Alexandria, Va. – The American Association for Dental Research (AADR) is pleased to announce that AADR member Cyril O. Enwonwu, D.D.S., M.D.S., Ph.D., Sc.D., Professor of Biomedical Sciences at the University of Maryland, has been selected to join a group of 25 experts in global health research who will advocate for greater U.S. investment in global health research. He joins 50 of his peers in Research!America's Paul G. Rogers Society for Global Health Research in a united effort to build a national conversation around the value and importance of U.S.-funded global health research.
The Rogers Society, named for the Honorable Paul G. Rogers (1921-2008), former Florida Congressman, renowned champion for health research, and Research!America chair emeritus, works to increase awareness of and make the case for greater U.S. investment in research to fight diseases that disproportionately affect the world's poorest nations.
Enwonwu is an expert in protein-energy malnutrition. His work in the area of nutrition, in relation to health and diseases, is important for the health, security, and quality of life of people in the state of Maryland and all over the nation. His work also plays a crucial role in boosting the state's economy and maintaining America's overall competitiveness.
"Through my Ambassadorship, I plan to bring more emphasis to nutrition and the link to oral health, which is an area that has more or less fallen through the cracks," said Enwonwu. "I'm an advocate for prevention and primary care as it relates to oral health, but in this country we haven't paid much attention to the ramifications of poor eating habits and how they relate to oral health. We know enough about the factors that cause oral diseases, but we lack the wisdom to apply what we know to solve the problems."
Enwonwu and his peers were selected by an advisory council comprised of renowned leaders in science, public policy and communications, including four Nobel Laureates. Together they will meet with policymakers to make the case for an increased U.S. investment in global health research through the examples of their own research.
"We have a new Congress and a new Administration. Now is the time when we can make a difference for global health research. These Ambassadors will be exceptional leaders in advocacy. Their example will serve as an inspiration for every global health researcher," said the Honorable John Edward Porter, chair of the Rogers Society Advisory Council and Research!America board chair. "Paul Rogers' spirit lives on through the work of each of these Ambassadors. As he often said, without research, there is no hope."
"Research!America recognizes AADR as a leader in promoting the U.S. investment in global health, as witnessed by the selection of previous ambassadors, Lois Cohen (2007) and Deborah Greenspan (2008), and now Cyril Enwonwu," said AADR Executive Director Christopher Fox. "Professor Enwonwu brings a welcome focus to the importance of research investments to prevent and treat NOMA in sub-Saharan Africa."
The Rogers Society was established in 2006 by Research!America with funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Research!America works with the Ambassadors to maximize the effectiveness of their outreach to policymakers, opinion leaders and the media.
The American Association for Dental Research (AADR) is the largest Division of the International Association for Dental Research (IADR). With nearly 4,000 members in the United States, its mission is: (1) to advance research and increase knowledge for the improvement of oral health; (2) to support and represent the oral health research community; and (3) to facilitate the communication and application of research findings. To learn more about AADR, visit www.aadronline.com.