News Release

Lior Shapira to receive IADR Basic Research in Periodontal Disease Award

Grant and Award Announcement

International Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research

Alexandria, Va. – Dr. Lior Shapira, from the Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel, is the 2009 recipient of the Basic Research in Periodontal Disease Award. He will be presented with the award at the International Association for Dental Research (IADR) 87th General Session & Exhibition on April 1, 2009, in Miami, Florida, USA.

Dr. Shapira received his dental education at the Hebrew University-Hadassah, Faculty of Dental Medicine, Jerusalem, Israel. He received his B. Med. Sc. (with distinction) in 1983 and his D.M.D. in 1986. In 1995, he earned a Ph.D. in oral biology and his research was on the pathogenesis of the inflammatory process in periodontitis. From 1986-1990, he completed a residency in the Department of Periodontics at the Hebrew University-Hadassah, Faculty of Dental Medicine, and received recognition as a specialist periodontist in 1990. Following that, Dr. Shapira joined the Department of Periodontology at the Hebrew University-Hadassah, Faculty of Dental Medicine and progressed through the ranks to receive his full professorship of Periodontics. In 2006 he was appointed Chairman of the Department of Periodontology at the university.

Throughout his career, he has received numerous awards, including the 1999 Anthony Rizzo Award from the IADR Periodontal Research Group, the 2000 Jaccard-EFP Research Award, and the Sunstar–EFP Award for best article on periodontal medicine. Dr. Shapira has served on numerous national and international committees, including serving as president of the Israeli Division of the IADR. He has published more than 100 scientific articles and chapters in books and has been awarded numerous grants. Currently, he serves on the editorial board of a number of scientific journals.

Dr. Shapira's research activities are concentrated in two main directions, namely, the investigation of the mechanisms of the inflammatory responses in periodontal diseases (in particular, studies directed at understanding the mechanisms that occur during inflammation in response to periodontal pathogens, especially Porphyromonas gingivalis) and their products, at the cellular and molecular levels. He has also been studying mechanisms that play a role in the connection between periodontal infections and systemic conditions.

The Basic Research in Periodontal Disease Award, which consists of a monetary prize and plaque, is supported by the Colgate- Palmolive Company and is designed to recognize, encourage, and stimulate outstanding achievements in basic research in periodontal disease. It is one of the 16 IADR Distinguished Scientist Awards and is one of the highest honors bestowed by IADR.

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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 the IADR, visit www.iadr.org.


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