Category: News

The 2025 NIH D43-sponsored workshop in Khon Kaen, Thailand marked the 10^th International Workshop on Clinical Research Methods in Oral Health, continuing its mission to build oral health research capacity in Southeast Asia. Held February 17-21 at Khon Kaen University, this training program brought together oral health professionals and faculty from across the region for in-depth lectures, group projects, and interactive sessions.

Courses covered a range of topics including research methods and evidence-based dentistry, behavioral science, biostatistics, ethical issues in research, and study design. The program combined pre-workshop training with a full week of in-person instruction led by international faculty. Representing the University of Washington were Drs. Ana Lucia Seminario (Director of the DeRouen Center for Global Oral Health and Associate Professor in Pediatric Dentistry), Susan Coldwell (Professor of Oral Health Sciences), and Christy McKinney (Professor of Oral Health Sciences).

In addition to the academic program, participants had opportunities to network with colleagues from institutions across Thailand, Vietnam, and the U.S., and to explore the culture of Khon Kaen. This workshop continues to be an important component of the D43 training grant, fostering international collaboration and strengthening regional research infrastructure.

Priyanka Prajapati, an International Dentist DDS student at the University of Washington, recently attended the 2025 AADOCR/CADR Annual Meeting in New York, NY, from March 12-15. As a dental student and advocate for global oral health, Priyanka presented a poster titled “Integrating Oral Health Among HIV Health Clinics in West Kenya.” Her research highlights the importance of incorporating oral healthcare into HIV treatment services, particularly in resource-limited settings like Kisumu, Kenya. This work stems from her participation in the UW DENTSL652 course “Advanced Global Oral Health: From Theory to Action”, where she conducted a field-based research project in Kenya in 2024. Priya’s attendance at AADOCR was supported by travel grants from UW School of Dentistry’s Office of Research and UW Graduate and Professional Student Senate.

Beyond her studies, Priyanka serves as a research assistant for the University of Washington’s DeRouen Center, further strengthening her expertise in global oral health disparities. Her presence at the AADOCR conference provided an opportunity to share her findings with an international audience of dental researchers, fostering discussions on sustainable healthcare integration. Attending the conference not only allowed Priyanka to showcase her work but also to network with fellow students and researchers and gain insights into developments in dental and public health research. Her contributions reflect a strong commitment to improving oral health access in underserved communities worldwide.

In January 2025, Drs. Whasun Chung (Chair and Professor, Department of Oral Health Sciences) and Bhavna Chohan (Clinical Assistant Professor, Global Health) from the University of Washington traveled to Nairobi, Kenya. Their work was part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) R21 grant (R21TW012033) titled “Dynamics of HIV-infection, oral innate immunity and the development of oral diseases in children.” Their trip focused on analyzing saliva samples from Kenyan children to better understand how HIV infection impacts oral health and immunity. This project aimed to uncover critical links between the virus and the body’s natural defenses in pediatric populations, providing insights that could shape future interventions.

During their time in Nairobi, Whasun and Bhavna worked closely with the staff at Bhavna’s laboratory at the University of Nairobi. Together, they set up and conducted ELISA tests to analyze immune markers in the collected saliva samples, ensuring high-quality data for the R21 study. This grant’s findings are expected to contribute significantly to the understanding of HIV-related oral diseases, while strengthening ties with UW and University of Nairobi, and increasing research capacity in Kenya.

Dr. Yan Wang, an Assistant Adjunct Professor at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) School of Dentistry, has been awarded a National Institutes of Health (NIH) R03 grant to investigate the oral microbiome—the community of microorganisms residing in the mouth—of children living with HIV in Kenya. This research aims to understand how HIV infection influences the development of oral diseases in these children. By analyzing oral bacteria, Dr. Wang hopes to identify specific microbial patterns associated with oral health complications in HIV-positive pediatric populations. The findings could lead to improved prevention and treatment strategies, ultimately enhancing the quality of life for affected children.

Dr. Wang’s project complements the ongoing efforts of the University of Washington’s Timothy A. DeRouen Center for Global Oral Health, of which she is a collaborator. The DeRouen Center is conducting an NIH R21 study titled “Dynamics of HIV-infection, Oral Innate Immunity and The Development of Oral Diseases in Children” in Kenya. This project examines how HIV affects the immune system’s natural defenses in the mouth and the subsequent development of oral diseases. Dr. Wang’s focus on the oral microbiome provides a microbial perspective that enriches the DeRouen Center’s broader investigation into oral health among HIV-infected children. Together, these collaborative efforts aim to develop comprehensive strategies to prevent and manage oral diseases in this population.

Dr. Immaculate Opondo, a pediatric dentist at Maseno University in Kisumu, Kenya, and a colleague of the University of Washington’s Timothy A. DeRouen Center for Global Oral Health, has enrolled in a PhD program at the University of Nairobi. The research training program, which focuses on HIV prevention and treatment in children and adolescents, is led by Drs. Dalton Wamalwa and Ruth Nduati of the University of Nairobi, with co-direction from Dr. Carey Farquhar of the University of Washington. Supported by a National Institutes of Health (NIH) D43 grant, the program provides a robust platform for advancing research in critical areas of public health. Dr. Opondo began her coursework in October 2024 and is expected to complete the program within four years.

Dr. Opondo’s PhD research explores the intersection of oral health and public health, specifically investigating infant oral mutilation and its association with HIV infection. This unique area of study seeks to uncover critical insights into how traditional practices contribute to HIV transmission, aiming to inform prevention and intervention strategies for vulnerable populations. Beyond her academic pursuits, Dr. Opondo has served as the study coordinator for the NIH R21 grant titled “Dynamics of HIV-infection, Oral Innate Immunity and The Development of Oral Diseases in Children” led by the DeRouen Center, and has served as the onsite leader for seven UW dental students conducting oral health research project in Kisumu, Kenya as part of the UW Global Oral Health: From Theory to Action course, further demonstrating her dedication to impactful global health research. Her work continues to contribute to the advancement of oral health and HIV prevention in children, enhancing health outcomes in Kenya and around the world.

Dr. Ana Lucia Seminario, representing the UW DeRouen Center, attended the 2024 World Health Summit in Berlin, Germany in October 2024. The summit’s theme, “Building Trust for a Healthier World,” emphasized the importance of fostering trust among global health stakeholders to build collaboration and improve oral health outcomes worldwide. This event convened leaders from politics, science, the private sector, and civil society to discuss health challenges and potential solutions.

]Highlights from the summit included the worldwide governmental pledges totaling one billion US dollars made or reaffirmed. “All for Health, Health for All: Signature Event for the WHO Investment Round”, the launch of Global Health 2050: The Lancet Commission on Investing in Health 3.0 and of the Climate Overshoot Commission’s Policy Paper. The DeRouen Center is committed to becoming an international leader for integrating oral health into broader global health initiatives. Dr. Seminario’s participation highlighted the critical intersection of oral health with overall health, advocating for its inclusion in global health policies and programs.

Dr. Yan Wang from University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) has been selected as a Visiting Professor Program class of 2024, at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). During her time in the summer program activities, she developed a National Institutes of Health (NIH) R01 grant proposal focused on the oral microbiome and biomarkers in elderly individuals living with HIV. The project aims to explore how changes in the oral microbiome could serve as indicators for health outcomes in older adults with HIV. Dr. Wang completed the draft of her grant proposal with guidance from her mentors—Dr. Monica Gandhi, Dr. Peter Hunt, and Dr. Sheri Weiner— experts in HIV research at UCSF, who provided critical feedback and support throughout the process.

In addition to working on her research proposal, Dr. Wang connected with other early-stage investigators participating in the program. These interactions provided her with the opportunity to discuss shared research interests and current challenges in HIV research. While her primary focus was on completing her grant proposal, networking with her peers allowed her to explore potential future collaborations and stay informed on developments in the field.

University of Washington students had the opportunity to travel to Kenya for the second consecutive year through the Global Oral Health: Theory to Action course. During the trip, two dental students, Priyanka Prajapati and Delbert Oxborrow, implemented their research projects in and around Kisumu, in the west of Kenya. They visited several clinics affiliated with the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital and worked alongside the National Institutes of Health R21 grant “Dynamics of HIV-infection, Oral Innate Immunity and The Development of Oral Diseases in Children” led by Dr. Immaculate Opondo. Their research projects focused on key public health issues, including Oral Health Promotion Among Healthcare Providers and “Resiliency in Public Health: Perceptions from Kisumu”, providing them with invaluable experience in global healthcare systems.

In addition to their research, the students had the chance to immerse themselves in Kenyan culture, enjoying traditional foods and engaging with local customs. The trip was successful in broadening the students’ engagement with global oral health research and enhancing their cultural competence. This experience not only deepened their academic understanding but also prepared them for potential future careers in global oral health.

In July, Dr. Ana Lucia Seminario (UW Department of Pediatric Dentistry) and Dr. Hai Zhang (UW Department of Restorative Dentistry) were invited to participate in the Campus Asia Plus Symposium & University Immersion Program (UIP) co-hosted by West China School of Stomatology, Sichuan University (China) and the Graduate School of Dentistry, Tohoku University (Japan).

The two-week UIP was initiated in 2012 in Chengdu, China where Sichuan University is located. This program aims to cultivate global awareness, cross-cultural competencies, and broader cultural understanding among dental students in the world. In this year’s program, students and faculty came from more than ten dental schools worldwide, including two schools from the US. Besides the UW, students and faculty from the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) were also invited. Other dental schools were from Japan, Thailand, and other Southeast Asian countries.

This year’s program was held from July 1st to July 12th, 2024. The program included faculty lectures, students’ clinical skill competitions, as well as cultural exchange activities. Dr. Seminario gave a lecture entitled “Current Opportunities for Global Oral Health Research,” while Dr. Zhang’s lecture was focused on interdisciplinary graduate dental education. They both participated in the department seminars of their corresponding specialties.

On April 10, 2024, the Peruvian Oral Health Indicator Database was officially launched, introducing an innovative tool designed to enhance the management and monitoring of the oral health of the Peruvian population. This groundbreaking resource was developed by the Public Health and Stomatological Management Research Unit of the Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia (UPCH), a leading institution in medical and health sciences education and research in Peru.

The dashboard presents the main oral health indicators of Peru in a graphic and didactic manner, utilizing data from the Demographic and Family Health Survey (ENDES) of the National Institute of Statistics and Informatics (INEI) from 2013 to the present. This comprehensive approach ensures that users can access a wealth of information that tracks changes and trends in oral health indicators over time.

The presentation was delivered by Dr. Carol Guarnizo Herreño, a professor at the National University of Colombia and Co-president of the Lancet Commission on Oral Health. Dr. Guarnizo Herreño emphasized the significance of this tool in improving planning and decision-making in the field of oral health. The first version of the dashboard provides detailed information on the oral health status of children under 12 years old and adults over 60 years old. Through various visualizations, it highlights the changes and trends in oral health indicators at local, regional, and national levels, making it a valuable management tool for informed decision-making and effective monitoring.

The “Peruvian Oral Health Indicator Database” is not only aimed at health professionals and academics but also at any citizen interested in understanding the importance of oral health and its impact on overall well-being. This initiative marks a significant milestone in UPCH’s efforts to improve oral health in Peru, offering a publicly accessible resource to develop and implement policies and programs that promote oral health and enhance the quality of life for all Peruvians.