Awards
AADOCR
Each year, the Rochester Section of the American Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research gives Scientific Merit Awards. Research projects are presented in either poster or verbal format. The following awards are given based on the project and the presentation.
Award winners are selected by a panel of judges on the basis of outstanding scientific merit through:
- Relevance and originality of hypothesis
- Clarity of presentation
- Use of innovative experimental design, methods, or data presentation
- Findings or results that contribute significantly to the field of interest
3-Minute Thesis Award
The 3-Minute Thesis Award is given for an outstanding scientific research oral presentation delivered in 3 minutes by an EIOH student or postdoctoral scholar.
The 2026 winners were Dr. Mohamad Idilbi Wazzan, for oral presentation “Direct Oral Anticoagulants and Risk of Bleeding After Tooth Extraction,” and Dr. Liana Umbrio, for oral presentation “SSRI Effect on peri-implant MBL, PICF and salivary biomarkers' levels”.
Basil G. Bibby Award
T
he Basil G. Bibby Award, named after the former EIOH Director, is given to recognize outstanding scientific merit among oral and poster presentations by non-degree candidates.
The 2026 winners were Dr. Rajesh Gururaghavendran - for poster presentation “Prediabetes and tooth loss: Evidence from BRFSS 2024,” Dr. Nala Lnu - for oral presentation “The enamel matrix protein amelogenin is essential for ion transport,” and Dr. Tanvi Kaur Ahuja - for poster presentation “β-Adrenergic Blockade: A Systematic Review of Propranolol in TMD Management”.
Michael G. Buonocore Award
The Michael G. Buonocore Award is given for outstanding scientific merit among oral and poster presentations by degree candidates.
The 2026 winners were Dr. Fabio Massarotto, for poster presentation “Oral Health-Related Adverse Events of GLP-1 Receptor Agonists,” and Dr. Maria Panagiota Kouskouki, for oral presentation “Effects of Amphetamine on Orthodontic Tooth Movement in Rats”.
William H. Bowen Award
The William H. Bowen Award, named after the former Chair of what is now the Center for Oral Biology, is given for outstanding scientific merit among oral and poster presentations by candidates in postdoctoral programs.
The 2026 winner was Dr. Ying Liao, for oral presentation “Early-life salivary hormone trajectories and their association with tooth eruption”.
Gerald N. Graser Award
The Gerald N. Graser Award, named after the former Chair and Program Director of the Prosthodontic specialty program, recognizes outstanding clinical case series and/or case reports that describe original, innovative and/or evidence-based clinical treatments.
The 2026 winner was Dr. Lidiya Leshchuk, for presentation “Indications and Techniques of Dental Composite Injection Molding”.