Alexandria, Va. – Professor Alessandro Riva, University of Cagliari, Italy, is the recipient of the 2009 Salivary Research Award from the International Association for Dental Research (IADR), to be presented at its 87th General Session & Exhibition in Miami, Florida, USA, on April 1, 2009.
Prof. Riva is head of the Department of Cytomorphology at the University of Cagliari. After completing his medical training and one year in the Department of Anatomy, St. Thomas' Hospital, London, he joined the Department of Anatomy in Cagliari. He has been the chair in anatomy since 1971.
Prof. Riva has made significant contributions to our knowledge of the structure and function of salivary glands. He has published nearly 150 books, book chapters and original articles, mostly on human exocrine glands with a particular emphasis on salivary glands. While we have abundant knowledge of the salivary glands of laboratory animals, it is very difficult to carry out studies on human tissues, and Prof. Riva has established benchmarks for the field. His published work is of consistently high quality, and it includes numerous original observations. In addition, he has developed several unique methods. His interest in the history of medicine has led to publications of articles about the work of early anatomists and their discoveries in salivary glands.
Prof. Riva's laboratory is frequently visited by scientists from Europe, the USA and Japan. He has trained numerous students, and nearly a dozen of them are now full professors. He is the founder of the Museum of Anatomical Wax Models, Cagliari, and has arranged exhibitions in several countries. Prof. Riva's international stature and reputation make him a true "ambassador" for salivary research.
The IADR Salivary Research Award, supported by the Wm. Wrigley, Jr. Company, was designed to stimulate and recognize outstanding and innovative achievements that have contributed to the basic understanding of the salivary gland structure, secretion, and function, or salivary composition and function. It consists of a monetary prize and a plaque, and is one of the 16 IADR Distinguished Scientist Awards, representing one of the highest honors bestowed by the IADR.
About the International Association for Dental Research
The International Association for Dental Research (IADR) is a nonprofit organization with more than 11,300 individual members worldwide, dedicated to: (1) advancing research and increasing knowledge to improve oral health, (2) supporting the oral health research community, and (3) facilitating the communication and application of research findings for the improvement of oral health worldwide.
To learn more about IADR, visit www.iadr.org.