When it comes to the International Association of Dental Research (IADR) / American Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research (AADOCR) General Session, the UAB School of Dentistry is always well represented. This year was no different.
Considered a premier event in the field, the General Session is a gathering where researchers, academics, clinicians, and industry professionals from around the world come together to share the latest scientific advancements, exchange ideas, and discuss emerging trends in dental and craniofacial research. The event serves as a platform for fostering collaboration, promoting interdisciplinary research, and advancing the understanding and treatment of oral health issues.
With a school record 40 presentations that ranged from biomaterials and biomimetic, to oral cancer, oral microbiology, and genetics, to clinical outcomes and implementation science, UAB faculty, residents, postdocs, and students shared a broad array research findings to advance oral health.
Amjad Javed, Ph.D., the school’s associate dean for research, points out that SOD faculty and students have a rich history of involvement in the IADR and AADOCR, extending beyond scientific presentations into leadership positions. Four students have previously served as AADOCR National Student Research Group (NSRG) president and the school’s former associate dean of research was IADR president while at UAB.
This year, D.M.D./Ph.D. student Caris Smith is the president-elect of the AADOCR NSRG. Faculty representation within IADR/AADOCR includes:
- Hope Amm, Ph.D., president-elect of the IADR Oral Medicine & Pathology Group and member-at-large of the American Association for Dental Oral & Craniofacial Research (AADOCR)
- Kyounga “Cecilia” Cheon, D.M.D., M.S., member of the AADOCR Fellowship Committee
- Joana Cunha-Cruz, D.D.S., Ph.D., member of the AADOCR Ethics in Dental Research Committee
- Ashraf F. Fouad, councilor of the IADR Pulp Biology and Regeneration Group and member of the IADR Meeting Section Committee
- Gregg Gilbert, D.D.S., M.B.A., member of the IADR Science Information Committee
- Quamarul Hassan, Ph.D., judge, IADR Hatton Award “senior” category
- Amjad Javed, Ph.D., member of the AADOCR Training Directors Group
- Ping Zhang, D.M.D., Ph.D., vice president of the IADR Microbiology & Immunology Group
“The school’s footprint in IADR is phenomenal in comparison to our size,” Javed says. “Having this many leadership positions reflects the visibility and recognition UAB School of Dentistry continues to have on the national and international stages.”