David Wong Receives 2010 Bugliarello Prize

David Wong, an associate dean of research and a professor in the Division of Oral Biology and Medicine at the UCLA School of Dentistry, has been named the recipient of the 2010 George Bugliarello Prize. This is the second time the prize created in honor of Polytechnic Institute of NYU President Emeritus [USER:332|profilelink] has been awarded since its incipiency in 2007.

Wong is a dentist-scientist whose research focuses on the molecular determinants of head and neck cancer. He recently received two, four-year awards from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research for the creation of the UCLA Collaborative Oral Fluid Diagnostic Research Center and the Human Salivary Proteome Project. The salivary proteome project will map an entire catalogue of proteins in human saliva and will use microsensors to detect oral cancers and oral pathogens in saliva. Wong’s prize-winning article on "Salivary Diagnostics" presented a unique balance of biology, technology and benefit to society as well as offering "a number of surprises." 

The Bugliarello Prize is awarded for a superior interdisciplinary essay, review of research, or analytical article published in American Scientist, Sigma Xi's bimonthly magazine of science and engineering and carries a $5,000 award. The prize is chiefly endowed by gifts from the Teagle and Greenwall foundations in honor of President Emeritus Bugliarello, university professor of civil engineering and Sigma Xi's president from 1992-93.