15th Annual Student Research Showcase set for Oct. 28

The Office of Research at UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry is excited to present the 15th Annual Student Research Showcase on Tuesday, Oct. 28, in the Denton A. Cooley, MD and Ralph C. Cooley, DDS University Life Center.

Wenyuan Shi, PhD, chief executive officer of the ADA Forsyth Institute, will deliver the 2025 William T. Butler Distinguished Lecture, titled “Be Part of the Innovation Driving Force to Shape the Future of Dentistry.”

Shi has led the ADA Forsyth Institute since 2017 after serving as chief scientific officer. The institute, funded by the National Institutes of Health, is a top-tier research center focused on exploring the connections between oral health and overall well-being. It has a legacy of more than a century in changing the oral health landscape.

Before his appointment, Shi spent over two decades as chairman and professor of oral biology at UCLA School of Dentistry, as well as professor of microbiology, immunology, and molecular genetics at UCLA School of Medicine.

He is widely recognized for his research on oral microbial pathogenesis, including biofilms, interspecies interactions, and signal transduction. His work has led to the development of diagnostic and therapeutic tools for oral infections, with technologies licensed by major pharmaceutical and biotech companies.

Shi is the founding scientist and former chief scientific officer of C3J Therapeutics, now Armata Pharmaceuticals, and holds more than 40 patents alongside over 200 published scientific articles.

The Student Research Showcase is sponsored by the UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry Office of Research and features projects conducted over the summer by predoctoral and postdoctoral students mentored by dental school faculty.

Complimentary continuing dental education credit is available for alumni, faculty, and residents. Register at Go.uth.edu/SODSRS.