The University of Iowa College of Dentistry is pleased to announce the 2023 Seed Grant Awards. This is the third year of the seed grant program, and these grants fund innovative projects from early-career investigators or established investigators who are developing a new line of research.

The National Institutes of Health awarded Shaoping Zhang, assistant professor of periodontics, and his team a 5-year, $1.95 million R01 grant to assess and understand the role of type I interferon (IFN-I) in periodontal disease. This major research project is part of Iowa Dentistry’s efforts to advance research and discovery—producing novel translational research that can treat those who suffer from periodontitis.

Steven "Steve" Vercande, a longtime staff member in the Department of Prosthodontics, passed away on January 18, 2023. He leaves a deep and abiding legacy at the college and the entire dental profession in Iowa. He will be missed. Information about arrangements will be communicated as they become available.