Click on the relevant section or name links inside the SALSI 2023 Scientific Schedule to know more about the Speaker, the topic and the time of the lecture session
SALSI 2023 Scientific Schedule
SALSI Inaugural Session (LIVE)
Welcome Note
Chief Guest's Speech
Chairman's Message
Welcome Note
January 27, 2023 (Friday) 9:00 am IST by Dr Rujuta Patil, Scientific Head, KROYNAS, India
Chief Guest's Speech
January 27, 2023 (Friday) 9:05 am IST by Dr Paul Desmond Slowey, CEO, Oasis diagnostics, USA
Chairman's Message
January 27, 2023 (Friday) 9:25 am IST by Dr Gargi Roy Goswami, Director, KROYNAS, India
DAY 1
International Plenary Speaker
Title: Salivary Diagnostics- The State of Play
January 27 (Friday) @ 9:30 am IST
Dr. Paul Desmond Slowey
CEO, Oasis Diagnostics, USA
Abstract
About Speaker
Abstract
This presentation will cover a number of aspects related to the burgeoning market for salivary diagnostics. After discussing a brief background to salivary diagnostics, the presentation will cover a selection of the dominant technologies used to diagnose diseases using saliva, a number of unique and exciting technologies that are either commercially available or soon to enter the market, and the future of saliva liquid biopsy testing using exosomes derived from saliva specimens.
About Speaker
Dr Slowey is the Founder and Owner of Oasis Diagnostics® Corporation and its subsidiary Company, Bamburgh Marrsh LLC, founded in 2002, each is a pioneer in the area of oral fluid diagnostics and testing. Dr Slowey’s background is in Organic Chemistry; after being awarded his Doctorate from the University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne (UK), he spent several years as a Post Doctoral Fellow in Canada and then 5 years in the pharmaceutical industry with Sterling Drug [UK]. He has over 32 years of experience in the clinical diagnostic and pharmaceutical industries combined. Over the years he has held positions as Director of International Sales and Chief Operating Officer (COO) and Vice President of Sales and Marketing for companies that were the original pioneers in the development of saliva diagnostic rapid tests for infectious diseases, and oral fluid collection devices. He has extensive experience in structuring strategic alliances and license agreements with both start-up and Fortune 500 companies. Dr Slowey has 30 publications in peer-reviewed journals, fifteen (15) issued patents, twelve (12) filed patent applications and he has made a number of oral presentations at key scientific symposia on a variety of subjects including HIV diagnosis, nucleic acid testing, the status of oral fluid testing, the Japanese Healthcare Business and Thyrotropin Receptor Antibody Assays for the Diagnosis of Graves’ Disease.
Dr Slowey is the Founder and Co Organizer of the North American Saliva Symposium [NASS, www.salivasymposium.com ] and is a Director of a teaching college in Kampala, Uganda [Bridgeford College].
Title: The Neonatal Salivary Microbiome as a Predictor of Health and Diseases
January 27 (Friday) @ 9:00 pm IST LIVE
Dr. Jill L Maron
Cheif of Pediatrics, Women & Infants Hospital, Brown University, USA
Abstract
About Speaker
Abstract
Neonatal gut microbial colonization plays a defining role in both the short- and long-term health of the developing infant. Infants develop their initial gastrointestinal microbial colonization via swallowing, inhalation, and skin-to-skin contact shortly after birth. Thus, biospecimens, such as saliva, have the potential to provide an accurate view of ongoing neonatal gut colonization patterns, as well as human and microbial response to emerging colonization in the setting of morbidities. In a series of a two small pilot studies, we have 1.) chronicled the developing neonatal microbiome through genomic saliva and concomitant stool analyses and 2.) performed metatranscriptomic (e.g. simultaneous genomic and gene expression) salivary analyses to risk stratify infants for impending morbidities based on colonization patterns and response. While salivary microbial profiles did not predict stool colonization, a metatranscriptomic analysis of neonatal saliva highlights disruptive pathways and networks associated with morbidities that can be seen prior to disease onset. These data suggest that saliva is a non-invasively and highly informative biofluid that provides insight into both humans, as well as microbial, gene function and host response.
About Speaker
In June of 2021, Care New England announced the appointment of Jill L. Maron, MD, MPH, to Chief of Pediatrics at Women & Infants Hospital. We enthusiastically welcomed Dr. Maron into our Department of Pediatrics on October 1, 2021. She serves as the Oh-Zopfi Endowed Chair of Pediatrics at The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University.
Previously, Dr. Maron served as the Vice Chair of Pediatric Research and Executive Director of the Mother Infant Research Institute (MIRI) at Tufts Children’s Hospital.
Dr. Maron comes to Women & Infants Hospital with a wealth of experience, and someone who is regarded as a well-respected expert in her field. She has been a gifted clinician, researcher and mentor at Tufts MC since finishing her fellowship in Newborn Medicine in 2006. In the past 15 years, she has built a strong reputation as an international leader in the development and integration of salivary and genetic diagnostic platforms to rapidly assess genetic disorders, neonatal morbidities and potential developmental disorders in newborns. Dr. Maron also currently serves as Principal Investigator (PI) on three NIH-funded multicenter clinical trials. She has published extensively in the field. She also serves as Professor of Pediatrics at Tufts University School of Medicine, with a secondary Professorship appointment in Obstetrics & Gynecology.
In 2016, Dr. Maron became Executive Director of MIRI when its founder and long-standing mentor, Dr. Diana Bianchi, was tapped to direct the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Over the five years since, Dr. Maron has transformed MIRI into a first-in-kind research center to address all aspects of pregnancy by expanding its maternal and neonatal research focus to include placental biology and pathology. She has doubled the number of talented researchers and grown the funded research portfolio by over 500 percent. Through Dr. Maron’s stewardship, MIRI is now well poised to continue to make important discoveries that advance health care for pregnant women and their infants.
She will continue her research endeavors, creating her own research institute at Women & Infants Hospital and looks forward to strengthening the neonatal academic and clinical mission at Brown.
National Plenary Speaker
Title: Paradigm Of Oral Healthcare Research: Explore The Unexplored
January 27 (Friday) @ 6:30 pm IST LIVE
Dr Gargi Roy Goswami
Director, KROYNAS Pvt. Ltd., Chennai, India
Chairman SALSI
Abstract
About Speaker
Abstract
The paradigm of oral healthcare research is a broad field that encompasses a wide range of disciplines and sub-disciplines, including saliva and genomics research. Advances in these areas have led to a better understanding of the role of saliva in oral health and the identification of genetic markers for oral diseases.
One of the significant advances in saliva research is the development of non-invasive diagnostic tools that can detect oral diseases by analyzing saliva samples. This has the potential to revolutionize the way oral diseases are diagnosed and treated, as it is less invasive and more cost-effective than traditional methods. Additionally, researchers are exploring the use of saliva as a source of biomarkers to aid in the diagnosis and monitoring of various systemic diseases.
Genomics research has also made significant advances in oral healthcare, with the identification of genetic markers for oral diseases such as periodontitis and oral cancer. This has led to the development of targeted therapies that can more effectively treat these diseases. Additionally, researchers are exploring the use of genetic information to predict an individual’s risk of developing oral diseases and to personalize treatment plans.
Despite these advances, oral healthcare research still faces several challenges, such as a lack of funding and a shortage of qualified personnel. There are also several unexplored areas in oral healthcare research, including the study of oral diseases and disorders in low-income and marginalized populations and the impact of environmental factors on oral health.
The field of oral healthcare research offers a wide range of career opportunities, both in academia and industry. Researchers in this field can work in universities, government agencies, or private research institutions. They may also work in the pharmaceutical or biotechnology industries, developing new drugs and therapies. Additionally, there are many opportunities for oral healthcare researchers to work in the public sector, developing policies and programs to improve oral health.
The interdisciplinary education of oral healthcare researchers is crucial to address the complex oral health issues and to provide evidence-based solutions. Furthermore, research in oral healthcare should be evidence-based, meaning that it should be based on reliable and unbiased data collected through rigorous scientific methods.
In conclusion, the paradigm of oral healthcare research is a dynamic field that offers many opportunities for exploration and discovery in saliva and genomics research. Despite the challenges, research in this field holds great promise for advancing our understanding of oral health and developing new and more effective treatments. Interdisciplinary education and evidence-based research are crucial to achieve this goal.
About Speaker
Dr Gargi Roy Goswami is an interdisciplinary oral healthcare professional, a Geneticist and a General Dentist by training, an Academician by passion and a Scientist by heart.
She has authored a book on “Swab to Saliva – Covid 19 Detection Strategies”
She has been an invited guest speaker at many prestigious national and international conferences including Saliva Symposium Australia 2021 and conducts many courses and workshops pertaining to dental genetics and saliva diagnostics
She has been honoured with the Special Jury award of FAMDENT Dental Entrepreneur of the year, 2017 and the Indian Dental Diva Young achiever’s award 2018.
She earned her undergraduate degree in Dentistry (BDS) from, Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, Bangalore and also pursued a Certificate course in Dental Lasers, Bangalore. Prior to her BDS, she completed a postgraduate degree in Applied Genetics (M.Sc. Applied Genetics, Bangalore University). Her primary research interest caters to the field of Oral cancer genetics and has more than 10 years of experience in the field. She is an alumnus of Jawaharlal Nehru University (UNU), New Delhi. She also worked as a Project Associate at the School of Medical Sciences and Technology (SMST), IT Kharagpur, West Bengal.
She is an invited Honorary Peer Reviewer selected by. an NRF Specialist Committee comprising of academics from Higher Education/Research Institutions (HEI) in South Africa to assist South Africa’s National Research Foundation (NRF).
She is passionate and motivated to revolutionize oral healthcare by fostering interdisciplinary scientific knowledge by connecting genetics, genomics, biotechnology, molecular biology and bioinformatics knowledge with dental and clinical sciences.
She is passionate about science journalism and science communication and runs a free interdisciplinary e-magazine, GENOMEDEN.
Her skill sets in a brief
Leadership skills:
– Founder and Director, Indian Academy for Clinical and Dental Genetics (first-of-its-kind academic endeavour in India)
– Director, KROYNAS Pvt. Ltd. (the first company in India to address the field of dental genetics and saliva diagnostics training and education)
– Pioneered to initiate the first and unique interdisciplinary scientific conference, the International Saliva Summit of India (SALSI) that brings together academician, researchers and industry under one roof.
Key areas of technical expertise in basic sciences: Genetics, Animal cell culture, Molecular biology techniques, Immunological techniques, etc.
Key areas of expertise in dental sciences: General dentistry and Laser dentistry
Research interest: Oral cancer genetics, Saliva diagnostics and therapeutics
Through her company, KROYNAS, she also provides content marketing and scientific writing services to national and international clients from the Biotech & Genomics industry and is successful to keep them happy and satisfied. KROYNAS team is creative to convert your product or services’ USPs, publications of clinical research data or patient diagnostics data into a strategic digital story with the help of simple text and graphics for your target client.
She loves to perform Indian Classical Dance form – Kathak (Jaipur gharana) [ professional dancer], painting on canvas, glass painting, Cooking
International Keynote Speakers
Title: Quantitation of the cellular content of saliva and buccal swab samples and its application to epigenomics
January 27, 2023, @ 11:00 am IST
Dr Jeffrey Craig
Deakin University, Australia
Abstract
About Speaker
Abstract
Buccal swabs and saliva are often used for medical research but have been used interchangeably, despite evidence that both contain buccal cells and blood leukocytes in different proportions. Such heterogeneity can confound ‘omic’ analysis.
In our first study, we collected both types of oral samples from children and adults and, using Papanicolaou staining, measured the proportions of epithelial cells and leukocytes. We confirmed that buccal swabs contained a higher proportion of epithelial cells than saliva and that children have a greater proportion of such cells in saliva compared to adults. We showed that in children, gingivitis is associated with a higher proportion of leukocytes in saliva. We, therefore, suggest that a quick oral health questionnaire and/or microscopic analysis will be of great benefit for downstream applications. In all human epigenomic analyses to date, no such pre-analysis has been performed and buccal cell proportions have been estimated using a deconvolution algorithm based on the proxy of epithelial cell lines.
In our second study, we compared the two methods to estimate cellular heterogeneity in oral samples. We used data generated from cytological staining and Infinium Methylation EPIC arrays and the EpiDISH deconvolution algorithm from buccal and saliva samples collected from twenty adults. We found that the two are highly correlated in saliva and buccal samples. In addition, by using an expanded dataset from both sample types, we confirmed our finding that age has a significant negative correlation with epithelial cell proportion in both sample types. However, children and adults showed a large within-population variation in cellular heterogeneity. Our results validate the use of the most commonly-used cellular deconvolution algorithm in estimating the effect of cellular heterogeneity in epigenomic studies.
About Speaker
Prof Jeff Craig studies the role of epigenetics in mediating the effects of early life environment on chronic disease risk. His expertise also includes twin studies and birth cohorts.
Professor Jeff Craig is a lecturer in Medical Sciences at School of Medicine at Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, Victoria. He has a BSc in Genetics and Cell Biology from the University of Manchester, a PhD from the University of Edinburgh and a Grad. Cert. in Higher Education Learning and Teaching from Deakin. His research goal is to apply techniques of epigenetics and cell biology to develop biomarkers of health and disease. This includes a focus on the role of epigenetics in mediating the effects of early life environment on the risk for chronic conditions.
Prof Craig is the Course Director for the Bachelor of Health and Medical Sciences at Deakin‘s School of Medicine. He also lectures to several undergraduate courses at Deakin and other universities. He bases his teaching philosophy on knowledge, innovation, support and trust. He aims to inspire and train students with skills that will enable them to be job ready. And to think, reflect, challenge, and discover their innate skills.
Prof Craig has established many longitudinal cohorts in collaboration with clinicians and epidemiologists. Most have involved twins because of their ability to resolve the effects of genes and environments. His longest-running cohort is the Peri/postnatal Epigenetic Twin Study (PETS). He is currently funded by the NHMRC to study cognition and brain structure & function in 11-year-old PETS twins. Prof Craig is a Chief Investigator on the NHMRC-funded Twins Centre of Research Excellence. He is also the President of the International Society for Twin Studies and an advocate for twins and their families.
In 2018 Prof Craig established the multidisciplinary network ‘Gen(e)quality’. Its broad aim is to develop ideas on the technical, ethical, legal and social implications of epigenetics research and testing. A specific, current aim of Gen(e)quality is to engage with sections of the public to co-design guides on epigenetics and epigenetic testing.
Prof Craig is an active science communicator and over one million people have read his articles in The Conversation. He is also interested in the two-way interactions between human health and the health of the environment.
Title: Rethinking Saliva and Its Impact on Human Resilience and Athletic Performance Recovery
January 27, 2023, @ 12:00 pm IST
Patti Tveit Milligan, PhD RD CNS
High Performance Travel & Resilience Nutritionist, Fountain Hills, Arizona, United States
Abstract
About Speaker
Abstract
This is critical because saliva is a vital fluid for survival and plays a key role in both digestive and immune functions. In addition, our saliva adds to our pleasure and sensory appreciation of our foods and eating experiences. It may be a bit surprising, but we produce between 1-2 litres of saliva daily in our typical environment. We are hard-wired for this connection as it happens without us knowing about it. Our saliva production drops as much as 30-50% of normal production during air travel. Emerging science is connecting the quality of our saliva production to a variety of key indicators of health conditions as well as the state of recovery. Most interesting is the connection to personal resilience and autonomic nervous system balance-Especially for the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) tone and recovery side of training.
Saliva production and flow is governed by the parasympathetic nervous system which is tied to rest, relaxation, digestion, and renewal. This system is called the key to rejuvenation and resilience. The opposite of adequate saliva flow is a dry mouth. This often happens when the body is in a state of fight or flight—our stress survival response. This response hijacks our saliva production and suppresses spit flow in times of anxiety, depression, fear, or stress.
Researchers from the Univ of Calgary in Canada raise concern about the pronounced increase in mental illness, anxiety and depression and the resulting reduction in saliva production which appears to erode well-being and resilience. When someone doesn’t produce enough saliva/spit it is known in medicine as Xerostomia. Oral Health Foundation indicates there is a real and urgent need to investigate the impact of dry mouth and its corresponding quality of life.
During my doctorate studies, my research revealed that air travel can reduce saliva production by 30-50% and result in lowered resilience and travel fatigue. Air travel is one of the most intense and unnatural conditions we put our bodies through. Becoming “Spit Conscious” and learning practical ways to “enhance the flow” can change your life and has the potential to influence the world’s health and well-being. In my presentation, I will share ways you can raise the level of your juiciness!
About Speaker
Patti has been in the nutrition field for 39 years. Her work and passion in the field of Neuroscience of Taste have led her to the field of saliva research and exploring the “why” we like certain foods vs others.
Working in both the clinical nutrition and integrative medicine/natural foods fields, Patti brings a unique blend of clinical, educational, holistic, consumer, and PR experience. For the last 15 years, Patti has led the high-performance nutrition program optimizing and impacting brain and body performance for global business executives and their teams. Patti was Partner and Director of Nutrition for TIGNUM before accepting a position on their Science Innovation Board.
She has been involved in the development of an innovative healthy foods restaurant (Daily’s Fit & Fresh) in Southern California, instrumental as part of the start-up team at Sprouts Farmers Market, creating community nutrition outreach partnerships and initiating functional nutritional protocols
Her latest venture is the Founder of Jet Renewal Kit, a travel immune and well-being nutrition kit to take when you fly based on her saliva immune resilience doctorate research.
Travel is a passion, and she loves exploring especially in serving others in capacities of compassion and basic needs fulfilment.
You will see her volunteering with seniors as well as utilizing her nutrition skills to help with children’s cancer charities.
Educational Background// Doctorate in Neuroscience of Taste, Registered Dietitian, Herbal Medicine and Botanical Medicine certificate, Biochemistry Certified Specialist, MS in Sports Medicine & Consumer Sciences, BS in Foods and Nutrition, Sensory/Taste Sommelier.
Title: Saliva Omics As A Molecular Diagnostic For Alzheimer’s Disease
January 27, 2023, @ 1:00 pm IST
Dr Wayne Leifert
University of Adelaide, Australia
Abstract
About Speaker
Abstract
Background: The metabolomic and proteomic basis of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is poorly understood and the relationships between systemic abnormalities in metabolism and AD/AMCI pathogenesis are unclear. There is a need to detect this disease early before even subtle changes occur in cognition. Detecting early
changes in saliva AD biomarkers is a feasible method. Sample collection is economical, and non-invasive and saliva is an abundant source of proteins and metabolites.
Objective: The aim of the study was to compare the metabolomic and proteomic signature of saliva from cognitively normal and patients diagnosed with MCI or AD, to identify specific cellular pathways altered with the progression of the disease. Methods: We analyzed 80 saliva samples from individuals with MCI or AD as well as age- and gender-matched healthy controls. Saliva proteomic and metabolomic analyses were conducted utilizing mass spectrometry methods and data combined using pathway analysis. ELISA from individuals with AD (n = 16), MCI (n = 15) and cognitively normal (n = 29) was measured for Cystatin-C, Interleukin-1 receptor antagonist, Stratifin, Matrix metalloproteinase 9 and Haptoglobin proteins.
Results: We found significant alterations in multiple cellular pathways, demonstrating that at the omics level, disease progression impacts numerous cellular processes. Multivariate statistics using SIMCA showed that partial least squares-data analysis could be used to provide separation of the three groups. The ELISA results showed a significantly altered abundance in saliva from AD and MCI, and were consistent with the mass spectrometry data.
Conclusion: This study found significant changes in metabolites and proteins from multiple cellular pathways in saliva. These changes were associated with AD, demonstrating that this approach might prove useful to identify new biomarkers based upon the integration of multi-omics parameters. The results also provide evidence for saliva being a valuable source of biomarkers for early detection of cognitive impairment in individuals on the AD continuum and potentially other neurodegenerative diseases
About Speaker
Wayne Leifert is a Principal Research Scientist at CSIRO (Australia). He received his PhD in Nutritional Biochemistry (Dept of Physiology) from the University of Adelaide (Australia) and serves on the editorial board of the Journal of Biomolecular Screening, Expert Opinion on Drug Discovery, Journal of Bionanoscience and Frontiers in Nutrigenomics as well as other journals in the field of medical biochemistry. He has affiliate status at Flinders University (College of Medicine and Public Health) and is an Honorary Associate Professor at the University of Adelaide (Molecular & Biomedical Science).
Title: SalivaDirect:From Open-source PCR Test To National Laboratory Network
January 27, 2023, @ 2:00 pm IST
Anne Wyllie, PhD
Research Scientist at Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases Yale School of Public Health, USA
Abstract
About Speaker
Abstract
Background: The COVID-19 pandemic presented an unprecedented demand for diagnostic testing. Testing was essential for isolating infected individuals and epidemiological surveillance for public health countermeasures but was frequently strained by high costs, inadequate infrastructure and supply chain disruptions. To overcome these challenges, we developed a low-cost, open-source test in an effort to deliver equitable testing. Key to this was saliva.
Methods: We developed ‘SalivaDirect’ to simplify testing by demonstrating the sensitivity of saliva for SARS-CoV-2 detection; developing clear self-collection instructions; eliminating collection tubes with preservatives; bypassing nucleic acid extraction; validating each step with reagents and instruments from multiple suppliers; demonstrating stable detection after prolonged periods at elevated temperatures; and establishing a novel regulatory model. Recently, we have validated this approach for the detection of influenza A/B, RSV and pox.
Results: Since being granted emergency use authorization (August 2020), 200+ laboratories across 42 US states have been designated to deploy the SalivaDirect SARS-CoV-2 protocol; more than 8 million tests have been run. SalivaDirect’s open-source, streamlined design allows laboratories to utilize existing infrastructure, thereby facilitating rapid scaleup, while enabling quicker turnaround times and ensuring actionable results. Additional approaches, including unsupervised self-collection, direct-to-consumer collection kits, and pooled sample testing, increase autonomy, making it an invaluable option for numerous communities.
Conclusions: The advances in test innovation throughout the pandemic have demonstrated what could be possible for respiratory pathogens across the board. Our extensive validation of saliva and the international implementation of SalivaDirect has demonstrated saliva as sensitive and reliable for SARS-CoV-2 detection. Importantly, this simplified approach is demonstrating applicability to other infectious diseases. Being less invasive and less resource-intensive than other sample types, saliva-based testing can lead to more equitable and sustainable testing and surveillance programs. As a result, saliva can bolster the public health response, particularly in low-resource and remote environments.
About Speaker
Anne Wyllie, Ph.D. is a Research Scientist and Principal Investigator of SalivaDirect at Yale University. Having worked with saliva as a clinical specimen for bacterial detection for over 10 years, Wyllie is an expert in the laboratory methods required for working with saliva and skillfully applied these early in the pandemic for sensitive SARS-CoV-2 detection. Since, Wyllie has become well-recognized for pushing forward on the use of saliva as a superior sample for creating high-quality, low-cost SARS-CoV-2 testing. Her innovation throughout the pandemic, and her commitment to open science has led to the development of freely, available PCR protocols, enabling laboratories across the US to rapidly implement accessible COVID-19 testing programs. Wyllie’s SalivaDirect Initiative at the Yale School of Public Health remains devoted to providing public health guidance and advancing saliva-based diagnostics for infectious disease.
Title: Salivary Diagnostics: Enhancing Disease Detection and Making Your Dental Practice Better
January 27, 2023, @ 3:30 pm IST
Dr Debora Heller
Universidade Cruzeiro do Sul, Sao Paulo, Brazil
Abstract
About Speaker
Abstract
Coming Soon
About Speaker
Dr. Debora Heller is a dental scientist and Assistant Professor in Dentistry at Universidade Cruzeiro do Sul and Researcher at Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, São Paulo, Brazil. She has a PhD in Oral biology from Boston University, a MSc from Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro and DDS from Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. She leads the Saliva Lab, a salivary research laboratory in São Paulo, Brazil. She is currently a Councilor for the IADR Salivary Research Group (2018-2021) and a member of the IADR Science Information Committee (2020-2021) and the Woman in Science Network.
Title: Saliva- The Key To Creating A Sustainable Diagnostic World
January 27, 2023, @ 5pm IST
Rita M May
Fishburn May Consulting Inc., North Carolina USA
About Speaker
Abstract
About Speaker
After decades in non-profit management, including the American Surgical Association, Society for Cardiovascular & Interventional Radiology, Council of Biomedical Research and Development at the New York Academy of Medicine, and
the Sjögren’s Syndrome Foundation, her experiences led to serving the confectionery industry as an oral health consultant, where she introduced Xylitol to the US market in 2001. She continues to consult in the food industry. In 2017, she was able to focus on these experiences as the developer of an eco-friendly, paper-based saliva detection device when she partnered with Dr. Cotesworth (Coty) Fishburne, a dental device inventor, to advance the FishburneTabsTM. The FishburneTabsTM are saliva indicators with potential within several industries as well as a clinical aid for physicians and dentists. Forming Fishburne May, LLC, she has partnered with Oasis Diagnostic Corporation of Portland, Oregon to bring this product line to the global market.
She holds a Masters degree in Organizational Development and Institutional Development from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Abstract
DAY 2
Title: Complications Of Sjogren’s Disease and Clinical Trials Done to Diagnose and Treat It
January 28, 2023, @ 9:00 am IST
Dr Athena Papas
Dean of Research, Distinguished Professor of Diagnostic Sciences, Johansen Professor of Dental Research, Dept. of Oral Medicine, Tufts University, USA
About Speaker
Abstract
About Speaker
Dr. Athena Papas received a DMD from Harvard, her PhD from MIT, and had a predoctoral fellowship at Massachusetts General Hospital and a postdoctoral fellowship at Children’s Hospital in the Orthopedic department. She now holds an appointment at the Tufts Medical Center.
As the Erling Johansen Professor of Dental Research and Distinguished Professor of Diagnostic Sciences at Tufts School of Dental Medicine, and the scope of Dr Papas’ research career has been in multiple areas of translational research, including medication and device therapies, caries incidence and remineralization in medically compromised patients with an emphasis on those suffering from Sjögren’s. She has conducted over 100 randomized clinical trials including phase I-IV FDA trials She has received multiple awards including the IADR Distinguished Scientist Award.
Abstract
Coming Soon
Title: Saliva Technology – Democratising Healthcare Delivery
January 28, 2023 @ 11:00 am IST
Prof. Chamindie Punyadeera
Professor at Griffith University, PhD, GCLead, GAICD, Head, Saliva and Liquid Biopsy Translational Laboratory, Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery (GRIDD) and Menzies Health Institute, Gold Coast, Griffith University, Australia.
Abstract
About Speaker
Abstract
During the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, it became evident that there is a need for non-invasive methods of testing to reduce the spread of the virus. During this time, saliva testing came to the fore as a diagnostic medium. Saliva, a multi-constituent oral fluid is becoming popular as the preferred diagnostic medium over other body fluids because of the ease of collection and non-invasive nature. However, the implementation of saliva tests in a clinical laboratory setting requires research.
With an increasing link between oral health and systemic disease, saliva is now being explored as a diagnostic medium to diagnose cardiovascular diseases. We have used saliva as a sample matrix to diagnose patients with heart failure (N=75) from controls (N=36), and a panel of four proteins gave a sensitivity of 83.3%, and specificity of 62.5% with an area under a ROC curve of 0.78. This protein panel is now licensed to ESN Cleer (Australia). It is well established that tumours within the oral cavity secrete biomolecules into the saliva.
Currently, there are no diagnostic tests to detect oral cancer at an early stage; as such, most patients present with metastatic disease at the time of diagnosis. We have developed miRNA signatures for the early detection of oral cancer. The discriminative efficiency of our eight-miRNA panel to diagnose oral cancer vs healthy controls was AUC: 0.956 (CI: 0.921 –0.991, p<0.001), sensitivity: 82%, specificity: 98%, whereas between oral cancer and premalignant patients was AUC: 0.916 (CI: 0.856 – 0.976, p<0.001), sensitivity: 92%, specificity: 64%. We have also developed a highly sensitive assay to detect oropharyngeal cancers causing human papillomavirus in saliva samples. This HPV-16 DNA assay has a sensitivity of 90% and a specificity of 95%.
In conclusion, we demonstrate that salivary proteins and miRNA biomarkers are clinically useful in detecting heart failure and head and neck cancer early in a non-invasive manner, paving the way towards democratising future healthcare delivery.
About Speaker
Prof. Chamindie Punyadeera is an inventor and an ambassador to women in STEMM. She has had a hybrid research career working in industry as well as in academia. She has worked at Philips Electronics in the Netherlands and has been instrumental in developing Philips Mini-care I-20 for cardiac disease detection. She has also contributed to the development of an integrated platform to detect nucleic acids (Idylla TM ) commercialised by Biocartis NV (Belgium). She leads a world-class saliva research laboratory in Australia, > 15 researchers focusing on developing novel salivary technologies to detect heart disease and the application of liquid biopsy to accelerate precision treatment in cancers. She is the convenor of the inaugural saliva conference in Australasia in 2016, which is now a national conference. Prof. Punyadeera has 127 publications, 8 invited book chapters, cited 6000 times with an h-index of 42. She has also produced 18 PCT applications. She has partnered with Viome (USA) in translating saliva-based tests to predict oral and throat cancer- which received FDA approval in 2021. She has delivered keynote and invited lecturers both nationally and internationally. She is a grant reviewer for both national and international funding agencies and currently serves on the Editorial Board of the Journal of Oral Oncology, associate editor BMC Genomics and a guest editor to BMC Medical Genomics, Diagnostics and Biomolecules
Title: Use Of Salivary Hypothalamic-pituitary-
January 28, 2023 @ 8:30 pm IST
Dr Chinedu Udeh Momoh
Imperial College London, England
Abstract
About Speaker
Abstract
Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis hyperactivity evidenced by elevated glucocorticoid (GC) levels [– released as cortisol in man and corticosterone in rodents] has emerged as a putative risk factor for accelerated progression to MCI and Alzheimer’s disease (AD), even in cognitively normal elderly individuals with abnormal CSF amyloid -Aβ42 levels (Zheng et al 2020, Tsui et al 2020, Udeh-Momoh et al 2019). Given the influence of aberrant cortisol bioavailability on AD symptom development, therapeutic strategies modulating cortisol hyper-secretion may serve to impede disease progression (Watermeyer et al 2020). Focusing on time points prior to the onset of AD symptoms, I will present data from a detailed exploration of the HPA axis biological signature, where we describe fully the intracellular signalling actions of the glucocorticoid hormone at the preclinical stage. Novel findings depicting the molecular mechanisms that contribute to the notable circadian rhythm disturbances at the pre-pathology and pre-symptomatic stage will be presented (Udeh-Momoh et al., manuscript in preparation). Results will be related to findings from a human memory clinic cohort investigating salivary cortisol dynamics in relation to AD pathology and clinical outcomes.
We have previously described pro-cognate effects of brain and cognitive reserve indices in pre-symptomatic individuals at high risk for clinical progression linked to aberrant HPA axis and cerebral amyloid profile (Udeh-Momoh et al., 2019). Leveraging data from the landmark multidomain lifestyle clinical trial – FINGER, that reported cognitive and clinical benefits post intervention, I will additionally present on the impact of the FINGER intervention on change in cortisol bioavailability, including demographical, clinical and brain pathological determinants of the hypothesised treatment response.
About Speaker
Dr Chi Udeh-Momoh is a Neuroscientist based at Imperial College London and affiliated as a Senior Scientist with Karolinska Institutet and the University of Bristol. She is co-Investigator and scientific coordinator of one of the world’s largest longitudinal dementia-prevention programmes (CHARIOT:PRO) with > 2000 cognitively healthy older adults screened, and data on imaging and fluid biomarkers as well as neurocognitive and lifestyle factors collected at high throughput. In 2018, she initiated the FINGER-AFRICA project that aims to develop and implement culturally-sensitive and sustainable multimodal lifestyle intervention strategies targeting multi-morbidities including dementia, in Sub-Saharan African populations, and investigate underlying mechanisms contributing to observed effects, with European, US and African collaborators. Having completed a competitive CASE PhD studentship in Neuroscience and Neuroendocrinology at the MRC Centre for Synaptic Plasticity at the University of Bristol, her current research focuses on the brain-immune-endocrine system interplay in the aetiology and pathophysiology of neurocognitive disorders, particularly Alzheimer’s disease. She is co-Lead for the World-Wide FINGERS biomarker consortium, and sits on the Executive Committee of the Biofluids-based Professional Interest Area for Alzheimer’s Association facilitating several biomarker workgroups, including the saliva biomarkers for dementia and exosome work group. She uses translational research methodologies to address gaps in current understanding of underlying bio-psychosocial factors involved in manifestation of pathology and resultant presentation of clinical symptoms, primarily in the context of brain and cognitive reserve-related mechanisms, also evaluating sex/gender differences in risk factors and biological pathways; and has published as lead, senior and corresponding author in this field, with several grants and awards to execute this work. She is incredibly passionate about gender and racial disparities in medical research and academia; and alongside research in this area leads diversity initiatives as part of the Opportunity Committee at Imperial College School of Public Health, and further sits on the Board of Trustees of the British Society of Neuroendocrinology as the Equality and Diversity Inclusion Lead.
Title: Coming Soon
Prof. Manuel Jiménez López
Universidad Internacional de La Roja, Spain
Abstract
About Speaker
Abstract
Coming Soon
About Speaker
Dr. Manuel Jiménez is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Didactics in Physical Education and Health and of the department of educational psychology and psychobiology of the Faculty of Education (International University of La Rioja, Spain). He is a professor of the Master’s degree at the University of Malaga. He has been an Honorary Research Fellow at the University College of London. He is the coordinator of the Brain-Gamer project that analyzes the core responses of esports players. He has been the national coach of badminton of the Spanish team and has been a coordinator of the Ministry of Education and a member of the Canary Youth Council (Spain). Dr Manuel won the prize “Dr Fernández Pastor” for the best publication in sports medicine in 2012 and was a finalist in 2013.
National Keynote Speaker
Title: Saliva: A Mirror to Health, Wellness and Disease
January 28, 2022, @12:00 pm IST
Dr Vandana Shah
K M Shah Dental College, India
Abstract
About Speaker
Abstract
Whole saliva is a complex fluid, a mixture of the secretions of the major and minor salivary glands, mucosal transudations, gingival crevicular fluid, serum and blood derivatives from oral wounds, desquamated epithelial cells, expectorated bronchial and nasal secretions, bacteria and bacterial products, viruses and fungi, other cellular components, and food debris thus containing an entire library of hormones, proteins, enzymes, antibodies, antimicrobial constituents etc. Due to the speedy development in the field of salivaomics, saliva is now well accepted as a pool of biological markers and has immense potential as a diagnostic fluid as its collection does not require an invasive procedure, and is economical and useful for monitoring systemic health.
Salivary diagnostics holds great promise as an effective modality for early diagnosis, prognostication, and monitoring posttherapy status and has gained momentum in the past decade.
To be able to appreciate the significance and applications of saliva diagnostics, it is important to understand the science of human saliva i.e its formation and secretion, the factors modulating its secretion, composition, functions, the history of salivary diagnostics and its usefulness in various local and systemic diseases. This presentation gives an overview of all the mentioned aspects of saliva and a brief about the newer technologies applied in saliva
diagnostics.
About Speaker
Dr Vandana Shah is a Professor & Head, of the Department of Oral Maxillofacial Pathology, at K M Shah Dental College & Hospital, Gujarat. She became a faculty at KMSDCH in 1999. She is a Fellow of the College conferred by the International College of Continuing Dental Education in July 2013 and NDDSF State representative in March 2015 She has published more than 30 publications in areas of oral Pathology & Microbiology and has been organizing Chairperson of various CDE Programs, Symposium and Conventions. She also serves as an editorial board member for several journals, a committee member of the Academic Council, and Institutional Ethics Committee and the Director Students’ Welfare at Sumandeep Vidyapeeth University. She is a mentor and guide for postgraduate students and PhD scholars.
Title: Optimal Use of Social Media for Medical Professionals
January 28, 2023, @ 10:00 am IST
Dr Apurva Garg
MS, FACS, Fellow Head & Neck Surgery (TMH Mumbai) IFHNOS Global Fellow Head Neck Surgery & Oncology Consultant-Head & Neck Oncosurgery Vishesh Jupiter Hospital Indore, Madhya Pradesh India
Abstract
About Speaker
Abstract
Social media is a computer-based technology that facilitates the sharing of ideas, thoughts and information through virtual networks and communities. The major types of social media are social networking sites, microblogging sites, bookmarking and news sites, media sharing sites and blogs. Medical professionals need social media presence because of various reasons, the data in our country is very cheap, patients are very aware and informed, we need to create awareness about diseases, etc. Facebook and Instagram are for personal use, its always better to create a separate FB page and a different Instagram profile for professional use. Google business profiles and YouTube channels are very useful to connect with patients as they always search for specialists in the city, the channel will be useful for educative videos. Google scholar profile and Researchgate are very useful for sharing your research work and being aware about new publications. They are a must for every professional who is interested in academics and wants to be abreast with the latest developments. Twitter is a new source for academics and there are various threads by prominent scientists and doctors. Never engage with trolls or make profiles on each new platform. Social media is a two-edged sword, if used wisely and judiciously it will be very useful in creating awareness and building one`s practice.
About Speaker
Dr. Apurva Garg is a superspecialist Head and Neck oncosurgeon with over 14 years experience in evidence based comprehensive cancer care. He has been trained at the world renowned Tata Memorial Hospital Mumbai followed by consultancy at premier high volume tertiary oncology centers across India. He has helped transform many lives with ethical, scientific, comapassionate and best in class care. He has numerous research publications, presentations at national and international levels. Dr. Garg has wide global exposure of the superspeciality with keen interest in clinical research, academics, public health and mentoring new talents.
National Guest Speakers
Title: Evidence-based Oral Cancer Research: Importance & Implications
January 28, 2023, @ 7:00 pm IST
Dr Rujuta Patil
Scientific Head, KROYNAS, India
Abstract
About Speaker
Abstract
Oral cancer is the sixth most common malignancy worldwide. Important research into oral cancer is underway in many university hospitals, medical centers, and other institutions around the country. Each year, scientists find out more about what causes the disease, how to prevent it, and how to improve treatment. Performing impactful research in oral cancer is the need of the hour and Evidence based oral cancer research approach paves way in doing so. Evidence-based research is the use of prior research in a systematic and transparent way to inform a new study so that it is answering questions that matter in a valid, efficient, and accessible manner. Evidence-based research as an approach helps minimize unnecessary and irrelevant clinical health research that is unscientific, wasteful, and unethical, and further aids in providing high quality, useful and impactful research.
About Speaker
Scientific Head at KROYNAS Pvt. Ltd. She is MDS Periodontology and University rank holder.
Dr Rujuta has co-authored a book on ““Swab to Saliva – Covid 19 Detection Strategies” and has many publications to her credit
Title: The Sherlock’s Eyes
January 28, 2023 @ 8:00 pm IST
Dr Pooja Chakraborty
Forensic Odontologist, KROYNAS, India
Abstract
About Speaker
Abstract
This lecture is a part of training in SALSI 23 Online Activity based on Forensic Genomics
About Speaker
Dr Pooja Chakraborty is a Forensic Odontologist at KROYNAS, India.
She has completed her postgraduate degree, M.Sc in Forensic Odontology from Gujarat Forensic Sciences University, India. She also holds an undergraduate degree in dentistry (BDS).
She has been invited as a Guest Speaker at many national and international conferences and forums.
Title: Barriers to Use Saliva Diagnostic Tests in Clinical Practice- A Pilot Study
January 28, 2022, @ 3:00 pm IST
Dr Anisha Yaji
Senior Scientific Manager, KROYNAS, India
Abstract
About Speaker
Abstract
Saliva diagnostic tests are an increasingly popular method for detecting a variety of dental diseases and conditions. Recent advances, particularly in the standardization of the collection of specimens using saliva collection devices, have made it easy for the safe, simple, and non-invasive collection of samples from patients. Salivary diagnostics are already available for nucleic acid testing, drugs of abuse monitoring, and general wellness testing among others. In addition, clinical tests using mass spectrometry for steroid hormones (e.g., cortisol and testosterone) are already performed on saliva specimens in significant volumes in large reference laboratories in the United States. However, there are certain challenges associated with their use in dental practice. For example, the accuracy of these tests can vary depending on the quality and amount of saliva collected, and the results can be affected by certain external factors, such as the patient's diet, lifestyle, and medications. Additionally, the method of collection, cost and time taken for the collection of these tests can be prohibitive for some patients and practices. Hence a pilot study was conducted to assess the barriers to using saliva diagnostic tests in clinical practice- from a dentist’s perspective
About Speaker
Dr Anisha is Senior Scientific Manager at KROYNAS, India.
She is an experienced Consultant with a demonstrated history of working in the hospital & healthcare industry. Skilled in Myofascial Release Therapy, Clinical Research, Dentistry, Hospitals, and Oral Medicine. Strong consulting professional with an MDS focused on Oral medicine and Maxillofacial radiology from The Oxford Dental College.
Title: Saliva- An Evolving Diagnostic Tool for Rheumatoid Arthritis
January 28, 2023, @ 1:00 pm IST
Dr.Geetpriya Kaur
Director, Paradise Diagnostics, Delhi, India & Reader Department of Oral Pathology and Oral Microbiology Institute of Dental Studies and Technologies (IDST), Modinagar, India
Abstract
About Speaker
Abstract
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic musculoskeletal disease with extra-articular manifestations including the involvement of exocrine lacrimal and salivary glands. The oral manifestations of RA include hyposalivation and alteration in saliva components. Saliva is an integral part of the oral cavity. It is a complex mixture of fluid from major and minor salivary glands along with mucosal transudate and various other metabolites. The alteration of saliva function in RA is assumed to be related to the lymphocytic infiltrate present in the affected salivary glands. Saliva is beneficial for laboratory diagnosis, prognosis, and management of patients with RA. It is easily collected, stored, and contains specific biological markers. Potential salivary biomarkers for the diagnosis of RA are salivary microbiota, cytokines, and metabolites. Salivary microbiota of RA patients showed alteration in Hemophilus spp and Prevotella spp. Inflammatory destruction of connective tissue and surrounding bone is a characteristic feature of RA. This inflammatory destruction results from the cooperative actions of cytokines, reactive oxygen species, and proteolytic enzymes together with other proinflammatory mediators. Several inflammatory biomarkers such as interleukin (IL-6), matrix metalloproteinase (MMP-8), and tissue inhibitors of MMPs (TIMP-1) were detected in saliva. Hence, the whole saliva of RA patients may consist of serum-derived inflammatory biomarkers originating from inflammatory cells, collagen breakdown, or bone remodeling. Among salivary enzymes, the specific activity of salivary β–glucuronidase and isoenzyme A were significantly higher in RA patients. Thus, the determination of exoglycosidases is a useful tool for the diagnosis of early stages of salivary gland involvement in RA. Although, blood is still the gold standard for the diagnosis of RA, saliva can be considered as an alternative biologic fluid for diagnostic purposes.
About Speaker
Dr. Geetpriya Kaur is a successful Oral Pathologist, running a dental diagnostic centre for the past eight years. Currently, she is also working as a Reader in the Department of Oral Pathology and Oral Microbiology, Institute of Dental Studies and Technologies (IDST), India. She has many national and international publications.
Click on the relevant section or name links inside the SALSI 2023 Scientific Schedule to know more about the Speaker, the topic and the time of the lecture session
SALSI 2023 Scientific Schedule
SALSI Inaugural Session (LIVE)
Welcome Note
Chief Guest's Speech
Chairman's Message
Welcome Note
January 27, 2023 (Friday) 9:00 am IST by Dr Rujuta Patil, Scientific Head, KROYNAS, India
Chief Guest's Speech
January 27, 2023 (Friday) 9:05 am IST by Dr Paul Desmond Slowey, CEO, Oasis diagnostics, USA
Chairman's Message
January 27, 2023 (Friday) 9:25 am IST by Dr Gargi Roy Goswami, Director, KROYNAS, India
International Plenary Speaker
Dr. Paul Desmond Slowey
CEO, Oasis Diagnostics, USA
Title: Salivary Diagnostics- The State of Play
January 27 (Friday) @ 9:30 am IST
Abstract
About Speaker
Abstract
This presentation will cover a number of aspects related to the burgeoning market for salivary diagnostics. After discussing a brief background to salivary diagnostics, the presentation will cover a selection of the dominant technologies used to diagnose diseases using saliva, a number of unique and exciting technologies that are either commercially available or soon to enter the market, and the future of saliva liquid biopsy testing using exosomes derived from saliva specimens.
About Speaker
Dr Slowey is the Founder and Owner of Oasis Diagnostics® Corporation and its subsidiary Company, Bamburgh Marrsh LLC, founded in 2002, each is a pioneer in the area of oral fluid diagnostics and testing. Dr Slowey’s background is in Organic Chemistry; after being awarded his Doctorate from the University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne (UK), he spent several years as a Post Doctoral Fellow in Canada and then 5 years in the pharmaceutical industry with Sterling Drug [UK]. He has over 32 years of experience in the clinical diagnostic and pharmaceutical industries combined. Over the years he has held positions as Director of International Sales and Chief Operating Officer (COO) and Vice President of Sales and Marketing for companies that were the original pioneers in the development of saliva diagnostic rapid tests for infectious diseases, and oral fluid collection devices. He has extensive experience in structuring strategic alliances and license agreements with both start-up and Fortune 500 companies. Dr Slowey has 30 publications in peer-reviewed journals, fifteen (15) issued patents, twelve (12) filed patent applications and he has made a number of oral presentations at key scientific symposia on a variety of subjects including HIV diagnosis, nucleic acid testing, the status of oral fluid testing, the Japanese Healthcare Business and Thyrotropin Receptor Antibody Assays for the Diagnosis of Graves’ Disease.
Dr Slowey is the Founder and Co Organizer of the North American Saliva Symposium [NASS, www.salivasymposium.com ] and is a Director of a teaching college in Kampala, Uganda [Bridgeford College].
Dr. Jill L Maron
Cheif of Pediatrics, Women & Infants Hospital, Brown University, USA
Title: The Neonatal Salivary Microbiome as a Predictor of Health and Diseases
January 27 (Friday) @ 9:00 pm IST LIVE
Abstract
About Speaker
Abstract
Neonatal gut microbial colonization plays a defining role in both the short- and long-term health of the developing infant. Infants develop their initial gastrointestinal microbial colonization via swallowing, inhalation, and skin-to-skin contact shortly after birth. Thus, biospecimens, such as saliva, have the potential to provide an accurate view of ongoing neonatal gut colonization patterns, as well as human and microbial response to emerging colonization in the setting of morbidities. In a series of a two small pilot studies, we have 1.) chronicled the developing neonatal microbiome through genomic saliva and concomitant stool analyses and 2.) performed metatranscriptomic (e.g. simultaneous genomic and gene expression) salivary analyses to risk stratify infants for impending morbidities based on colonization patterns and response. While salivary microbial profiles did not predict stool colonization, a metatranscriptomic analysis of neonatal saliva highlights disruptive pathways and networks associated with morbidities that can be seen prior to disease onset. These data suggest that saliva is a non-invasively and highly informative biofluid that provides insight into both humans, as well as microbial, gene function and host response.
About Speaker
In June of 2021, Care New England announced the appointment of Jill L. Maron, MD, MPH, to Chief of Pediatrics at Women & Infants Hospital. We enthusiastically welcomed Dr. Maron into our Department of Pediatrics on October 1, 2021. She serves as the Oh-Zopfi Endowed Chair of Pediatrics at The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University.
Previously, Dr. Maron served as the Vice Chair of Pediatric Research and Executive Director of the Mother Infant Research Institute (MIRI) at Tufts Children’s Hospital.
Dr. Maron comes to Women & Infants Hospital with a wealth of experience, and someone who is regarded as a well-respected expert in her field. She has been a gifted clinician, researcher and mentor at Tufts MC since finishing her fellowship in Newborn Medicine in 2006. In the past 15 years, she has built a strong reputation as an international leader in the development and integration of salivary and genetic diagnostic platforms to rapidly assess genetic disorders, neonatal morbidities and potential developmental disorders in newborns. Dr. Maron also currently serves as Principal Investigator (PI) on three NIH-funded multicenter clinical trials. She has published extensively in the field. She also serves as Professor of Pediatrics at Tufts University School of Medicine, with a secondary Professorship appointment in Obstetrics & Gynecology.
In 2016, Dr. Maron became Executive Director of MIRI when its founder and long-standing mentor, Dr. Diana Bianchi, was tapped to direct the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Over the five years since, Dr. Maron has transformed MIRI into a first-in-kind research center to address all aspects of pregnancy by expanding its maternal and neonatal research focus to include placental biology and pathology. She has doubled the number of talented researchers and grown the funded research portfolio by over 500 percent. Through Dr. Maron’s stewardship, MIRI is now well poised to continue to make important discoveries that advance health care for pregnant women and their infants.
She will continue her research endeavors, creating her own research institute at Women & Infants Hospital and looks forward to strengthening the neonatal academic and clinical mission at Brown.
National Plenary Speaker
Dr Gargi Roy Goswami
Director, KROYNAS Pvt. Ltd., Chennai, India
Chairman SALSI
Title: Paradigm Of Oral Healthcare Research: Explore The Unexplored
January 27 (Friday) @ 6:30 pm IST LIVE
Abstract
About Speaker
Abstract
The paradigm of oral healthcare research is a broad field that encompasses a wide range of disciplines and sub-disciplines, including saliva and genomics research. Advances in these areas have led to a better understanding of the role of saliva in oral health and the identification of genetic markers for oral diseases.
One of the significant advances in saliva research is the development of non-invasive diagnostic tools that can detect oral diseases by analyzing saliva samples. This has the potential to revolutionize the way oral diseases are diagnosed and treated, as it is less invasive and more cost-effective than traditional methods. Additionally, researchers are exploring the use of saliva as a source of biomarkers to aid in the diagnosis and monitoring of various systemic diseases.
Genomics research has also made significant advances in oral healthcare, with the identification of genetic markers for oral diseases such as periodontitis and oral cancer. This has led to the development of targeted therapies that can more effectively treat these diseases. Additionally, researchers are exploring the use of genetic information to predict an individual’s risk of developing oral diseases and to personalize treatment plans.
Despite these advances, oral healthcare research still faces several challenges, such as a lack of funding and a shortage of qualified personnel. There are also several unexplored areas in oral healthcare research, including the study of oral diseases and disorders in low-income and marginalized populations and the impact of environmental factors on oral health.
The field of oral healthcare research offers a wide range of career opportunities, both in academia and industry. Researchers in this field can work in universities, government agencies, or private research institutions. They may also work in the pharmaceutical or biotechnology industries, developing new drugs and therapies. Additionally, there are many opportunities for oral healthcare researchers to work in the public sector, developing policies and programs to improve oral health.
The interdisciplinary education of oral healthcare researchers is crucial to address the complex oral health issues and to provide evidence-based solutions. Furthermore, research in oral healthcare should be evidence-based, meaning that it should be based on reliable and unbiased data collected through rigorous scientific methods.
In conclusion, the paradigm of oral healthcare research is a dynamic field that offers many opportunities for exploration and discovery in saliva and genomics research. Despite the challenges, research in this field holds great promise for advancing our understanding of oral health and developing new and more effective treatments. Interdisciplinary education and evidence-based research are crucial to achieve this goal.
About Speaker
Dr Gargi Roy Goswami is an interdisciplinary oral healthcare professional, a Geneticist and a General Dentist by training, an Academician by passion and a Scientist by heart.
She has authored a book on “Swab to Saliva – Covid 19 Detection Strategies”
She has been an invited guest speaker at many prestigious national and international conferences including Saliva Symposium Australia 2021 and conducts many courses and workshops pertaining to dental genetics and saliva diagnostics
She has been honoured with the Special Jury award of FAMDENT Dental Entrepreneur of the year, 2017 and the Indian Dental Diva Young achiever’s award 2018.
She earned her undergraduate degree in Dentistry (BDS) from, Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, Bangalore and also pursued a Certificate course in Dental Lasers, Bangalore. Prior to her BDS, she completed a postgraduate degree in Applied Genetics (M.Sc. Applied Genetics, Bangalore University). Her primary research interest caters to the field of Oral cancer genetics and has more than 10 years of experience in the field. She is an alumnus of Jawaharlal Nehru University (UNU), New Delhi. She also worked as a Project Associate at the School of Medical Sciences and Technology (SMST), IT Kharagpur, West Bengal.
She is an invited Honorary Peer Reviewer selected by. an NRF Specialist Committee comprising of academics from Higher Education/Research Institutions (HEI) in South Africa to assist South Africa’s National Research Foundation (NRF).
She is passionate and motivated to revolutionize oral healthcare by fostering interdisciplinary scientific knowledge by connecting genetics, genomics, biotechnology, molecular biology and bioinformatics knowledge with dental and clinical sciences.
She is passionate about science journalism and science communication and runs a free interdisciplinary e-magazine, GENOMEDEN.
Her skill sets in a brief
Leadership skills:
– Founder and Director, Indian Academy for Clinical and Dental Genetics (first-of-its-kind academic endeavour in India)
– Director, KROYNAS Pvt. Ltd. (the first company in India to address the field of dental genetics and saliva diagnostics training and education)
– Pioneered to initiate the first and unique interdisciplinary scientific conference, the International Saliva Summit of India (SALSI) that brings together academician, researchers and industry under one roof.
Key areas of technical expertise in basic sciences: Genetics, Animal cell culture, Molecular biology techniques, Immunological techniques, etc.
Key areas of expertise in dental sciences: General dentistry and Laser dentistry
Research interest: Oral cancer genetics, Saliva diagnostics and therapeutics
Through her company, KROYNAS, she also provides content marketing and scientific writing services to national and international clients from the Biotech & Genomics industry and is successful to keep them happy and satisfied. KROYNAS team is creative to convert your product or services’ USPs, publications of clinical research data or patient diagnostics data into a strategic digital story with the help of simple text and graphics for your target client.
She loves to perform Indian Classical Dance form – Kathak (Jaipur gharana) [ professional dancer], painting on canvas, glass painting, Cooking
International Keynote Speakers
Dr Jeffrey Craig
Deakin University, Australia
Title: Quantitation of the cellular content of saliva and buccal swab samples and its application to epigenomics
January 27, 2023, @ 11:00 am IST
Abstract
About Speaker
Abstract
Buccal swabs and saliva are often used for medical research but have been used interchangeably, despite evidence that both contain buccal cells and blood leukocytes in different proportions. Such heterogeneity can confound ‘omic’ analysis.
In our first study, we collected both types of oral samples from children and adults and, using Papanicolaou staining, measured the proportions of epithelial cells and leukocytes. We confirmed that buccal swabs contained a higher proportion of epithelial cells than saliva and that children have a greater proportion of such cells in saliva compared to adults. We showed that in children, gingivitis is associated with a higher proportion of leukocytes in saliva. We, therefore, suggest that a quick oral health questionnaire and/or microscopic analysis will be of great benefit for downstream applications. In all human epigenomic analyses to date, no such pre-analysis has been performed and buccal cell proportions have been estimated using a deconvolution algorithm based on the proxy of epithelial cell lines.
In our second study, we compared the two methods to estimate cellular heterogeneity in oral samples. We used data generated from cytological staining and Infinium Methylation EPIC arrays and the EpiDISH deconvolution algorithm from buccal and saliva samples collected from twenty adults. We found that the two are highly correlated in saliva and buccal samples. In addition, by using an expanded dataset from both sample types, we confirmed our finding that age has a significant negative correlation with epithelial cell proportion in both sample types. However, children and adults showed a large within-population variation in cellular heterogeneity. Our results validate the use of the most commonly-used cellular deconvolution algorithm in estimating the effect of cellular heterogeneity in epigenomic studies.
About Speaker
Prof Jeff Craig studies the role of epigenetics in mediating the effects of early life environment on chronic disease risk. His expertise also includes twin studies and birth cohorts.
Professor Jeff Craig is a lecturer in Medical Sciences at School of Medicine at Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, Victoria. He has a BSc in Genetics and Cell Biology from the University of Manchester, a PhD from the University of Edinburgh and a Grad. Cert. in Higher Education Learning and Teaching from Deakin. His research goal is to apply techniques of epigenetics and cell biology to develop biomarkers of health and disease. This includes a focus on the role of epigenetics in mediating the effects of early life environment on the risk for chronic conditions.
Prof Craig is the Course Director for the Bachelor of Health and Medical Sciences at Deakin‘s School of Medicine. He also lectures to several undergraduate courses at Deakin and other universities. He bases his teaching philosophy on knowledge, innovation, support and trust. He aims to inspire and train students with skills that will enable them to be job ready. And to think, reflect, challenge, and discover their innate skills.
Prof Craig has established many longitudinal cohorts in collaboration with clinicians and epidemiologists. Most have involved twins because of their ability to resolve the effects of genes and environments. His longest-running cohort is the Peri/postnatal Epigenetic Twin Study (PETS). He is currently funded by the NHMRC to study cognition and brain structure & function in 11-year-old PETS twins. Prof Craig is a Chief Investigator on the NHMRC-funded Twins Centre of Research Excellence. He is also the President of the International Society for Twin Studies and an advocate for twins and their families.
In 2018 Prof Craig established the multidisciplinary network ‘Gen(e)quality’. Its broad aim is to develop ideas on the technical, ethical, legal and social implications of epigenetics research and testing. A specific, current aim of Gen(e)quality is to engage with sections of the public to co-design guides on epigenetics and epigenetic testing.
Prof Craig is an active science communicator and over one million people have read his articles in The Conversation. He is also interested in the two-way interactions between human health and the health of the environment.
Patti Tveit Milligan, PhD RD CNS
High Performance Travel & Resilience Nutritionist, Fountain Hills, Arizona, United States
Title: Rethinking Saliva and Its Impact on Human Resilience and Athletic Performance Recovery
January 27, 2023, @ 12:00 pm IST
Abstract
About Speaker
Abstract
This is critical because saliva is a vital fluid for survival and plays a key role in both digestive and immune functions. In addition, our saliva adds to our pleasure and sensory appreciation of our foods and eating experiences. It may be a bit surprising, but we produce between 1-2 litres of saliva daily in our typical environment. We are hard-wired for this connection as it happens without us knowing about it. Our saliva production drops as much as 30-50% of normal production during air travel. Emerging science is connecting the quality of our saliva production to a variety of key indicators of health conditions as well as the state of recovery. Most interesting is the connection to personal resilience and autonomic nervous system balance-Especially for the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) tone and recovery side of training.
Saliva production and flow is governed by the parasympathetic nervous system which is tied to rest, relaxation, digestion, and renewal. This system is called the key to rejuvenation and resilience. The opposite of adequate saliva flow is a dry mouth. This often happens when the body is in a state of fight or flight—our stress survival response. This response hijacks our saliva production and suppresses spit flow in times of anxiety, depression, fear, or stress.
Researchers from the Univ of Calgary in Canada raise concern about the pronounced increase in mental illness, anxiety and depression and the resulting reduction in saliva production which appears to erode well-being and resilience. When someone doesn’t produce enough saliva/spit it is known in medicine as Xerostomia. Oral Health Foundation indicates there is a real and urgent need to investigate the impact of dry mouth and its corresponding quality of life.
During my doctorate studies, my research revealed that air travel can reduce saliva production by 30-50% and result in lowered resilience and travel fatigue. Air travel is one of the most intense and unnatural conditions we put our bodies through. Becoming “Spit Conscious” and learning practical ways to “enhance the flow” can change your life and has the potential to influence the world’s health and well-being. In my presentation, I will share ways you can raise the level of your juiciness!
About Speaker
Patti has been in the nutrition field for 39 years. Her work and passion in the field of Neuroscience of Taste have led her to the field of saliva research and exploring the “why” we like certain foods vs others.
Working in both the clinical nutrition and integrative medicine/natural foods fields, Patti brings a unique blend of clinical, educational, holistic, consumer, and PR experience. For the last 15 years, Patti has led the high-performance nutrition program optimizing and impacting brain and body performance for global business executives and their teams. Patti was Partner and Director of Nutrition for TIGNUM before accepting a position on their Science Innovation Board.
She has been involved in the development of an innovative healthy foods restaurant (Daily’s Fit & Fresh) in Southern California, instrumental as part of the start-up team at Sprouts Farmers Market, creating community nutrition outreach partnerships and initiating functional nutritional protocols
Her latest venture is the Founder of Jet Renewal Kit, a travel immune and well-being nutrition kit to take when you fly based on her saliva immune resilience doctorate research.
Travel is a passion, and she loves exploring especially in serving others in capacities of compassion and basic needs fulfilment.
You will see her volunteering with seniors as well as utilizing her nutrition skills to help with children’s cancer charities.
Educational Background// Doctorate in Neuroscience of Taste, Registered Dietitian, Herbal Medicine and Botanical Medicine certificate, Biochemistry Certified Specialist, MS in Sports Medicine & Consumer Sciences, BS in Foods and Nutrition, Sensory/Taste Sommelier.
Dr Wayne Leifert
University of Adelaide, Australia
Title: Saliva Omics As A Molecular Diagnostic For Alzheimer’s Disease
January 27, 2023, @ 1:00 pm IST
Abstract
About Speaker
Abstract
Background: The metabolomic and proteomic basis of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is poorly understood and the relationships between systemic abnormalities in metabolism and AD/AMCI pathogenesis are unclear. There is a need to detect this disease early before even subtle changes occur in cognition. Detecting early
changes in saliva AD biomarkers is a feasible method. Sample collection is economical, and non-invasive and saliva is an abundant source of proteins and metabolites.
Objective: The aim of the study was to compare the metabolomic and proteomic signature of saliva from cognitively normal and patients diagnosed with MCI or AD, to identify specific cellular pathways altered with the progression of the disease. Methods: We analyzed 80 saliva samples from individuals with MCI or AD as well as age- and gender-matched healthy controls. Saliva proteomic and metabolomic analyses were conducted utilizing mass spectrometry methods and data combined using pathway analysis. ELISA from individuals with AD (n = 16), MCI (n = 15) and cognitively normal (n = 29) was measured for Cystatin-C, Interleukin-1 receptor antagonist, Stratifin, Matrix metalloproteinase 9 and Haptoglobin proteins.
Results: We found significant alterations in multiple cellular pathways, demonstrating that at the omics level, disease progression impacts numerous cellular processes. Multivariate statistics using SIMCA showed that partial least squares-data analysis could be used to provide separation of the three groups. The ELISA results showed a significantly altered abundance in saliva from AD and MCI, and were consistent with the mass spectrometry data.
Conclusion: This study found significant changes in metabolites and proteins from multiple cellular pathways in saliva. These changes were associated with AD, demonstrating that this approach might prove useful to identify new biomarkers based upon the integration of multi-omics parameters. The results also provide evidence for saliva being a valuable source of biomarkers for early detection of cognitive impairment in individuals on the AD continuum and potentially other neurodegenerative diseases
About Speaker
Wayne Leifert is a Principal Research Scientist at CSIRO (Australia). He received his PhD in Nutritional Biochemistry (Dept of Physiology) from the University of Adelaide (Australia) and serves on the editorial board of the Journal of Biomolecular Screening, Expert Opinion on Drug Discovery, Journal of Bionanoscience and Frontiers in Nutrigenomics as well as other journals in the field of medical biochemistry. He has affiliate status at Flinders University (College of Medicine and Public Health) and is an Honorary Associate Professor at the University of Adelaide (Molecular & Biomedical Science).
Anne Wyllie, PhD
Research Scientist at Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases Yale School of Public Health, USA
Title: SalivaDirect:From Open-source PCR Test To National Laboratory Network
January 27, 2023, @ 2:00 pm IST
Abstract
About Speaker
Abstract
Background: The COVID-19 pandemic presented an unprecedented demand for diagnostic testing. Testing was essential for isolating infected individuals and epidemiological surveillance for public health countermeasures but was frequently strained by high costs, inadequate infrastructure and supply chain disruptions. To overcome these challenges, we developed a low-cost, open-source test in an effort to deliver equitable testing. Key to this was saliva.
Methods: We developed ‘SalivaDirect’ to simplify testing by demonstrating the sensitivity of saliva for SARS-CoV-2 detection; developing clear self-collection instructions; eliminating collection tubes with preservatives; bypassing nucleic acid extraction; validating each step with reagents and instruments from multiple suppliers; demonstrating stable detection after prolonged periods at elevated temperatures; and establishing a novel regulatory model. Recently, we have validated this approach for the detection of influenza A/B, RSV and pox.
Results: Since being granted emergency use authorization (August 2020), 200+ laboratories across 42 US states have been designated to deploy the SalivaDirect SARS-CoV-2 protocol; more than 8 million tests have been run. SalivaDirect’s open-source, streamlined design allows laboratories to utilize existing infrastructure, thereby facilitating rapid scaleup, while enabling quicker turnaround times and ensuring actionable results. Additional approaches, including unsupervised self-collection, direct-to-consumer collection kits, and pooled sample testing, increase autonomy, making it an invaluable option for numerous communities.
Conclusions: The advances in test innovation throughout the pandemic have demonstrated what could be possible for respiratory pathogens across the board. Our extensive validation of saliva and the international implementation of SalivaDirect has demonstrated saliva as sensitive and reliable for SARS-CoV-2 detection. Importantly, this simplified approach is demonstrating applicability to other infectious diseases. Being less invasive and less resource-intensive than other sample types, saliva-based testing can lead to more equitable and sustainable testing and surveillance programs. As a result, saliva can bolster the public health response, particularly in low-resource and remote environments.
About Speaker
Anne Wyllie, Ph.D. is a Research Scientist and Principal Investigator of SalivaDirect at Yale University. Having worked with saliva as a clinical specimen for bacterial detection for over 10 years, Wyllie is an expert in the laboratory methods required for working with saliva and skillfully applied these early in the pandemic for sensitive SARS-CoV-2 detection. Since, Wyllie has become well-recognized for pushing forward on the use of saliva as a superior sample for creating high-quality, low-cost SARS-CoV-2 testing. Her innovation throughout the pandemic, and her commitment to open science has led to the development of freely, available PCR protocols, enabling laboratories across the US to rapidly implement accessible COVID-19 testing programs. Wyllie’s SalivaDirect Initiative at the Yale School of Public Health remains devoted to providing public health guidance and advancing saliva-based diagnostics for infectious disease.
Dr Debora Heller
Universidade Cruzeiro do Sul, Sao Paulo, Brazil
Title: Salivary Diagnostics: Enhancing Disease Detection and Making Your Dental Practice Better
January 27, 2023, @ 3:30 pm IST
Abstract
About Speaker
Abstract
Coming Soon
About Speaker
Dr. Debora Heller is a dental scientist and Assistant Professor in Dentistry at Universidade Cruzeiro do Sul and Researcher at Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, São Paulo, Brazil. She has a PhD in Oral biology from Boston University, a MSc from Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro and DDS from Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. She leads the Saliva Lab, a salivary research laboratory in São Paulo, Brazil. She is currently a Councilor for the IADR Salivary Research Group (2018-2021) and a member of the IADR Science Information Committee (2020-2021) and the Woman in Science Network.
Rita M May
Fishburn May Consulting Inc., North Carolina USA
Title: Saliva- The Key To Creating A Sustainable Diagnostic World
January 27, 2023, @ 5pm IST
About Speaker
Abstract
About Speaker
After decades in non-profit management, including the American Surgical Association, Society for Cardiovascular & Interventional Radiology, Council of Biomedical Research and Development at the New York Academy of Medicine, and
the Sjögren’s Syndrome Foundation, her experiences led to serving the confectionery industry as an oral health consultant, where she introduced Xylitol to the US market in 2001. She continues to consult in the food industry. In 2017, she was able to focus on these experiences as the developer of an eco-friendly, paper-based saliva detection device when she partnered with Dr. Cotesworth (Coty) Fishburne, a dental device inventor, to advance the FishburneTabsTM. The FishburneTabsTM are saliva indicators with potential within several industries as well as a clinical aid for physicians and dentists. Forming Fishburne May, LLC, she has partnered with Oasis Diagnostic Corporation of Portland, Oregon to bring this product line to the global market.
She holds a Masters degree in Organizational Development and Institutional Development from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Abstract
Dr Athena Papas
Dean of Research, Distinguished Professor of Diagnostic Sciences, Johansen Professor of Dental Research, Dept. of Oral Medicine, Tufts University, USA
Title: Complications Of Sjogren’s Disease and Clinical Trials Done to Diagnose and Treat It
January 28, 2023, @ 9:00 am IST
About Speaker
Abstract
About Speaker
Dr. Athena Papas received a DMD from Harvard, her PhD from MIT, and had a predoctoral fellowship at Massachusetts General Hospital and a postdoctoral fellowship at Children’s Hospital in the Orthopedic department. She now holds an appointment at the Tufts Medical Center.
As the Erling Johansen Professor of Dental Research and Distinguished Professor of Diagnostic Sciences at Tufts School of Dental Medicine, and the scope of Dr Papas’ research career has been in multiple areas of translational research, including medication and device therapies, caries incidence and remineralization in medically compromised patients with an emphasis on those suffering from Sjögren’s. She has conducted over 100 randomized clinical trials including phase I-IV FDA trials She has received multiple awards including the IADR Distinguished Scientist Award.
Abstract
Coming Soon
Prof. Chamindie Punyadeera
Professor at Griffith University, PhD, GCLead, GAICD, Head, Saliva and Liquid Biopsy Translational Laboratory, Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery (GRIDD) and Menzies Health Institute, Gold Coast, Griffith University, Australia.
Title: Saliva Technology – Democratising Healthcare Delivery
January 28, 2023 @ 11:00 am IST
Abstract
About Speaker
Abstract
During the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, it became evident that there is a need for non-invasive methods of testing to reduce the spread of the virus. During this time, saliva testing came to the fore as a diagnostic medium. Saliva, a multi-constituent oral fluid is becoming popular as the preferred diagnostic medium over other body fluids because of the ease of collection and non-invasive nature. However, the implementation of saliva tests in a clinical laboratory setting requires research.
With an increasing link between oral health and systemic disease, saliva is now being explored as a diagnostic medium to diagnose cardiovascular diseases. We have used saliva as a sample matrix to diagnose patients with heart failure (N=75) from controls (N=36), and a panel of four proteins gave a sensitivity of 83.3%, and specificity of 62.5% with an area under a ROC curve of 0.78. This protein panel is now licensed to ESN Cleer (Australia). It is well established that tumours within the oral cavity secrete biomolecules into the saliva.
Currently, there are no diagnostic tests to detect oral cancer at an early stage; as such, most patients present with metastatic disease at the time of diagnosis. We have developed miRNA signatures for the early detection of oral cancer. The discriminative efficiency of our eight-miRNA panel to diagnose oral cancer vs healthy controls was AUC: 0.956 (CI: 0.921 –0.991, p<0.001), sensitivity: 82%, specificity: 98%, whereas between oral cancer and premalignant patients was AUC: 0.916 (CI: 0.856 – 0.976, p<0.001), sensitivity: 92%, specificity: 64%. We have also developed a highly sensitive assay to detect oropharyngeal cancers causing human papillomavirus in saliva samples. This HPV-16 DNA assay has a sensitivity of 90% and a specificity of 95%.
In conclusion, we demonstrate that salivary proteins and miRNA biomarkers are clinically useful in detecting heart failure and head and neck cancer early in a non-invasive manner, paving the way towards democratising future healthcare delivery.
About Speaker
Prof. Chamindie Punyadeera is an inventor and an ambassador to women in STEMM. She has had a hybrid research career working in industry as well as in academia. She has worked at Philips Electronics in the Netherlands and has been instrumental in developing Philips Mini-care I-20 for cardiac disease detection. She has also contributed to the development of an integrated platform to detect nucleic acids (Idylla TM ) commercialised by Biocartis NV (Belgium). She leads a world-class saliva research laboratory in Australia, > 15 researchers focusing on developing novel salivary technologies to detect heart disease and the application of liquid biopsy to accelerate precision treatment in cancers. She is the convenor of the inaugural saliva conference in Australasia in 2016, which is now a national conference. Prof. Punyadeera has 127 publications, 8 invited book chapters, cited 6000 times with an h-index of 42. She has also produced 18 PCT applications. She has partnered with Viome (USA) in translating saliva-based tests to predict oral and throat cancer- which received FDA approval in 2021. She has delivered keynote and invited lecturers both nationally and internationally. She is a grant reviewer for both national and international funding agencies and currently serves on the Editorial Board of the Journal of Oral Oncology, associate editor BMC Genomics and a guest editor to BMC Medical Genomics, Diagnostics and Biomolecules
Dr Chinedu Udeh Momoh
Imperial College London, England
Title: Use Of Salivary Hypothalamic-pituitary-
January 28, 2023 @ 8:30 pm IST
Abstract
About Speaker
Abstract
Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis hyperactivity evidenced by elevated glucocorticoid (GC) levels [– released as cortisol in man and corticosterone in rodents] has emerged as a putative risk factor for accelerated progression to MCI and Alzheimer’s disease (AD), even in cognitively normal elderly individuals with abnormal CSF amyloid -Aβ42 levels (Zheng et al 2020, Tsui et al 2020, Udeh-Momoh et al 2019). Given the influence of aberrant cortisol bioavailability on AD symptom development, therapeutic strategies modulating cortisol hyper-secretion may serve to impede disease progression (Watermeyer et al 2020). Focusing on time points prior to the onset of AD symptoms, I will present data from a detailed exploration of the HPA axis biological signature, where we describe fully the intracellular signalling actions of the glucocorticoid hormone at the preclinical stage. Novel findings depicting the molecular mechanisms that contribute to the notable circadian rhythm disturbances at the pre-pathology and pre-symptomatic stage will be presented (Udeh-Momoh et al., manuscript in preparation). Results will be related to findings from a human memory clinic cohort investigating salivary cortisol dynamics in relation to AD pathology and clinical outcomes.
We have previously described pro-cognate effects of brain and cognitive reserve indices in pre-symptomatic individuals at high risk for clinical progression linked to aberrant HPA axis and cerebral amyloid profile (Udeh-Momoh et al., 2019). Leveraging data from the landmark multidomain lifestyle clinical trial – FINGER, that reported cognitive and clinical benefits post intervention, I will additionally present on the impact of the FINGER intervention on change in cortisol bioavailability, including demographical, clinical and brain pathological determinants of the hypothesised treatment response.
About Speaker
Dr Chi Udeh-Momoh is a Neuroscientist based at Imperial College London and affiliated as a Senior Scientist with Karolinska Institutet and the University of Bristol. She is co-Investigator and scientific coordinator of one of the world’s largest longitudinal dementia-prevention programmes (CHARIOT:PRO) with > 2000 cognitively healthy older adults screened, and data on imaging and fluid biomarkers as well as neurocognitive and lifestyle factors collected at high throughput. In 2018, she initiated the FINGER-AFRICA project that aims to develop and implement culturally-sensitive and sustainable multimodal lifestyle intervention strategies targeting multi-morbidities including dementia, in Sub-Saharan African populations, and investigate underlying mechanisms contributing to observed effects, with European, US and African collaborators. Having completed a competitive CASE PhD studentship in Neuroscience and Neuroendocrinology at the MRC Centre for Synaptic Plasticity at the University of Bristol, her current research focuses on the brain-immune-endocrine system interplay in the aetiology and pathophysiology of neurocognitive disorders, particularly Alzheimer’s disease. She is co-Lead for the World-Wide FINGERS biomarker consortium, and sits on the Executive Committee of the Biofluids-based Professional Interest Area for Alzheimer’s Association facilitating several biomarker workgroups, including the saliva biomarkers for dementia and exosome work group. She uses translational research methodologies to address gaps in current understanding of underlying bio-psychosocial factors involved in manifestation of pathology and resultant presentation of clinical symptoms, primarily in the context of brain and cognitive reserve-related mechanisms, also evaluating sex/gender differences in risk factors and biological pathways; and has published as lead, senior and corresponding author in this field, with several grants and awards to execute this work. She is incredibly passionate about gender and racial disparities in medical research and academia; and alongside research in this area leads diversity initiatives as part of the Opportunity Committee at Imperial College School of Public Health, and further sits on the Board of Trustees of the British Society of Neuroendocrinology as the Equality and Diversity Inclusion Lead.
Prof. Manuel Jiménez López
Universidad Internacional de La Roja, Spain
Title: Coming Soon
Abstract
About Speaker
Abstract
Coming Soon
About Speaker
Dr. Manuel Jiménez is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Didactics in Physical Education and Health and of the department of educational psychology and psychobiology of the Faculty of Education (International University of La Rioja, Spain). He is a professor of the Master’s degree at the University of Malaga. He has been an Honorary Research Fellow at the University College of London. He is the coordinator of the Brain-Gamer project that analyzes the core responses of esports players. He has been the national coach of badminton of the Spanish team and has been a coordinator of the Ministry of Education and a member of the Canary Youth Council (Spain). Dr Manuel won the prize “Dr Fernández Pastor” for the best publication in sports medicine in 2012 and was a finalist in 2013.
National Keynote Speaker
Dr Vandana Shah
K M Shah Dental College, India
Title: Saliva: A Mirror to Health, Wellness and Disease
January 28, 2022, @12:00 pm IST
Abstract
About Speaker
Abstract
Whole saliva is a complex fluid, a mixture of the secretions of the major and minor salivary glands, mucosal transudations, gingival crevicular fluid, serum and blood derivatives from oral wounds, desquamated epithelial cells, expectorated bronchial and nasal secretions, bacteria and bacterial products, viruses and fungi, other cellular components, and food debris thus containing an entire library of hormones, proteins, enzymes, antibodies, antimicrobial constituents etc. Due to the speedy development in the field of salivaomics, saliva is now well accepted as a pool of biological markers and has immense potential as a diagnostic fluid as its collection does not require an invasive procedure, and is economical and useful for monitoring systemic health.
Salivary diagnostics holds great promise as an effective modality for early diagnosis, prognostication, and monitoring posttherapy status and has gained momentum in the past decade.
To be able to appreciate the significance and applications of saliva diagnostics, it is important to understand the science of human saliva i.e its formation and secretion, the factors modulating its secretion, composition, functions, the history of salivary diagnostics and its usefulness in various local and systemic diseases. This presentation gives an overview of all the mentioned aspects of saliva and a brief about the newer technologies applied in saliva
diagnostics.
About Speaker
Dr Vandana Shah is a Professor & Head, of the Department of Oral Maxillofacial Pathology, at K M Shah Dental College & Hospital, Gujarat. She became a faculty at KMSDCH in 1999. She is a Fellow of the College conferred by the International College of Continuing Dental Education in July 2013 and NDDSF State representative in March 2015 She has published more than 30 publications in areas of oral Pathology & Microbiology and has been organizing Chairperson of various CDE Programs, Symposium and Conventions. She also serves as an editorial board member for several journals, a committee member of the Academic Council, and Institutional Ethics Committee and the Director Students’ Welfare at Sumandeep Vidyapeeth University. She is a mentor and guide for postgraduate students and PhD scholars.
Dr Apurva Garg
MS, FACS, Fellow Head & Neck Surgery (TMH Mumbai) IFHNOS Global Fellow Head Neck Surgery & Oncology Consultant-Head & Neck Oncosurgery Vishesh Jupiter Hospital Indore, Madhya Pradesh India
Title: Optimal Use of Social Media for Medical Professionals
January 28, 2023, @ 10:00 am IST
Abstract
About Speaker
Abstract
Social media is a computer-based technology that facilitates the sharing of ideas, thoughts and information through virtual networks and communities. The major types of social media are social networking sites, microblogging sites, bookmarking and news sites, media sharing sites and blogs. Medical professionals need social media presence because of various reasons, the data in our country is very cheap, patients are very aware and informed, we need to create awareness about diseases, etc. Facebook and Instagram are for personal use, its always better to create a separate FB page and a different Instagram profile for professional use. Google business profiles and YouTube channels are very useful to connect with patients as they always search for specialists in the city, the channel will be useful for educative videos. Google scholar profile and Researchgate are very useful for sharing your research work and being aware about new publications. They are a must for every professional who is interested in academics and wants to be abreast with the latest developments. Twitter is a new source for academics and there are various threads by prominent scientists and doctors. Never engage with trolls or make profiles on each new platform. Social media is a two-edged sword, if used wisely and judiciously it will be very useful in creating awareness and building one`s practice.
About Speaker
Dr. Apurva Garg is a superspecialist Head and Neck oncosurgeon with over 14 years experience in evidence based comprehensive cancer care. He has been trained at the world renowned Tata Memorial Hospital Mumbai followed by consultancy at premier high volume tertiary oncology centers across India. He has helped transform many lives with ethical, scientific, comapassionate and best in class care. He has numerous research publications, presentations at national and international levels. Dr. Garg has wide global exposure of the superspeciality with keen interest in clinical research, academics, public health and mentoring new talents.
National Guest Speakers
Dr Rujuta Patil
Scientific Head, KROYNAS, India
Title: Evidence-based Oral Cancer Research: Importance & Implications
January 28, 2023, @ 7:00 pm IST
Abstract
About Speaker
Abstract
Oral cancer is the sixth most common malignancy worldwide. Important research into oral cancer is underway in many university hospitals, medical centers, and other institutions around the country. Each year, scientists find out more about what causes the disease, how to prevent it, and how to improve treatment. Performing impactful research in oral cancer is the need of the hour and Evidence based oral cancer research approach paves way in doing so. Evidence-based research is the use of prior research in a systematic and transparent way to inform a new study so that it is answering questions that matter in a valid, efficient, and accessible manner. Evidence-based research as an approach helps minimize unnecessary and irrelevant clinical health research that is unscientific, wasteful, and unethical, and further aids in providing high quality, useful and impactful research.
About Speaker
Scientific Head at KROYNAS Pvt. Ltd. She is MDS Periodontology and University rank holder.
Dr Rujuta has co-authored a book on ““Swab to Saliva – Covid 19 Detection Strategies” and has many publications to her credit
Dr Pooja Chakraborty
Forensic Odontologist, KROYNAS, India
Title: The Sherlock’s Eyes
January 28, 2023 @ 8:00 pm IST
Abstract
About Speaker
Abstract
This lecture is a part of training in SALSI 23 Online Activity based on Forensic Genomics
About Speaker
Dr Pooja Chakraborty is a Forensic Odontologist at KROYNAS, India.
She has completed her postgraduate degree, M.Sc in Forensic Odontology from Gujarat Forensic Sciences University, India. She also holds an undergraduate degree in dentistry (BDS).
She has been invited as a Guest Speaker at many national and international conferences and forums.
Dr Anisha Yaji
Senior Scientific Manager, KROYNAS, India
Title: Barriers to Use Saliva Diagnostic Tests in Clinical Practice- A Pilot Study
January 28, 2022, @ 3:00 pm IST
Abstract
About Speaker
Abstract
Saliva diagnostic tests are an increasingly popular method for detecting a variety of dental diseases and conditions. Recent advances, particularly in the standardization of the collection of specimens using saliva collection devices, have made it easy for the safe, simple, and non-invasive collection of samples from patients. Salivary diagnostics are already available for nucleic acid testing, drugs of abuse monitoring, and general wellness testing among others. In addition, clinical tests using mass spectrometry for steroid hormones (e.g., cortisol and testosterone) are already performed on saliva specimens in significant volumes in large reference laboratories in the United States. However, there are certain challenges associated with their use in dental practice. For example, the accuracy of these tests can vary depending on the quality and amount of saliva collected, and the results can be affected by certain external factors, such as the patient's diet, lifestyle, and medications. Additionally, the method of collection, cost and time taken for the collection of these tests can be prohibitive for some patients and practices. Hence a pilot study was conducted to assess the barriers to using saliva diagnostic tests in clinical practice- from a dentist’s perspective
About Speaker
Dr Anisha is Senior Scientific Manager at KROYNAS, India.
She is an experienced Consultant with a demonstrated history of working in the hospital & healthcare industry. Skilled in Myofascial Release Therapy, Clinical Research, Dentistry, Hospitals, and Oral Medicine. Strong consulting professional with an MDS focused on Oral medicine and Maxillofacial radiology from The Oxford Dental College.
Dr.Geetpriya Kaur
Director, Paradise Diagnostics, Delhi, India & Reader Department of Oral Pathology and Oral Microbiology Institute of Dental Studies and Technologies (IDST), Modinagar, India
Title: Saliva- An Evolving Diagnostic Tool for Rheumatoid Arthritis
January 28, 2023, @ 1:00 pm IST
Abstract
About Speaker
Abstract
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic musculoskeletal disease with extra-articular manifestations including the involvement of exocrine lacrimal and salivary glands. The oral manifestations of RA include hyposalivation and alteration in saliva components. Saliva is an integral part of the oral cavity. It is a complex mixture of fluid from major and minor salivary glands along with mucosal transudate and various other metabolites. The alteration of saliva function in RA is assumed to be related to the lymphocytic infiltrate present in the affected salivary glands. Saliva is beneficial for laboratory diagnosis, prognosis, and management of patients with RA. It is easily collected, stored, and contains specific biological markers. Potential salivary biomarkers for the diagnosis of RA are salivary microbiota, cytokines, and metabolites. Salivary microbiota of RA patients showed alteration in Hemophilus spp and Prevotella spp. Inflammatory destruction of connective tissue and surrounding bone is a characteristic feature of RA. This inflammatory destruction results from the cooperative actions of cytokines, reactive oxygen species, and proteolytic enzymes together with other proinflammatory mediators. Several inflammatory biomarkers such as interleukin (IL-6), matrix metalloproteinase (MMP-8), and tissue inhibitors of MMPs (TIMP-1) were detected in saliva. Hence, the whole saliva of RA patients may consist of serum-derived inflammatory biomarkers originating from inflammatory cells, collagen breakdown, or bone remodeling. Among salivary enzymes, the specific activity of salivary β–glucuronidase and isoenzyme A were significantly higher in RA patients. Thus, the determination of exoglycosidases is a useful tool for the diagnosis of early stages of salivary gland involvement in RA. Although, blood is still the gold standard for the diagnosis of RA, saliva can be considered as an alternative biologic fluid for diagnostic purposes.
About Speaker
Dr. Geetpriya Kaur is a successful Oral Pathologist, running a dental diagnostic centre for the past eight years. Currently, she is also working as a Reader in the Department of Oral Pathology and Oral Microbiology, Institute of Dental Studies and Technologies (IDST), India. She has many national and international publications.