Suffolk Reporter

Abdel Hameed Mahmoud, DDS, currently a PhD student at the Department of Oral Biology and Pathology at Stony Brook School of Dental Medicine (SDM), has been awarded first place for his research poster at the American Association of Endodontists (AAE) annual meeting held in Boston, Massachusetts. This recognition highlights his work on a novel drug delivery system for endodontic therapy.

His research, titled “An Innovative Injectable Retrievable and Sustainable Drug Delivery System for Endodontic Therapy,” introduces a new thermo-reversible hydrogel. This composition, when combined with calcium hydroxide and salicylic acid, shows efficacy in eradicating E. faecalis biofilm, enhancing intracanal delivery and retrievability in endodontic treatments. Mahmoud's work stood out among over 160 participants at the event, which is noted as the largest conference for the specialty.

“It’s truly an incredible honor to have my research recognized by the AAE,” Mahmoud expressed. He added that receiving first place among peers from prestigious institutions is both humbling and rewarding. Mahmoud emphasized, “In addition to it being a personal achievement, it highlights the exceptional clinical and research training I’ve received at Stony Brook School of Dental Medicine. I’m especially grateful for the incredible support and mentorship from my supervisors. Their guidance has been instrumental throughout this journey.”

Stephen Walker, interim associate dean for research at the SDM and co-author of the paper, conveyed the school's pride in Mahmoud's dedication. "We are so proud of Dr. Mahmoud not only for being acknowledged in such a fashion, but for the commitment to excellence he demonstrated through each step in the research process," Walker said.

Among Mahmoud’s mentors were Miriam Rafailovich from Stony Brook University’s Department of Materials Science and Chemical Engineering; Marcia Simon from the SDM’s Department of Oral Biology and Pathology; and Thomas Manders, DDS, Jerome Cymerman, DMD, and Rita O’Dwyer, DDS, from the Department of Periodontics and Endodontics. This achievement follows Mahmoud's previous success at the SDM’s annual Research Symposium, where he also won an award for the same research poster.

For further information, the full story can be accessed on the School of Dental Medicine website.