The annual scientific meeting of the Irish Division of the IADR was held in Belfast on October 17th and October 18th.  This is the main forum to present oral, dental and craniofacial research in Ireland and provides a key opportunity to showcase research undertaken in the Cork Dental School and Hospital.  It is a particularly important forum for early career researchers.

CUDSH are happy to report that there was a great turnout from CUDSH and the OHSRC, with 13 oral and poster presentations by staff, postgraduate and undergraduate students.  This included presentations in competitive prize categories, and there were two winners from Cork. 

Dr. Dani McGeown won the Postgraduate Research Prize for a presentation entitled “ Assessment of Indoor Air Quality [IAQ] in a multi-surgery dental clinic” which was co-authored by colleagues in the APC and ERI as well as CUDSH [Prof. Mairead Harding and Dr. Catherine Gallagher].  Dani will now go on to represent the Irish Division next year in the international Hatton Award competition at the general session of the IADR in Barcelona, Spain.

Dr. Harriet Byrne won the Dental Health Foundation Prize for a presentation entitled “ An Assessment of the Oral Health Status and Dental Care Treatment Needs of Oncology Patients Receiving Bone Modifying Agents [BMAs]”.  This too was a multi-disciplinary effort, co-authored by colleagues in Medical Oncology, Cork Cancer research centre and the School of Mathematical Sciences as well as CUDSH [Prof. Richeal Ni Riordain].

We would encourage all colleagues to try and build further on the momentum of this meeting, and target presentation of your work at future meetings.  For instance, the abstract submission date for the general session of the IADR in Barcelona is   January 24th 2025.  Being present at these meetings really helps to raise your research profile as well as that of CUDSH, and provides the opportunity to network and develop research collaborations.  Research is part of our core mission, and its vital to maximise the impact and sharing of all the research at CUDSH by presenting at research conferences.