The University of Birmingham’s Head of the School of Dentistry Professor Iain Chapple has received a prestigious award to recognise his outstanding research in periodontal disease.

Prof Chapple is one of 17 scientists from around the world to receive the International Association for Dental Research’s Distinguished Scientist Awards, which are designed to recognise, encourage, and stimulate outstanding research achievements.

It is the first time in 13 years that a UK scientist has won the award, with only three UK-based scientists ever previously having won the awards - Prof Tom Lehner in 1976, Prof Mike Curtis in 2005, and Prof Martin Addy in 1994.

The International Association for Dental Research (IADR) announced Prof Chapple as the 2018 recipient of the IADR Distinguished Scientist Award in Research in Periodontal Disease at the opening ceremony of its 96th General Session in London today.

An Honorary Consultant in Restorative Dentistry with Birmingham Community Health Trust, Prof Chapple completed his undergraduate studies at Newcastle Dental School before completing his PhD at the University of Birmingham.

He is a world renowned researcher in the field of periodontology with over 180 scientific peer-reviewed articles published in leading journals with focus on periodontal research.

He has largely contributed to the diagnosis, pathogenesis and therapeutics of periodontal diseases. As a clinical scientist with a strong interest in basic science, his research has focused on basic biological research with a view to translating his findings into clinical practice.

Of the award, Prof Chapple said: “This award is one I never imagined receiving, and when I look down the list of previous winners dating back to 1965, it is very humbling, special and really the pinnacle moment of my career.

“Research is very much a team effort, and therefore this is really an award to the Periodontal Research Group in Birmingham, both past and present, whose members are inspiring, hard-working and talented people, and incredibly nice to work with.

“The highlights of my career are really varied and diverse, from my time as a senior house officer at Sunderland General Hospital in 1987 to my PhD under my great friend, mentor and fantastic immunologist Dr John Matthews to a very influential sabbatical at Harvard’s Forsyth Institute in Boston.

“I am proud of all the research I have undertaken to date and look forward to a future focussed in periodontal research which will revolve around our basic discovery science in the pathogenic mechanisms underpinning periodontal disease and its relationship with other non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, chronic kidney disease, cardiovascular disease and rheumatoid arthritis.

“Also our biomarker work and spinout company aimed at providing precision and personalised approaches to dental care is very important, and our micronutrient research in modulating inflammation and oxidative stress.”

Prof Chapple was also the 2001 recipient of the IADR Periodontal Research Group Anthony Rizzo Award, the President of the IADR Periodontal Research Group from 2006 to 2007 and has presented numerous symposia at IADR Meetings.

For more information please contact Emma McKinney, Communications Manager (Health Sciences), University of Birmingham, tel: +44 (0) 121 414 6681, or contact the press office out of hours on +44 (0) 7789 921 165.

• The University of Birmingham is ranked amongst the world’s top 100 institutions. Its work brings people from across the world to Birmingham, including researchers, teachers and more than 5,000 international students from over 150 countries.
• The University of Birmingham’s School of Dentistry is number 19 in the QS World University Rankings 2018 and number one in the UK for citations in the same rankings.
• The International Association for Dental Research (IADR) is a non-profit organization with over 10,800 individual members worldwide, dedicated to advancing research and increasing knowledge for the improvement of oral health worldwide, supporting and representing the oral health research community, facilitating the communication and application of research findings.