Category: News

Dr. Kwanchanok Tantasethi, a pediatric dentist serving with the Royal Thai Air Force at Bhumibol Adulyadej Hospital in Bangkok, is spending the summer of 2025 as a Visiting Scientist at the University of Washington’s Timothy A. DeRouen Center for Global Oral Health. During her three months stay, she is engaging in a unique research project exploring the intersection of artificial intelligence, social media, and dental public health. Her work aims to investigate how digital technologies and online communication platforms can influence oral health behaviors, improve access to dental care, and inform innovative public health strategies. In addition to her research, Dr. Tantasethi is observing clinical practices in the dental clinic and operating room and participating in lectures delivered by leading faculty in pediatric dentistry and global oral health.

Throughout her time in Seattle, Dr. Tantasethi is working under the mentorship of Dr. Ana Lucia Seminario and collaborating with faculty and peers to expand her expertise in leveraging technology for public health impact. She hopes this experience will enrich her knowledge of how digital tools can be effectively integrated into dental care systems. Ultimately, the knowledge and skills she gains at the University of Washington will help her advance pediatric dental care within the Royal Thai Air Force and inspire her continued contributions to the field of dental public health in Thailand.

Priyanka Prajapati, a student in the University of Washington’s International Dentist DDS Program and a DeRouen Center Research Assistant, has been selected as a 2025 Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) awardee for her innovative pilot project based in Kisumu, Kenya. Her work builds on a previous initiative from the DENTSL652 course and seeks to bridge the gap between theoretical training and clinical practice in oral health care. Specifically, the project introduces a hands-on mentorship program designed to support healthcare providers who have previously completed the World Health Organization’s (WHO) oral health training. The mentorship focuses on practical skills, such as conducting oral exams to identify manifestations of HIV and delivering oral hygiene education during routine primary care visits.

Using surveys, interviews, and feedback from mentors, Priyanka’s project aims to assess provider confidence and uncover sustainable strategies for integrating oral exams into routine medical workflows. By strengthening the connection between oral health and primary care, the project seeks to reduce preventable oral diseases and improve overall health outcomes. Ultimately, her work as a SURF awardee supports the development of a practical, scalable model that promotes health equity in underserved communities like Kisumu and surrounding areas.

The University of Washington’s Timothy A. DeRouen Center for Global Oral Health convened a symposium at the 2025 International Association of Dental and Craniofacial Research (IADR) conference in Barcelona, titled “Creating Research Capacity in Low- and Middle-Income Countries.” Recognized by the conference organizers as “hot topic research,” the session spotlighted innovative strategies to empower researchers an strengthen oral health infrastructure across diverse regions. The speakers emphasized the need to address systemic barriers and tailor research agendas to local priorities, aligning with the IADR’s mission to advance global health equity.

The symposium featured a panel of experts sharing region-specific experiences. Dr. Arthur Kemoli (University of Nairobi) presented on integrating oral HIV research into Kenya’s health system, underscoring the importance of addressing cultural and structural obstacles to care. Dr. Immaculate Opondo (Maseno University) highlighted the roles played by mentors in her research career and how  mentorship in research impacted her career  growth, Dr. Waranuch Pitiphat (Khon Kaen University) discussed building a network of over three hundred researchers in Southeast Asia through an NIH-funded training program targeting high-risk populations. Dr. Ana Lucia Seminario (University of Washington) examined how HIV and alcohol use disorders impact oral health in Peruvian men who have sex with men, highlighting how tailored interventions and research infrastructure can meet community needs, and presented an overview of the UW DeRouen Center for Global Oral Health.

The symposium was well-attended and successfully highlighted the need to identify sustainable capacity-building strategies, understand the role of mentorship and collaboration, and evaluate successful case studies for application in other low-resource settings.

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.