ADAF honors Intel winners

Atlanta鈥擣or the sixth year in a row, the ADA Foundation sponsored the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair as a way of stimulating interest in oral health research and recognizing the work of young scientists.

Drs. Rodway Mackert (a former member of the ADA Council on Scientific Affairs), Barry Hammond and Solon Kao of the Medical College of Georgia served as judges at the May 11-17 event, along with fellow MCG professor Mohammed Elsalanty, M.D.

The ADAF sponsored three awards: $2,000 for first place, $1,000 for second place and $500 for third place.

First prize went to sophomore David Christopher Evans, 16, of Midvale, Utah, for his project entitled, “A Novel Anti-Microbial Bone Graft Comprising Microencapsulated Antibiotic Within a Degradable Polymer Coating.” Second prize went to senior Ashwathi Sarayu Mohan, 18, of San Antonio for her project entitled, “A Cell-Specific Approach for Early Diagnosis and Targeted Therapy of Oral Cancer.” Third prize went to Sanchita Singal, 17, a junior from New Hyde Park, N.Y., Mili Mehta, 17, senior from Old Westbury, N.Y., and Lara Arielle Fourman, 16, junior from Plainview, N.Y., for their project entitled, “Remote Activated Chip-Based Drug Release System Using Nanoparticles as an Anti-Cancer Therapeutic.”

“It is an honor to have my research recognized by the American Dental Association,” Mr. Evans said. “My research involves a bone graft design for preventing and treating infections. The bone graft releases antibiotic slowly over time and is ideal for dental surgery. I plan to study this new design in an animal model for approval by the FDA.”

The Intel ISEF is held each May and is the world’s largest pre-college celebration of science, bringing together more than 1,200 high school students from 40 countries. Organizations representing a wide variety of scientific disciplines affiliate with the Intel ISEF as Special Awards Organizations. Special Awards sponsorship is open to corporations; scientific, mathematical, and engineering societies; agencies of the federal government; and colleges and universities.

For more information about the annual competition, visit www.sciserv.org/isef/about.聽