The arrival of spring signifies a period of growth and renewal, both in nature and in the realm of research. Faculty members and students from the Faculty of Dental Medicine and Oral Health Sciences were prominently represented at one of the most important global dental research conferences: the 2026 International Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research (IADR) Annual General Session and Exhibition in San Diego, USA on March 25 to 28.
Professor Luda Diatchenko was a featured Distinguished Lecture Series speaker, presenting 鈥淧ain Resolution Biology: How Inflammation Shapes the Transition from Acute to Chronic Pain鈥�. The presentation focused on the framework of pain resolution biology, emphasizing the active and time-dependent mechanisms that resolve pain.
PhD student Jan Kwan represented Canada in the Senior category of the 2026 IADR Hatton Competition. The competition provides an opportunity for the best undergraduate and graduate student investigators from all IADR divisions and sections around the world to present their research at the annual IADR General Session. He expressed gratitude for being part of a passionate research community and for those who supported him along the way. 鈥淢oments like this mean a great deal. Research can be a long and demanding journey, so having the opportunity to stand on an international stage and share the work I have been so committed to was truly special. It was a proud moment for me, and one I do not take lightly鈥� says Kwan.
Through strong contributions across a range of topics, the delegation showcased 91涩漫鈥檚 excellence in dental sciences. Their participation highlights not only the university鈥檚 academic strength, but also the Faculty鈥檚 commitment to advancing the future of oral health.
For Professor Belinda Nicolau, attending the IADR annual general session is always a great pleasure. 鈥淚t offers a unique opportunity to engage with cutting-edge research in oral health, reconnect with colleagues, and build new collaborations with researchers from around the world. It is also an especially valuable experience for students, offering the chance to present their work, gain feedback, and build networks that can shape their future careers.鈥�
She added that 鈥渢ravel awards offered by research networks such as RiSBOd, NCOHR and CADR provide excellent support and help make it more accessible for trainees and faculty to take part in this important international meeting.鈥� Graduate student Rewant Chauhan was a recipient of a CADR travel award, allowing him to travel to San Diego to present his work.
Poster presentations
- 鈥淧ainful TMD Network Meta-Analyses Show Limited Methodological and Reporting Quality鈥� Ahmad Khater
- 鈥淥ral Health Status of Humanitarian Migrants in Canada鈥� Belinda Nicolau
- 鈥淏iofabricating a Salivary Gland on a Chip Platform for Disease Modeling鈥� Jan Kwan
- 鈥淯npacking Colonial Legacies in Global Oral Health: Insights From a Scoping Review鈥� Homa Fathi
- 鈥楢ssessment of Comorbidity Indices in Predicting Oral Cancer Outcomes鈥� Samer Kharkout,
- 鈥淎ntibiotic Use and Oral Microbiome Community Types in US Adults鈥� Rewant Chauhan
- 鈥淒oes Oral Disease Contribute to Cognitive Impairment? Causal Insights From the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA)鈥� Praveen Bhoopathi Haricharan
