Cork dentists win international research awards
20.06.2011
Two dentists from the Cork University Dental School and Hospital have scooped up two international ‘Distinguished Scientist’ awards for their research on geriatric oral health and behavioural sciences research at the AGM of the International Association for Dental Research (IADR) in San Diego, California. Professor Finbarr Allen’s research focuses on the impact of oral disease on function and quality of life of older adults, and the relationship between oral disease and health outcomes. He has collaborated on an international level with colleagues from the UK, USA, Canada, Australia, Finland and Germany to develop cost effective treatment strategies and evidence based guidelines for improving oral health of our aging population. He is head of the Cork University Dental School and Hospital. Professor Helen Whelton focuses on preventive dentistry and dental public health.

The International Association of Dental Research is the largest dental research organisation in the world with a global membership of approximately 13,000 members. Its most prestigious awards, which are competitive, are its Distinguished Scientist Awards. To win one of these awards, you must be nominated by a peer and have your credentials scrutinised by a peer review group of previous distinguished scientist awardees. It is highly unusual for two awards to go to a single institution.

In addition, Professor Helen Whelton has been elected Vice President of the IADR taking up the role of President in 2013. There were two other candidates for the Presidency, one from Canada and one from New Zealand and the election was held by web ballot of the 13,000 members. The IADR annual research meeting has typically over 5,000 people attending from over 70 countries. The scientific content is shared in over 3,000 presentations including posters, oral presentations, symposia and hands on workshops.

Professor Allen has served on committees of the IADR, British Society for the Study of Prosthetic Dentistry and the editorial boards of a number of international journals. He is currently chair of the Irish Committee for Specialist Training in Dentistry.

One of the undergraduate students at the Cork University Dental School and Hospital, Kate Horgan, was awarded the David B Scott research fellowship on the basis of submitted research protocol.

“We are delighted with the success of our staff in this international forum,” says UCC President, Dr Michael Murphy. “It is a great tribute to the excellence of our dental staff that they have won two international research awards against much larger and better funded dental facilities worldwide. 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. I would like to congratulate Professor Whelton on her election to the influential and prestigious position as Vice-President of the IADR. It is good to see UCC staff take leadership roles internationally which can only benefit dentistry in Ireland.”

Picture: Professor Finbarr Allen and Professor Helen Whelton, Cork University Dental School and Hospital

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