Young Investigator Award (SUNSTAR Award) Winners Announced at the 69th Annual Spring Meeting of the Japanese Society of Periodontology

At the 69th Annual Spring Meeting of the Japanese Society of Periodontology, the winners of the Young Investigator Award (SUNSTAR Award), sponsored by Sunstar Inc., were announced. The award ceremony was held on Friday, May 22, 2026, at Act City Hamamatsu in Shizuoka Prefecture. This award recognizes young researchers who have presented outstanding research at the academic meeting.

The recipients for fiscal year 2025 are Dr. Chihiro Imai from the Department of Periodontology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, and Dr. Ryosuke Fujimori from the Department of Periodontal Medicine, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University. Dr. Nobuo Yoshinari, President of the Japanese Society of Periodontology, presented them with the Japanese Society of Periodontology Young Investigator Award plaque, and Mr. Kentaro Yamashita, General Manager of the Basic Research & Development Department, Global Research & Development Division, Sunstar Group, presented them with a commemorative pen and prize money.

The Young Investigator Award (SUNSTAR Award) was established in 2015 to spotlight outstanding presentations by young researchers, and this year marks its 11th presentation. Sunstar will continue to support young researchers involved in periodontology through this award.

[Comments from the 2025 Award Winners]

Award Title: Effects of maternal ligature-induced periodontitis on the brains of offspring

Dr. Chihiro Imai
Department of Periodontology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University

I am deeply honored to receive the Sunstar Young Investigator Award. In this study, we investigated the effects of maternal periodontitis-induced oral microbiota disruption on the brain function and gut microbiota of offspring. By inducing ligature-induced periodontitis in female mice and analyzing their offspring, we observed decreased social behavior, reduced spontaneous locomotor activity, changes in gene expression and DNA methylation in the cerebellum, increased astrocytes, disruption of neural activity synchrony, and alterations in the gut microbiota.

These findings suggest that the maternal oral environment may influence brain development and function in the next generation, indicating a new systemic significance of periodontal disease. Finally, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Professor Takatoshi Iwata of the Department of Periodontology, Professor Sayaka Katagiri of the Department of Oral Life Science, and Professor Naofumi Uesaka of the Department of Cognitive Neurobiology at Tokyo Medical and Dental University, as well as all the other professors who provided invaluable guidance and support for this research.

Award Title: Gingipain-induced exacerbation of periodontitis and anti-IL-6 receptor antibody-mediated suppression of periodontitis in a P. gingivalis-infected mouse model

Dr. Ryosuke Fujimori
Department of Periodontal Medicine, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University

I am truly honored to receive the Sunstar Young Investigator Award. In this study, we investigated the exacerbating effect of gingipain, a virulence factor of Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg), which is known for its strong association with periodontitis, and the suppressive effect of anti-IL-6 receptor antibody, used as a treatment for rheumatoid arthritis, on periodontitis. Our results showed that gingipain increases the expression of inflammatory cytokines such as IL-6 and activates osteoclast differentiation, thereby exacerbating periodontitis. We also confirmed that anti-IL-6 receptor antibody suppresses the progression of periodontitis. These findings deepen our understanding of the mechanisms of periodontitis exacerbation by Pg infection and suggest that active periodontal treatment intervention for patients with periodontitis who are receiving anti-IL-6 receptor antibody therapy may lead to favorable treatment outcomes.

Finally, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to Professor Tomohiro Mizuno and Lecturer Kazuhisa Oubara of the Department of Periodontal Medicine, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, as well as all the other professors who provided invaluable support for this research.

[Reference]

Regarding awards at the Japanese Society of Periodontology, in addition to the Young Investigator Award established jointly with the Japanese Society of Periodontology in 2015 to recognize young researchers who present outstanding research at academic meetings, Sunstar also supports the Society Award (SUNSTAR Award), which recognizes researchers who have contributed to the development of the Japanese Society of Periodontology through long-term outstanding research, education, or clinical achievements in periodontology.

■ Details of the Japanese Society of Periodontology Sunstar Award System

Society Award: https://www.perio.jp/member/award/society.shtml

Young Investigator Award: https://www.perio.jp/member/award/young.shtml

For details on the award winners of the 69th Annual Spring Meeting of the Japanese Society of Periodontology, please see the newsletter.

https://jp.sunstar.com/notice/notice/20260604_007812.html

[About the Sunstar Group]

The Sunstar Group is a corporate group centered on the holding company Sunstar SA (Etoy, Switzerland), with core companies including Sunstar Suisse SA (Switzerland), which globally oversees consumer products and services such as oral care, health foods, and cosmetics, and Sunstar Singapore Pte. Ltd. (Singapore), which globally oversees industrial products and services such as adhesives and sealants for automotive and construction, and metal parts for motorcycles and automobiles.

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