June 28, 2016

Jordan Cheng, a fourth-year dental student, received the International Association for Dental Research (IADR) Norton Ross Fellowship. This fellowship allows a dental or postgraduate student to obtain training and experience in dental or related research. It is awarded every other year and rotates among the IADR Divisions (countries or continent regions).

Jordan Cheng, DMD 2017 candidate

Cheng, who is supervised by associate professor Dr. Lari Hakkinen in the Department of Oral Biological & Medical Sciences Laboratory of Periodontal Biology, garnered the fellowship for his proposal to analyze human gingival wound healing, with a special emphasis on cell communication through connexins such as Cx43. Cheng will develop his knowledge, understanding and application of proteomics techniques for assessing Cx43-induced proteome-wide changes in gingival fibroblasts and wounds.

The fellowship enables Cheng to visit the Salivary Diagnostics laboratory at the University of California, Los Angeles, led by Dr. David Wong. Wong’s laboratory is a world leader in using large-scale proteomic techniques to uncover novel salivary protein markers for various oral and systemic diseases. Cheng will undertake training in protein collection and purification, proteome analysis by mass spectrometry, and bioinformatics methods for proteome identification and analysis. In addition, he will participate in lab meetings and journal club sessions, where he will get the opportunity to discuss ideas and concepts with lab members.

Cheng received this fellowship at the IADR’s 94th General Session & Exhibition on June 22, 2016, in Seoul, Republic of Korea.