across all the oral niches. Secondly, we compared normal, weight, overweight, and obese individuals to see if this can alter the oral metabolome in any way. Our results showed that the metabolome does differ from a normal weight and obese patient across different oral niches. Hopefully laying the groundwork for more metabolomic centered research!
- What challenges did you encounter during your research, and how were they overcome?
One of the biggest challenges was to bring the actual idea of the project to life. There were many confounding variables that could impact our results. Finding healthy periodontal patients that were obese and having minimal other issues to influence the overall body was l very difficult to find. We over came this like any challenge in life, by having patience and keeping a positive attitude. The other big challenge was doing research while being full time in residency. There was a lot of struggles with balancing residency work load with managing a project. What helped me overcome this challenge was having mini-goals set that I could consistently do to make sure I was staying on track and it helped me feel like I was constantly progressing, this helped rid me of a lot of anxiety and made me not feel overwhelmed.
- How do you anticipate this award will influence your future work?
In my mind it doesn’t change or influence my future work. The goal for me was to always give 100% of everything I could to have the best project regardless of what awards or recognition I got. Going forward I want to keep the same level of commitment and have the same drive to make sure it continues to be the best I can possibly make it.
- What advice would you offer to aspiring periodontists looking to make their mark in the field?
Compete with yourself. I think a lot of people are always looking at what others are doing around them and constantly comparing their work to others. For me this would create distractions and could make me feel discouraged if anything. It always helped me to just focus on what exactly I was doing and critiquing my own work to make sure it was always the best it could be. When you follow your own path and give all your attention and commitment to it, there is no telling how far it will take you.
1. Could you briefly describe the results of your award-winning research?
My award-winning research focuses on the definitive identification of human periodontal ligament stem cells, or hPDLSCs. While human skeletal stem cells in long bones have recently been characterized with a precise set of surface markers that enable their reliable isolation for orthopedic therapies, periodontology has lacked this level of specificity. Previously proposed markers for hPDLSCs identify heterogeneous cell populations, which limits their use in targeted regenerative applications.
Our study is the first to identify a specific combination of surface markers, EDNRA, ITGA7, and STEAP4, that may serve as a unique signature for true multipotent hPDLSCs. If these cells are confirmed in vivo, this discovery would provide the field with a precise tool to isolate and harness periodontal ligament stem cells for regenerative therapies.
The broader goal of this NIH funded project in Dr. Intini’s lab is to enable reliable isolation and clinical translation of these cells. By harnessing native PDL stem cells, we aim to regenerate all four components of the periodontal apparatus simultaneously, representing a major advancement in periodontal regenerative medicine. I feel privileged to contribute to this work as we move toward clinical application.
2. What challenges did you encounter during your research, and how were they overcome?
We encountered several challenges during the implementation of this project. One of the primary difficulties was sample collection. We needed to obtain PDL stem cells from extracted premolars that met strict inclusion criteria. Specifically, we aimed to compare surface marker expression in stem cells harvested from periodontally healthy young adults and older adults with periodontitis. Identifying patients who required premolar extractions and met these criteria was not easy, and achieving our target sample size required persistence and careful coordination.
Balancing laboratory research with the demanding clinical and academic responsibilities of a full time periodontology residency was another significant challenge. There were many days when I stayed at school until midnight to complete clinical duties, prepare presentations, and process and analyze samples in the lab. Time management, discipline, and perseverance were essential to moving the project forward.
What sustained me throughout this process was a deep passion for learning and the privilege of working alongside an exceptional research team in Dr. Intini’s lab. I am especially grateful to Dr. Roberta Di Carlo, a postdoctoral researcher in the lab, who provided constant guidance and mentorship. She often stayed late to help troubleshoot experiments, refine techniques, and ensure precision in our procedures, which is essential in this type of cellular research.
I am also deeply grateful for Dr. Intini’s patience in guiding and training me to perform these procedures. His mentorship and commitment to my development were instrumental in helping me grow as a clinician scientist and successfully complete this project.
3. How do you anticipate this award will influence your future work?
One of the most important lessons I learned from this experience is that hard work truly pays off. The late nights in the lab, the persistence required to answer a question that had not been addressed before, and the dedication to refining each experiment with precision and passion were all worthwhile. This award reaffirmed that commitment to rigorous science does not go unnoticed.
Receiving this recognition has further strengthened my dedication to pursuing a career as a clinician scientist. It has given me greater confidence in my ability to contribute meaningfully to the field and motivates me to continue asking impactful questions that bridge basic science and clinical application.
More importantly, this award reinforces my responsibility to advance translational research in periodontology. Our work aims to move from identifying specific stem cell markers to ultimately enabling predictable periodontal regeneration. This recognition encourages me to continue building on these findings, seek collaborative opportunities, and pursue future funding to bring these discoveries closer to clinical reality.
Ultimately, this award is not just recognition of past work. It is motivation to aim higher, remain curious, and continue pushing the boundaries of regenerative periodontal science.
4. What advice would you offer to aspiring periodontists looking to make their mark in the field?
My advice to aspiring periodontists who hope to make their mark in the field is to dream big, but match those dreams with discipline, patience, and consistent hard work. Success in periodontology, particularly in research and advanced clinical practice, does not happen overnight. It requires persistence, resilience, and a genuine commitment to excellence.
Stay curious and remain thirsty for answers. Identify the area of the field that truly excites you and pursue it with passion. When you love what you are investigating or practicing, the long hours and challenges become part of a meaningful journey rather than obstacles. Enjoy the process of growing, learning, and refining your skills. The results will follow.
Equally important is discipline. Talent and ambition are not enough without consistency. If you remain dedicated and patient, recognition and achievement will come, not because you chased them, but because your work will speak for itself.
Finally, never underestimate the importance of generosity. Be generous with your knowledge, your time, and your mentorship. Share what you learn, support your colleagues, and uplift those who come after you. Periodontology is a collaborative field, and our greatest advancements occur when we grow together. When your work not only advances science but also inspires and supports others, that is when you truly leave a lasting mark.
1. Could you briefly describe the results of your award-winning research?
Our research found that circulating matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-7 and MMP-9 show potential as biomarkers in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients who also have periodontitis. We also found that the associations between periodontal measures and plasma MMP-1 appear to systematically differ depending on whether someone has RA or osteoarthritis, which highlights the complexity of shared inflammatory pathways.
2. What challenges did you encounter during your research, and how were they overcome?
One of the biggest challenges was balancing the time demands of residency responsibilities with the additional workload of literature review and research development. I was able to manage this through the consistent support of my co-residents, faculty, and especially my mentor, Dr. Payne, whose guidance and encouragement helped me stay on track throughout the process.
3. How do you anticipate this award will influence your future work?
Receiving this award really motivates me to continue pursuing research, particularly studies that can directly inform periodontal treatment in patients with systemic comorbidities such as rheumatoid arthritis. It reinforces my commitment to evidence-based care and to continue to explore the oral-systemic connection.
4. What advice would you offer to aspiring periodontists looking to make their mark in the field?
I would encourage aspiring periodontists to find a supportive community that challenges them to grow and step outside their comfort zone. Most importantly, stay engaged with the research and literature, it’s one of the best ways to help shape the future of our specialty.
1. Could you briefly describe the results of your award-winning research?
The project titled “The butterfly effect: how JUUL alters microbial mucosal interactions” aims to utilize a multi-omics approach to investigate the effects of JUUL e-cigarettes on oral host-microbial interactions. We found that oral bacteria are capable of metabolizing JUUL aerosol, producing a variety of secondary metabolites that varied based on nicotine concentration. JUUL exposure resulted in alterations to microbial gene transcription depending on both microbial composition and nicotine concentration. Host epithelium exhibited a muted pro-inflammatory response to JUUL conditioned pathogen-rich biofilms. Multi-omics network analysis identified a correlation between the metabolites and an altered pattern of microbial-mucosal interactions with specific cytokines and host genes identified as key contributors to the network, such as TNF-a and IFN-g. Together, these findings suggest that vapers might experience an increased susceptibility to periodontitis.
2. What challenges did you encounter during your research, and how were they overcome?
The biggest challenge I encountered while working on my research was learning to use the multi omics analysis tools. I began testing mixOmics on my old laptop but the code required hours to run, which is why I decided it would be best to reinstall everything on my new laptop I had gotten for residency. However, the new laptop had different versions of all the software I needed and this required additional troubleshooting. I continued to work on fixing and adjusting my original code, which took a lot of time to figure out. Eventually, after a lot of time and patience I was able to run everything quicker and more efficiently so that I could analyze this data and have the code set up for future projects.
3. How do you anticipate this award will influence your future work?
This award will influence my future work both for this project and future projects. I hope to submit this project for publication in the very near future, and the experience that I gained from presenting this project helped me to understand what components of the project still need additional work. For future projects, I plan to use the model that we developed for multi-omics analysis to answer future questions about how vaping impacts oral health and host microbial interactions. I greatly appreciated the opportunity to present my project
4. What advice would you offer to aspiring periodontists looking to make their mark in the field?
I would encourage aspiring periodontists to get involved in the field – whether through research or outreach! Seeing the kinds of questions and challenges faced everyday by clinicians and researchers is a great way to learn about the field. It can also help inspire new ideas to help patients and address unanswered questions.