Thirty-four students from universities on the U.S. mainland and in Puerto Rico participated in a trio of student research training programs this past summer — the largest group since NYUCD began offering summer research training three years ago.

“Students are drawn by the opportunity to train with professors who have won major NIH research funding,” said Dr. Kathleen C. Kinnally, Professor of Basic Science and Craniofacial Biology, who oversees the three programs: a five-year, NIH-funded grant for minority predoctoral dental students from NYU, Howard University, Tuskegee University and the University of Puerto Rico; an NIH-funded NYU Oral Epidemiology Research Training Program for NYUCD predoctoral students; and a Dean’s Student Research Fund program for NYUCD students who are between their first and second years. The students organized a poster presentation, which highlighted topics such as cardiac tissue engineering, programmed cell death and the under-representation of minorities in clinical trials.

“Next summer,” said Dr. Kinnally, “we hope to welcome many more students.