The 2007 Wilmer Souder Award for research in the field of dental biomaterials science is being presented today by the International Association for Dental Research (IADR) to Dr. Grayson Marshall, Professor and Division Head of Biomaterials, University of California, San Francisco, School of Dentistry, USA.
Dr. Marshall has been a leading scientist and research mentor in dentistry, with SEM studies of dental materials (starting in 1972) and AFM work (starting in 1991). He presented basic research identifying amalgam corrosion products early in his career, and has been a co-author on the longest-term amalgam clinical trials published to date. During the past 15 years, he has been part of a world-renowned effort to characterize enamel, dentin, cementum, bone, and the relationships of mineral level and biomechanics using a materials engineering approach. This has greatly added to basic science information about the micro-structural properties of especially dentin. These studies have had considerable impact on the understanding of bonding mechanisms, and natural and artificial interfaces with biomaterials that include implants.
Dr. Marshall is the author of 195 papers and 300 published abstracts and book chapters. He has rendered distinguished service and support to the IADR Dental Materials Group for more than 30 years, including serving as President. His first degrees were in materials science, with a PhD from Northwestern University, where he was also a faculty member, and from which he also earned the DDS in 1986.
Initiated in 1955, the Wilmer Souder Award is the oldest of the IADR's Distinguished Scientist Awards. The award honors Dr. Wilmer Souder, the motivating force in establishing the Dental Section at the National Bureau of Standards (now the National Institute of Standards and Technology), and is designed to perpetuate the scientific ideals he exemplified, and to encourage interest in dental materials science.
The award is made on the basis of scientific achievement of outstanding quality that has advanced or may reasonably be expected to advance significant dental service to the public. It is intended to confer the highest honor in the field of dental materials research upon those scientists who, through research in this field, bring about outstanding advances in dental health. The award was established by the IADR's Dental Materials Group and is supported by the William T. Sweeney Memorial Fund and the Group.
Dr. Marshall receives his award during the Opening Ceremonies of the 85th General Session of the International Association for Dental Research (IADR), convening at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center.