GRANT
Dr. Anil Menon, assistant professor of preventive dental science, received a Canadian Institutes of Health Research catalyst grant ($70,000 for one year) for his project Oral health and frailty in older adults: A longitudinal analysis of CLSA data. Read more
AWARDS
Dr. Ayesha Saleem, associate professor of oral biology, received the 2025 Science Co-op Supervisor Excellence Award. Recipients are nominated by Faculty of Science co-op students in recognition of an exceptional co-op work term experience, as well as a strong commitment to supporting student learning, professional growth and career development.
Over the past two years, Dr. Dieter Schonwetter has had the opportunity to mentor three emerging academic leaders as part of the Scholars for Health Innovations and Future Teaching (SHIFT) initiative at Torrens University in Australia. The university in Adelaide has awarded the three SHIFT peer mentors the Vice Chancellor’s Academic Leadership Award in recognition of the impact of this initiative. Read more
2025-2026 Rady Faculty of Health Sciences Graduate Studentship Awardees
The following oral biology PhD graduate students each received $10,000 per award:
- Veera Naga Sai Manikanta (Mani) Kella received the award for the project ‘Molecular mechanisms of bitter taste receptor desensitization and implications for oral health.’ Advisor is Dr. Prashen Chelikani.
- Shuanghong (Echo) Li received the award for the project ‘Reciprocal thalamo-hippocampal circuit regulating dopamine in the ventral striatum.’ Advisor is Dr. Gilbert Kirouac.
- Zeynep Ergun received the award for the project ‘Mechanisms underlying extracellular vesicle-mediated metabolic and apoptotic effects. Advisor is Dr. Ayesha Saleem.
PUBLICATIONS
Leal Baltus TH, Abdulrahman A, Fux S, Goubran S, Mittermuller BA, Yerex K, Menon A, Monayao A, Hai-Santiago K, Singhal S, Schroth RJ. Oral Health Professionals’ views on the Interim Canada Dental Benefit. J Public Health Dent. 2026 Feb 17. doi: 10.1111/jphd.70047.
Schroth RJ, Siray A, Lee VHK, Olatosi O, Mittermuller B, Finch A, Hu R, Dufour L, Brondani M, Bertone M, Alai-Towfigh H. A pilot validation of the new Canadian caries risk assessment tool for preschoolers. Can J Dent Hyg. 2026 Feb 1;60(1):9-18. eCollection 2026 Feb.
Cunnington RH, Cruz de Jesus V, Khan MW, Chelikani P, Schroth RJ. Getting candida about fungi in early childhood caries. Oral Health 2025 December 115(12): 42-3.