ADASRI

Simone Duarte, DDS, PhD, MS
Senior director
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Dr. Simone Duarte leads the activities of ADASRI's Department of Applied Research. In addition to supervising the department's researchers, she manages the department’s laboratory testing of dental materials and devices, ANSI/ADA standards methods development, and ADA Seal of Acceptance certification of over-the-counter oral health care products. Dr. Duarte’s research interests include searching for valuable therapies for the control of biofilm-dependent oral diseases. Among novel therapies for the prevention and treatment of oral biofilms, she has been working with alternative approaches to improve oral health in the US and globally.

(The following profiles are listed alphabetically.)

Kristy Azzolin
Manager, research and laboratory operations
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Kristy Azzolin manages the operational activities at the ADASRI laboratory in Chicago, including helping to connect dental students and post-graduate researchers with internship opportunities. She helps to develop and implement standards and guidelines for product testing and evaluation, including monitoring dental office water systems. Kristy's areas of interest include infection control and quality and compliance.

Ashley Bowers, MS
Research associate, chemistry
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Ashley Bowers conducts research at the ADASRI laboratory in Chicago. She assists with evaluating products for the ADA Seal of Acceptance, developing test methods for use in ANSI/ADA and ISO standards, and developing testing procedures for oral care products. Ashley's areas of interest include desensitization and remineralization, oral care products, ANSI/ADA standards, and the ADA Seal of Acceptance.

Caroline Coradi Tonon, DDS, MSc, PhD
Senior scientist, microbiology
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Dr. Caroline Coradi Tonon conducts research at the ADASRI laboratory in Chicago. She develops new strategies for the prevention and treatment of biofilm-dependent oral diseases by testing antimicrobial and cytotoxic properties of new therapies, dental products and materials. Her areas of interest include microbiology, cell culture, antibiotic resistance, and photodynamic therapy.

Prerna Gopal, BDS, PhD
Senior manager, microbiology and chemistry
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Dr. Prerna Gopal leads the ADASRI's efforts to develop new innovative methods for evaluating safety and efficacy of dental products. She is actively involved in research and development of dental standards and manages the scientific operation of the ADA Seal of Acceptance program. Dr. Gopal's areas of interest include microbiology, dental materials, the ADA Seal of Acceptance, dental standards, and infection control.

Max Gruber
Research associate, dental materials and devices
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Max Gruber conducts research at the ADASRI laboratory in Chicago. He studies fracture toughness testing of zirconia restorations. Max's areas of interest include additive manufacturing and 3D-printable materials; metallic, polymeric, and ceramic materials for biomedical applications; standards development; and advanced characterization of dental materials using high-resolution electron and synchrotron X-ray microscopy/spectroscopy.

Yukiko Koizumi, DDSc, PhD
Senior research associate, microbiology
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Dr. Yukiko Koizumi conducts research at the ADA Science & Research Institute laboratory in Chicago. She studies and tests in vitro oral biofilm models for assessment of antimicrobial and cytotoxic properties of dental products and materials. Dr. Koizumi's areas of interest include restorative materials, endodontic materials, antimicrobial materials, infection control, and preventive dentistry.

Lawrence Lett, MS
Research associate, ADA Seal of Acceptance Program
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Lawrence Lett supports the ADA Seal of Acceptance program’s relationship with manufacturers of over-the-counter oral health care products. He also supports the Independent Research Testing Site Qualification program run by the Seal of Acceptance. Lawrence's areas of interest include the ADA Seal of Acceptance, oral care products, and dental research.

Henry Lukic
Senior research associate, dental materials and devices research
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Henry Lukic conducts research at the ADASRI laboratory in Chicago. His areas of interest include orthodontic materials, composite and zirconia restorative materials, antimicrobial materials, additive manufacturing in dentistry, and research dissemination and communications.

Yifeng Liao, PhD
Senior principal scientist, dental materials and devices research
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Dr. Yifeng Liao conducts dental materials and instruments research at the ADASRI laboratory in Chicago. His research focuses on the synthesis, processing, characterization, and application of biomedical materials and dental devices. Dr. Liao's areas of interest include additive manufacturing and 3D-printable materials; metallic, polymeric, and ceramic materials for biomedical applications; standards development; and advanced characterization of dental materials using high-resolution electron and synchrotron X-ray microscopy/spectroscopy.

Spiro Megremis, MS, PhD
Director, dental materials and devices research
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Dr. Spiro Megremis leads a team of scientists and engineers who perform general and applied dental research, including laboratory testing of dental materials and products, using both standard and novel test methods. He and his research group at the ADA hold three patents on dental testing equipment. Dr. Megremis has over 25 years of research experience related to medical and dental materials and equipment, during which time he has published in peer-reviewed journals, written several book chapters, and lectured extensively on the subject of dental materials and equipment. His areas of interest include dental materials, including polymer-based restorative materials and dental zirconia; corrosion and surface sciences; additive and subtractive manufacturing technologies for dentistry; dental instruments and devices, including dental handpieces and curing units; and research translation and dissemination.

Raquel Miera
Research scientist, dental materials and devices research
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Raquel Miera conducts research at the ADASRI laboratory in Chicago. She studies the physical and thermal behavior of plastic orthodontic materials. Raquel's areas of interest include restorative materials, endodontic materials, and antimicrobial materials.

Beatriz Panariello, DDS, MSc, PhD 
Senior Research Associate
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Dr. Beatriz Panariello is responsible for leading and assisting in the writing and submission of external funding grant applications across departments. She also oversees the creation and submission of important manuscripts while coordinating experimental design for significant research projects in oral sciences. Her research focuses on identifying preventive and treatment options for oral diseases caused by biofilms.

Christina Tyrakowski, PhD
Manager, chemistry
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Dr. Christina Tyrakowski conducts research at the ADASRI laboratory in Chicago. She assists with evaluating ADA Seal of Acceptance product submissions, reviews and develops test methods for use in ANSI/ADA and ISO standards, evaluates oral care products for safety and efficacy, and develops testing procedures for oral care products. Dr. Tyrakowski's areas of interest include desensitization and remineralization, oral care products, standards, and the ADA Seal of Acceptance.