The British Society for Oral and Dental Research, hosted by the University of Plymouth in early September, has been deemed a success and an excellent showcase of the latest in dental research.
Around 225 delegates attended the conference, where presented research ranged from dentistry in the community to ‘smart fillings’, new and potential lab-based therapies, nanotechnology, diet and behaviour and dental professionalism.
Highlights of the conference included:
- The Graham Embery Lecture delivered by Professor Mike Lewis from Cardiff University (My war against the oral microbiome)
- The keynote lecture from Professor Jonathan Grant from King’s College London (Assessing the impact of biomedical and health research)
- The TC White Lecture presented by Dr Anwen Cope from Cardiff University (Understanding antibiotic prescribing in primary dental care in the UK)
- The BDA Lecture jointly delivered by Peter Dyer and Stephen Skelton from the BDA
- The launch of the James Lind Priority Setting Partnership (Challenges facing the future of dentistry)
- Symposia including OMIG (Life at the host-pathogen interface); MINTIG (Approaches for hard tissue craniofacial imaging), and; the methods symposium sponsored by the National Institute for Health Research Clinical Research Network
Prize winners included:
Senior Colgate
(£500 to the presenter; £5000 travel bursary to the prize-winner’s Department which may be used towards expenses for a postgraduate student to spend time in a research centre of excellence in the UK or abroad).
Daniel Morse, Cardiff University, Contribution of Oral bacteria to Candida virulence and denture stomatitis
Junior Colgate
(£300 to presenter; £3,000 to prize-winner’s department to support undergraduate research in the coming year).
Heather Wallis, University of Sheffield, Identification of novel Neuronal Roles in Oral Cancer Tumour Microenvironments
Unilever Poster
(£300 to presenter; £3,000 to prize-winner’s department to support undergraduate research in the coming year).
Jonathan Davies, University of Plymouth, Mesenchymal Cell Function in Salivary Gland Regeneration
Commendations
Joshua Twigg, Cardiff University, Unravelling the Association Between the Denture Microbiome and Bacterial Pneumonia
Laura Gartshore, University of Liverpool Investigating the Decision-Making Practices of Specialists in Paediatric Dentistry and Endodontics: A self-Administered postal Survey
GSK-MINTIG Travel Award
(£1,500 for travel to a conference or centre of excellence in mineralised tissue research)
Katarzyna Gurzawska, University of Birmingham, Mathematical, numerical and biochemical analysis using finite element methods (FEM) of mandible after treatment after treatment with bone substitute materials and loading with implant-supported prostheses
Voco Dental Materials Prize
(£300 to the presenter)
Alessia D’Onofrio, Queen Mary’s University London, Characterisation of novel strontium Containing Biactive Glass based Calcium Phosphate Cement
Oral Medicine and Oral Pathology Prize
(no cash prize)
Hebah Aldehlawi, Queen Mary’s University London, In vitro analysis of keratin K2 function in protecting against carcinogenesis
Amy Harding, University of Sheffield, Isolation and characterisation of oral cancer stem cells
As well as the business of the conference, delegates also enjoyed a welcome reception held at the National Marine Aquarium and a gala dinner held in the Officers’ Mess at Royal Marine Stonehouse Barracks, where attendees were treated to a drumming display by the Royal Marine Cadet Volunteers.
Professor David Moles from the University of Plymouth led the local organising committee. He said:
“We are delighted that all our hard work paid off and that we have delivered a successful BSODR conference. My thanks go to my colleagues who played sterling roles in organising the event, the delegates and presenters who came and made it such a success, and to all those who have taken the time to contact us with their good wishes and congratulations.”
The International Association for Dental Research will take place in London 25-28 July 2018.