British Society of Oral and Dental Research Conference 2024
Newcastle University School of Dental Sciences hosts the 71st British Society of Oral and Dental Research Conference.
25 September 2024
On Monday 2nd September 250 delegates from all corners of the UK and beyond descended on Newcastle upon Tyne for the British Society of Oral and Dental Research 71st annual meeting. The British Society of Oral and Dental Research (BSODR) is the UK division of the International Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research (IADR) and plays a key role in supporting all fields of dental research in the UK. Therefore, it was a real privilege for Newcastle University School of Dental Sciences to be invited to host this event.
Monday...
The Monday started with an excellent plenary lecture from Professor Abigail Tucker (Professor of Development and Evolution, kings College London) which addressed why humans only have two sets of teeth, where elsewhere in the animal kingdom other species have an unlimited supply, and how the science behind this can inform regenerative dentistry. In addition, we were honoured to welcome the current president of IADR, Prof Satoshi Imazato (Professor of Dental Materials, Osaka University Graduate School of Dentistry, Japan), to give our keynote lecture on bioactive materials for oral health and the future developments in the field, pioneered by his research group, which are predicted to translate to improvements in patient care.
(Right) Our head of school, Prof Chris Vernazza (left), and lead of the local organising committee, Dr Chris Nile (right), officially open the conference.
Tuesday...
The Tuesday started with the Presidents Prize lecture which was given by Dr Alex Creswell-Boyes (Peninsula Dental School, Plymouth) and discussed novel methods for composite 3D printing of typodont teeth and their utility for teaching complex dental procedures to undergraduate students. This was followed by a symposium hosted by the dental materials group on the use of 3D and bioprinting technologies in dentistry and a symposium by the behavioural, epidemiologic and health services group looking at developing a core curriculum for teaching psychology, communication, and sociology in dentistry. The afternoon hosted a further symposium by the mineralised tissue research group on addressing challenges in mineralised tissue regeneration. Tuesday concluded with the conference gala dinner which was held at St James’ Park and was an excellent opportunity for guests to relax and network over a three course meal and in the company of Stratasphonic, a local band whose line up included Mr Chris Lloyd, the husband of our very own deputy school manager, Jill Lloyd.
Wednesday...
Wednesday started with a plenary lecture by Professor Sheena Ramsey (Professor of Public Health and Epidemiology, Newcastle University) on the links between oral health and other health conditions in later life and the need to reduce inequalities in oral health. This was again followed by an excellent symposium by the periodontology research group on the material and biological determinants of periimplantitis and a symposium by the oral medicine and pathology research group on the latest advancements and clinical practices in the diagnosis and management of oral medicine cases. The conference then closed with a speakeasy style event where a panel of experts answered questions from academics and the public on the state of NHS dentistry in the UK.
(Right) Our very own Prof Nick Jakubovics welcomes the current IADR president and former Newcastle University graduate, Prof Satoshi Imazato, to the stage to deliver his keynote lecture.
Prof Chris Vernazza our Head of School said "It was such a pleasure for us to host this vibrant meeting and to be able to show off our wonderful city as well as a large amount of Newcastle-based oral and dental research. I am sure that the benefits will extend well beyond the meeting in terms of our reputation and also the collaborations and networks we have strengthened and newly developed. I would really like to thank our local organising committee, chaired by Dr Chris Nile, who did such a great job organising this high quality event."
written by Dr Christopher Nile, Director of Global and Engagment