Grace Lee (23), a fifth-year Bachelor of Dental Surgery student at the University of Otago, has been awarded the eminent Hatton International Dental Research Award this month in San Diego, California.
Lee was chosen by the International Association for Dental Research for her investigation into fungal cells in the human mouth. Lee’s research identified a pump inhibitor that could be used to eventually aid anti-fungal drugs in overcoming the growing problem of drug resistance. Overall Lee was awarded the top prize against dental students from Asia, Africa, America, Latin America, Europe and the Middle East.
Lee is the second New Zealand student to win the Hatton award in the last four years, with Shilpa Raju winning in 2008. Both students were supervised by Dr Ann Holmes of the University’s Faculty of Dentistry. Lee told the Otago Daily Times she was “very excited” to win the award and the $US1600 prize.
Top Dentistry Award for Otago Student
