Dental Medicine Intern Shines at Science Fair Competition

Jade Lubin, an NSU University School Upper School student, recently competed in the Miami-Dade STREAM Science Fair competition and was awarded a top-seven finalist prize among more than 200 students. Lubin is a National Institutes of Health Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility grant-supported intern at the NSU College of Dental Medicine.

Lubin’s research was supervised by Dr. Shin Nakamura and Dr. Toshihisa Kawai. She also presented the results of her summer/winter research internship in our laboratory under the supervision of Dr. Nakamura and Elizabeth Leon, a first-year dental student.

Lubin discovered that a novel bacterial protein, RagA, produced by P. gingivalis can cause the differentiation of osteoclasts, in the absence of RANKL that is an authentic permissive osteoclast-differentiation. P. gingivalis is a pathogen of periodontitis (gum disease) that is associated with Alzheimer’s disease and rheumatoid arthritis.

Lubin will be competing in the upcoming Florida state science fair and International High School Science Fair.

“This achievement highlights the significance of institutions like NSU in providing the necessary support and guidance for students to flourish and empowering them to reach their full potential, thereby contributing positively to both academia and society at large,” said Dr. Mauricio Schneider, director of Belonging, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion at the College of Dental Medicine.

Posted 03/03/24