Irish dentists scoop US awards for research

THE contribution of two Cork-based dentists to scientific research has been recognised by their international colleagues.

The International Association for Dental Research’s (IADR) annual meeting in the US presented 16 distinguished scientist awards, with two going to leading figures from Cork University Dental School and Hospital.

Professor Finbarr Allen, head of the school, received the geriatric oral research award for his pioneering work which focuses on the impact of oral disease on older people’s quality of life.

Along with colleagues in Britain, the US, Canada, Australia, Finland and Germany, he has helped to develop cost-effective treatment strategies and evidence-based guidelines for improving oral health in an ageing population.

Professor Helen Whelton, who is director of the oral health services research centre at the Cork dental school, was honoured with another distinguished scientist prize. She received the behavioral, epidemiologic and health services research Award, in recognition of her work in the areas of preventive dentistry and dental public health.

Prof Whelton was also elected to serve as the association’s vice-president at the annual meeting in San Diego in March.

It is not just the educators at the Cork University Dental School who are making the mark, as dentistry student Kate Horgan from Glanmire in Cork was awarded one of the IADR’s 2011 research fellowships. She completed her degree this year and graduated at UCC last week.

UCC president Dr Michael Murphy said the recent successes are a tribute to the excellence of the school’s staff, particularly in light of the larger better-funded facilities of their competitors.

“Our dental students can only benefit from having staff who are held in such high repute, as can be seen by the student award at the IADR,” he said.

The IADR has more than 12,000 members worldwide and the selection of two recipients from one institution is viewed as highly unusual. Previous award winners make up the peer review groups that scrutinise the nominees’ research work.