The 2007 Isaac Schour Memorial Award from the International Association for Dental Research (IADR) will be presented today to Dr. David Mooney, Gordon McKay Professor of Bioengineering in the Division of Engineering and Applied Sciences at Harvard University in Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Dr. Mooney developed tissue-engineering strategies for numerous craniofacial-oral-dental applications. He is internationally recognized for his pioneering investigations in the field of tissue engineering and tissue regeneration. His work on blood vessel and bone regeneration is particularly important. One of his many innovations has been the development of cell-interactive polymers and his studies of cell-extracellular matrix interactions. Dr. Mooney and his team have published over 250 scientific articles in peer-reviewed journals, and he has also published several invited chapters to texts. He holds many patents for his innovations, and he has received the coveted Merit Award from the US National Institutes of Health. Dr. Mooney is a world leader in tissue engineering and tissue regeneration. His leadership and imagination exemplify the goals of the Isaac Schour Award.
The IADR Isaac Schour Memorial Award was first established in 1967 to honor Schour, an early leader in international dental research and the 18th president of the IADR (1941-42). The award, which was discontinued in 1981 due to lack of financial support, has been reinstated and will now be fully funded through a generous donation from Bernard G. Sarnat and Rhoda G. Sarnat, through the Sarnat Family Foundation. The donation will ensure the continuation of the award in perpetuity.
Funded at the same level as all IADR Distinguished Scientist Awards, the award will recognize outstanding scientific contributions in the anatomical sciences, including tissue engineering, tissue regeneration, and stem cell research as it relates to the oral, dental, or craniofacial complex. The first reinstated award, consisting of a cash prize and a plaque, is being presented today during the Opening Ceremonies of the IADR’s 85th General Session, convening at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. It is one of the highest honors the IADR can bestow.
The IADR, headquartered in Alexandria, Va., is a non-profit organization with more than 11,000 members worldwide, whose missions are: (1) to advance research and increase knowledge for the improvement of oral health worldwide; (2) to support and represent the oral health research community; and (3) to facilitate the communication and application of research findings. The AADR is the largest Division of the IADR, with more than 4,000 members in the United States.