By DentistryUnited News Desk
In a stunning convergence of advanced imaging and artistic brilliance, HSDM r. Y.W. Stacy Cho, DMD22, DMSc26, has been named one of the winners of the prestigious Koch Institute Image Awards for her vivid scientific artwork titled “Periodontal Petals.” The image, now on display at the Koch Institute Public Galleries at MIT, offers a breathtaking view into the spatial organization of human gum tissue and how it’s shaped by oral inflammatory disease.
The image was produced using CODEX (co-detection by indexing)—a cutting-edge multiplexed imaging method—through a collaborative study involving Harvard School of Dental Medicine’s Kim/Chen Lab, MIT’s Shalek Lab, and the Jiang Lab at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. The visual captures the intricate process by which stem cell-derived cells (highlighted in neon green) migrate and specialize into various gingival cell types, including connective tissue (magenta) and epithelial cells (green and red).
The team—including Stephanie Yiu, Ankit Basak, Ye Won Cho, Laura Kiessling, Chia-Yu Chen, Alex K. Shalek, David Kim, and Sizun Jiang—used this approach to explore how epithelial cells may contribute to immune signaling, playing roles in both infection control and inflammation regulation.
“This image does more than inform,” said Dr. Cho. “It provides a spatial and cellular narrative of how periodontitis progresses—transforming a routine dental concern into a deeper biological mystery.”
A striking short video that accompanies the still image offers a dynamic exploration of the cellular choreography in the gingiva. You can view it here:
Watch on YouTube
While the image is undeniably beautiful, its implications are grounded in serious science. It paves the way for new research into immunomodulatory pathways and potential therapeutic targets for periodontal disease.
Still, as the team cheekily notes: “Daily brushing and flossing is the best way to prevent this work of art from blooming in your mouth.”
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Credits:
Image and research courtesy of Dr. Y.W. Stacy Cho (Kim/Chen Lab, HSDM), Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research at MIT, and collaborators at BIDMC. https://ki-images.mit.edu/2025/Basak-2
For full details and to view the award-winning image, visit the Koch Institute Gallery:
Koch Institute Image Awards Gallery https://ki-images.mit.edu/2025/Basak-2
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