Trends and innovations in Pulp Preservation
and Regeneration
PULP BIOLOGY and REGENERATION SATELLITE SYMPOSIUM
Confirmed Speakers
Welcome and Introduction
Marco C. Bottino
University of Michigan, USA
Dr. Bottino is the Robert W. Browne Endowed Professor of Dentistry in the Department of Cariology, Restorative Sciences, and Endodontics (CRSE) at the University of Michigan School of Dentistry (U-M). He is currently the Director of Research in CRSE and the Director of the Postgraduate Program in Regenerative Dentistry at U-M. As a principal investigator, Marco has received research grants related to regenerative medicine from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), several foundations, and private industry. He has received the International Association for Dental Research (IADR) Centennial Emerging Leader Award. From 2018-2023, Dr. Bottino served as a standing member of the Musculoskeletal and Tissue Engineering study section of the NIH. Marco is an elected Fellow of the Academy of Dental Materials and a board member. He was the 2019-2020 President of the Dental Materials Group of the IADR and is currently the President of the Pulp Biology Research Group (PBRG).
Ana Arias
Complutense University, Madrid, Spain
BRUNO CAVALCANTI
University of Michigan, USA
Bruno Cavalcanti obtained his DDS (1998) and Masters in Dentistry (2001) from the Sao Paulo State University (UNESP), PhD in Endodontics from the University of Sao Paulo (2004) and Certification in Endodontics from the National Council of Dentistry (2012). In 2009, he completed his postdoctoral training at the University of Michigan under supervision of Dr. Jacques Nor. He became a full-time faculty in 2012 at his alma mater and continued teaching at the University of Michigan (2015-2016), University of Iowa (2017-2020) and returning to the University of Michigan (2020). Dr. Cavalcanti has long-term teaching experience in both Comprehensive Care and Endodontics, on both undergraduate and graduate levels. His research comprehends various aspects of Pulp Biology, from biocompatibility of dental materials to tissue engineering, being funded by research foundations in Brazil and in the USA. He is also Past-President for the Pulp Biology and Regeneration Group of the IADR.
Ikhals El-Karim
Queen’s University Belfast, Ireland
Dr Ikhlas El Karim BDS PhD FDSRCS (Rest Dent) FFDRCSI PGCHET (GDC No. 82973) graduated from the Faculty of Dentistry at the University of Khartoum in 1989 and later undertook specialist training in Restorative Dentistry at the School of Dentistry, Queen’s University, Belfast. Currently, she is a Senior Clinical Lecturer and Consultant in Restorative Dentistry in the School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queen’s University Belfast. She teaches both undergraduate and postgraduate courses in endodontics. Through a consultant-led service at the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust, Ikhlas provides specialist endodontic care and supports local general dental practitioners dealing with complex endodontic treatments. Ikhlas completed a PhD on pulpal neurogenic inflammation in response to caries in 2003. Her research interests include the development of minimally invasive therapies for inflammatory dental diseases, and investigating the link between pain, inflammation and regeneration as well as the implications of dental disease on general health. She supervises a research team of PhD students and postdoctoral research assistants.
IADR President Address
Satoshi Imazato
Osaka University, Japan
Professor Imazato graduated with his DDS from the Osaka University, School of Dentistry in 1986 and completed his PhD in 1992. He has held numerous posts including Assistant Professor at Department of Operative Dentistry and Visiting Researcher, Department of Oral Biology, Newcastle University UK and Associate Professor at Department of Restorative Dentistry and Endodontology, Osaka University Graduate School of Dentistry. Currently, he is Professor and Chair of the Department of Dental Biomaterials at the Osaka University Graduate School of Dentistry and now serving as the 101st President of IADR. In 2020, he was awarded the IADR Distinguished Scientist Award (Wilmer Souder Award), Fellow of International Union of Societies for Biomaterials Science and Engineering, and Prize of Japanese Society for Dental Materials and Devices. Prof Imazato has lectured extensively and shared his expertise in material science with the dental fraternity in Japan and internationally. His main research interests are bioactive dental materials, pulp regeneration, and tissue engineering.
TOPIC I
Stem Cells
Ivo Lambrichts
Hasselt University, Belgium
Prof. Ivo Lambrichts is a dentist-scientist who has been exploring the field of oral biology with special interest for innervation, microscopy and ultrastructural imaging of oral tissues. Prof. Lambrichts is full professor microscopic anatomy and pathology at the Hasselt University (Belgium). His group has been focusing on dental pulp stem cell research for pulp tissue and nerve regeneration. Part of his work is also using dental pulp stem cells in anti -cancer therapy and repair of ischemic brain and cardiac stroke. He is focusing on dental organoids. He published 217 A1 peer-reviewed scientific papers and contributed to several book chapters. His work is recognized by the international community by his expertise in general and oral histology and stem cell research. He received the distinguished scientist award of the International Association for Dental Research in 2020.
Anne des Rieux
Catholic University of Louvain, Belgium
Anne des Rieux is Professor at the Université Catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain, Belgium) and is part of the Advanced Drug Delivery and Biomaterials unit (Louvain Drug Research Institute). She obtained her PhD degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences from the UCLouvain in 2006 on oral drug delivery. Then, she spent 1 year as a postdoc as a BAEF fellow at the Northwestern University in Chicago (2007) in the Shea Lab where she worked on drug delivery strategies for spinal cord repair. She became a principal investigator (FNRS Research Associate) in 2011. She then set up a research group within the Advanced Drug Delivery and Biomaterials unit focused on drug and stem cell delivery for the central nervous system repair.
Jacques E. Nör
University of Michigan School of Dentistry, USA
Jacques is the Donald Kerr Endowed Professor of Dentistry and serves as Dean of the University of Michigan School of Dentistry. He has a joint appointment as Professor of Otolaryngology (Medical School) and as Affiliate Faculty of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Michigan. He is Past-President of the American Association for Dental, Oral and Craniofacial Research (AADOCR). Jacques served as Chair of the Oral Dental and Craniofacial Sciences (ODCS) NIH study section and is currently a member of the National Advisory Dental and Craniofacial Research Council (NADRC). He has published 239 peer-reviewed papers, 15 book chapters, and has been continuously funded by the NIH since 2002. He has served as Co-Director of the University of Michigan Head Neck SPORE funded by the National Cancer Institute. Jacques is a Fellow of the American Association for Dental Research (AADR) and Fellow of the AAAS. He received the Distinguished Scientist Award, the William J. Gies Award, and the Hatton Award from the International Association for Dental Research (IADR). Jacques is Associate Editor of the Journal of Dental Research and member of several editorial boards.
TOPIC II
Endodontic Biomaterials Development – Bench to Bedside
Gottfried Schmalz
University Hospital Regensburg, Germany
Gottfried Schmalz received his DDS/DMD degree at the University of Bonn, Germany and worked for one year as postdoc in the Material Science Toxicology laboratory at the University of Tennessee, Memphis, USA. After the habilitation (PhD) he moved as Professor to the University of Regensburg, where he was Chair of the Department of Conservative Dentistry and Periodontology until 2013. Since 2014 he is also guest professor at the University of Bern, Switzerland. His main research interests are biocompatibility of dental materials and tissue regeneration. He published > 280 articles (PubMed), and he was co-founder/Editor of “Clinical Oral Investigations”. He received several prices; e.g. the “Distinguished Scientist Award”, the “Distinguished Service Award” from IADR, the “Award of Excellence” from the EFCD and 2018 Global Oral Health Progress Award from the International Dental Manufacturers Association. 2019 he received the Ryge-Mahler Award, IADR/Dental Materials Group and since 2017 he is Chairman of ISO TC 106.
Kerstin Galler
University Hospital Erlangen, Germany
Kerstin Galler obtained her degree in dentistry from the Ludwig-Maximilians-University in Munich in 2000. She worked in Private Practice until 2002 and then joined the Department of Conservative Dentistry and Periodontology at University Hospital Regensburg, Germany. She received post-doctoral training at the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston from 2004 to 2006 and earned her Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering from Rice University in Houston in 2009. After her return to Regensburg, she built her own research group as an Associated Professor to work on pulp biology and immune responses and on revitalization and tunable scaffolds for dental pulp tissue engineering. In 2021, Dr. Galler took over as the Chair of the Department of Conservative Dentistry and Periodontology at the University Hospital Erlangen-Nuremberg. Dr. Galler was President of the Pulp Biology and Regeneration Group of IADR in 2013/14 and received the Distinguished Scientist Award of the group in 2022.
Matthias Widbiller
University Hospital Regensburg, Germany
Dr. Matthias Widbiller is full Professor of Endodontics at the University of Regensburg, where he heads the research laboratories and coordinates the Centre for Dental Traumatology. He began his academic career in 2013 after completing his dental studies at the University of Regensburg and received his doctorate in 2015. A certified university teacher and lecturer in conservative dentistry, Dr. Widbiller has clinical expertise in dental traumatology, vital pulp therapy and regenerative endodontic procedures. From 2017 to 2018, he was a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UTHSCSA), USA, working in the renowned laboratories of Dr. Kenneth M. Hargreaves and Dr. Anibal Diogenes. His research focuses on tissue engineering of dental pulp, bioactive materials and dentin matrix proteins. Dr. Widbiller’s contributions to dentistry are distinguished by his dedication to advancing clinical care through innovative research and education.
SYMPOSIUM 1
Stem cells related research
Anne George
University of Illinois Chicago, USA
Dr. Anne George is the Allan G. Brodie Endowed Professor, in the Brodie Tooth Development Genetics and Regenerative Medicine Research Laboratory, at the UIC College of Dentistry, Chicago. Dr. George discovered DMP1, a key regulatory molecule that controls differentiation of odontoblast phenotype and matrix mineralization was cloned by Professor George’s group and thus far they have 4 members in the dentin matrix protein family. Dr. George’s lab also develops materials for the repair of bones and teeth. Using the principle of biomimicry, the group tissue engineers cell-interactive templates for bone regeneration using the self-assembly process. Dr. George’s research is highly regarded worldwide, and this is evident from international recognition that includes a Doctor Honoris Causa (2011) from University René Descartes, Paris and the 2008 International Association of Dental Research’s Distinguished Scientist Award for basic research in Pulp Biology and Regeneration”. Recently, her studies are focused on transformation of dental pulp stem cells to endothelial cells.
Thimios Mitsiadis
University of Zurich, Switzerland
Thimios Mitsiadis is Professor of Oral Biology in the Medical Faculty at the University of Zurich, Switzerland. He conducts research in the fields of stem cells, genetics, molecular and experimental biology related to orofacial developmental and regeneration processes. Thimios Mitsiadis obtained a DDS degree from the Dental Faculty of the Kapodistrion University of Athens (Greece), a master’s degree for Immunology, Genetics and Differentiation and the Ph.D. in Developmental Biology from the University of Lyon (France). He conducted postdoctoral studies at the University of Helsinki (Finland), Karolinksa Nobel Institute (Stockholm, Sweden) and Yale University (USA). Thimios Mitsiadis was a Professor at the Mediterranean University (Marseilles, France), Visiting Professor at the Ecole Normale Superieure of Lyon (France), Clinical Senior Lecturer at King's College London (UK), and Associate Professor at the Dental School in Athens (Greece). From 2006 to 2010 was director of the Institute of Oral Biology at the University of Zurich (Switzerland). For more than twenty years Professor Mitsiadis has been studying the molecular basis and interactions involved in tooth development, pathology and regeneration. A major milestone in his previous research was the creation of teeth in chick embryos after transplantation of mouse neural crest cells.
Luiz E. Bertassoni
Oregon Health and Science University, USA
Dr. Luiz E. Bertassoni graduated with a DDS degree from Pontifical Catholic University of Parana (PUCPR) in Brazil, obtained a PhD in Biomaterials and Bioengineering from University of Sydney, and two postdoctoral degrees from University of California San Francisco, and the Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology. Currently, Dr. Bertassoni is an Assistant Professor at Oregon Health and Science University-School of Dentistry. He also holds appointments at the OHSU Center for Regenerative Medicine and Department of Biomedical Engineering at OHSU School of Medicine. Dr. Bertassoni leads a multidisciplinary research group working on various aspects of biomaterials and tissue engineering. His recent work on bioprinting for vascularization of tissue engineering constructs has received extensive attention in the popular media, including Fox News, BBC, The Guardian, Fox Business, Wired.com, Tech Crunch, etc; and was recently selected as one of the top 100 science stories of 2014 (#64) by Discover Magazine. Luiz is a recipient of over 20 national and international research awards, 9 competitive research grants and has received over $3 Million in research funding. Luiz currently serves as an ad-hoc reviewer or editorial board member for over 30 journals. Dr. Bertassoni's research studies the use micro-scale technologies and bioprinting for tissue engineering; nanoscale structural and mechanical properties of mineralized tissues; and different aspects of the emerging field of ‘organs-on-a-chip’.
SYMPOSIUM 2
Inflammation/repair/immunomodulation
Imad About
Aix-Marseille University, France
Imad About is Professor of Oral Biology at Aix-Marseille University and responsible of the research Laboratory at the school of dental medicine, Marseille, France. He is Associate Editor of Clinical Oral Investigations, President of the Pan European Region and Past-President of both the Pulp Biology and Regeneration Group and the Continental European Division of the International Association for Dental Research. The research group of Prof. About is involved in investigating the pulp tissue regeneration and the effects of pulp capping materials on modulating the balance between pulp inflammation and regeneration. Professor About is actively involved in developing new dental materials for tissue regeneration and he is one of the main academic members involved in Biodentine development. Imad About is renowned speaker and frequently invited to major international conferences. He is a well-recognized expert in pulp tissue regeneration. He published more than 280 peer reviewed papers, abstracts and book chapters. He also edited a book on Biodentine in 2022. Imad About was the winner of the European Society of Endodontology annual research grant in 2012. In recognition of his investigations in pulp biology, he has been awarded the “Distinguished scientist award” of the Pulp Biology and Regeneration Group in 2018. He was also the winner of the Journal of Endodontics Awards in the category of Basic Research: Biology in 2022.
Fionnuala Lundy
Queen's University Belfast, Ireland
Fionnuala Lundy is Professor of Oral Biology and Regenerative Medicine at Queen’s University Belfast, Northern Ireland. Fionnuala has published widely in the fields of infection and inflammation in the oral cavity, with an emphasis on the importance of the nervous system in these responses. Fionnuala has a particular research interest in non-animal models of human neuronal function. She has successfully developed neuronal models with inter-disciplinary impact using dental pulp stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells. Fionnuala has been external examiner for PhD theses across UK, Ireland and Europe, as well as external examiner at undergraduate and postgraduate taught levels in the UK. She is currently Director of Education for Postgraduate Taught Programmes in the School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Science at Queen’s University Belfast. Fionnuala was awarded the IADR Distinguished Scientist Award in Pulp Biology and Regeneration in 2021. She is a Past President of the Pulp Biology and Regeneration Group, Immediate Past President of PER-IADR and Editor-in-Chief of the Archives of Oral Biology.
Paul Cooper
University of Otago, New Zealand
Paul Cooper is Dean of the Faculty of Dentistry at the University of Otago in New Zealand. In 2019, Paul was appointed the John Arnaud Bell Professor of Oral Biology at the University of Otago, and previously he worked at the School of Dentistry, University of Birmingham, UK (2000-2019), where he was the Director of Research and Deputy Head of School. Paul has published over 200 research peer reviewed publications and has authored and edited 12 book chapters in oral and pulp biology. In 2010, Paul was awarded the IADR Distinguished Scientist Young Investigator Award, and he received the IADR Distinguished Scientist Award in Pulp Biology & Regeneration in 2024. He has been the President of the Pulp Biology and Regeneration Group of IADR, and he is currently the President of the IADR-Australia-New Zealand Division, Vice-President of the IADR Stem Cell Biology Group & immediate past President of the Asia Pacific Region of IADR. He has held visiting chairs at several universities around the world and serves as editor and on editorial boards for several leading dental journals.
Alexis Gaudin
University of Nantes, France
Pr. Alexis Gaudin, PhD (2015), HDR (2020), is a full-time professor and Endodontist at Nantes University Hospital and the dental school at Nantes Université. He is recognized as a leading expert in pulp biology and the immune response in the dental pulp. Pr. Gaudin is the President of the French Society of Endodontics and a certified member of the European Society of Endodontics. An accomplished researcher, Prof. Gaudin joined the INSERM 1229 RMeS (Regenerative Medicine and Skeleton) laboratory in 2018. His work focuses on regenerative endodontics, with expertise in the immunomodulatory properties of mesenchymal stem cells and molecules involved in the resolution of inflammation. He leads pioneering projects which explore cell-free therapeutic approaches for dental pulp regeneration. Prof. Gaudin’s academic journey includes a year as a visiting researcher at the University of the Pacific in San Francisco, USA, where he investigated the impact of immune responses on stem cells. His contributions have earned him numerous awards, including the CNEOC (2011), FSE (2013), and IADR-PBRG (2016) prizes.
SYMPOSIUM 3
Tissue engineering:
Waruna Dissanayaka
The University of Hong Kong – HUK, China
Dr. Waruna Dissanayaka is an Assistant Professor in Oral
Biosciences, at the Faculty of Dentistry, The University of Hong
Kong. He also serves as the Assistant Dean for Electives and
Experiential Learning and leads the Research Theme for Craniofacial
Regeneration at the faculty. His research interests are focused on
enhancing post-implantation stem cell survival and vascularization
in pulp regeneration, exploring metabolic reprogramming,
immunomodulation in tissue regeneration, and the intricate
intercellular communication in dental stem cell microenvironment.
Waruna has published over 50 scientific papers/book chapters in
peer-reviewed journals. His research work has been recognized with
several major awards including IADR Centennial Emerging Leader
Award, IADR William J Gies Award for Biomaterials and
Waruna Dissanayaka
Bioengineering Research, Journal of Endodontics award for the Best
Paper in Basic Science: Biology and IADR-SEA Research Category
Award for Tissue Engineering and Craniofacial Biology. Waruna
currently serves as a councilor for the IADR-Southeast Asian Division
council.
Bruno Cavalcanti
University of Michigan School of Dentistry, USA
Bruno Cavalcanti obtained his DDS (1998) and Masters in Dentistry (2001) from the Sao Paulo State University (UNESP), PhD in Endodontics from the University of Sao Paulo (2004) and Certification in Endodontics from the National Council of Dentistry (2012). In 2009, he completed his postdoctoral training at the University of Michigan under supervision of Dr. Jacques Nor. He became a full-time faculty in 2012 at his alma mater and continued teaching at the University of Michigan (2015-2016), University of Iowa (2017-2020) and returning to the University of Michigan (2020). Dr. Cavalcanti has long-term teaching experience in both Comprehensive Care and Endodontics, on both undergraduate and graduate levels. His research comprehends various aspects of Pulp Biology, from biocompatibility of dental materials to tissue engineering, being funded by research foundations in Brazil and in the USA. He is also Past-President for the Pulp Biology and Regeneration Group of the IADR.
Cristiane Miranda Franca
Oregon Health and Science University, USA
Dr. Cristiane Franca is a dentist-scientist with a Ph.D. in Oral Pathology and postdoctoral training in Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering. As an Assistant Professor in the Division of Biomaterials and Biomedical Sciences within the Department of Oral Rehabilitation and Biosciences, and affiliated with the Knight Cancer Precision Biofabrication Hub, she integrates engineering and biology in her research. Her work focuses on early cancer biology, cellular responses to changes in the microenvironment, and biomaterials. Leveraging her clinical background as an oral pathologist, along with her expertise in developing microfluidic devices, such as the 'tooth-on-a-chip' and engineered vasculature models, Dr. Franca aims to understand how precancerous lesions progress to invasive cancer, explore biomaterial-immune system interactions, and develop advanced organs-on-a-chip for modeling human diseases. She is passionate about science and mentoring and looks forward to guiding future scientists in a lab committed to excellence, collaboration, innovation, and diversity.
Marco C. Bottino
University of Michigan School of Dentistry, USA
Dr. Bottino is the Robert W. Browne Endowed Professor of Dentistry in the Department of Cariology, Restorative Sciences, and Endodontics (CRSE) at the University of Michigan School of Dentistry (U-M). He is currently the Director of Research in CRSE and the Director of the Postgraduate Program in Regenerative Dentistry at U-M. As a principal investigator, Marco has received research grants related to regenerative medicine from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), several foundations, and private industry. He has received the International Association for Dental Research (IADR) Centennial Emerging Leader Award. From 2018-2023, Dr. Bottino served as a standing member of the Musculoskeletal and Tissue Engineering study section of the NIH. Marco is an elected Fellow of the Academy of Dental Materials and a board member. He was the 2019-2020 President of the Dental Materials Group of the IADR and is currently the President of the Pulp Biology Research Group (PBRG).
SYMPOSIUM 4
Antimicrobials/Immunomodulation/Systemic Disease:
Ashraf Fouad
University of Alabama at Birmingham, USA
Dr. Fouad obtained his DDS, Certificate of Endodontics and MS at the University of Iowa. He served on the faculty and in various administrative roles at University of Connecticut, the University of Maryland, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He is currently Professor and Chair, Department of Endodontics, Director, Advanced Endodontics Program, and Interim Director, Health Information and Business Systems (HIBS) at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Dr. Fouad has published over 115 peer-reviewed manuscripts, 62 editorials and invited manuscripts, and 25 textbook chapters. He edited and co-authored several editions of the textbooks: Endodontic Microbiology, and Endodontics: Principles and Practice. He served as Associate editor of the Journal of Endodontics and is currently Associate editor of Dental Traumatology and the Endodontics Section of Frontiers of Dental Medicine. He is a Diplomate and Past President of the American Board of Endodontics. He received the Distinguished Scientist Award from the Pulp Biology and Regeneration Group of the International Association of Dental Research in 2017, the AAE President’s Award in 2022, and the International Grossman’s Award in 2023.
Sadia Niazi
King's College London, UK
Dr Sadia Niazi is a Senior Clinical Lecturer/NHS Consultant in Endodontology at King’s College London, Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust. She distributes her time between providing clinical service, leading her research group, and training King’s Endodontics postgraduates, and undergraduate students as Endodontics Clinical Lead. Dr Niazi qualified as a dentist from Army Medical College, Pakistan (2002), earned her Master’s in Oral Pathology (2007) from Queen Mary, University of London and completed her PhD in Endodontics (Microbiology) from King’s College London (2011). She completed her specialist training in Endodontology and is a member of the Royal College of Surgeons of England and Edinburgh since 2020. Dr Niazi’s core microbiological research made a breakthrough in highlighting the occurrence of nosocomial endodontic infections, which led to the introduction of enhanced aseptic protocols for improved treatment outcome. Her current research theme is focused on investigating the Oral Host-Microbiome Interactions to identify diagnostic/prognostic markers of apical periodontitis and associated systemic risks; and exploring novel regenerative treatment approaches to improve the prognosis of challenging cases like Endodontic-periodontal lesions. Dr Niazi’s research has been funded by the British Endodontic Society, European Society of Endodontology, Royal College of Surgeons of England and National Institute of Health Research, resulting in multiple peer-reviewed publications, book chapter and invited keynote lectures. She has supervised research projects for over 30 MClinDent and PhD students. She was awarded the “Inspiration Full-time Clinical Lecturer Award” by the British Endodontic Society in 2022.
Anil Kishen
University of Toronto, Canada
Dr. Anil Kishen is an Associate Dean for Graduate Education at the University of Toronto's Faculty of Dentistry. He is also a Professor and Canada Research Chair (Tier 1) in Oral Health Nanomedicine as well as Dr. Lloyd and Mrs. Kay Chapman Chair in Clinical Sciences. He is cross appointed at the Mount Sinai Hospital's Department of Dentistry, in addition to other roles such as the Visiting Professor of Endodontics at the University of Hong Kong in Hong Kong, and the King Juan Carlos University in Madrid, Spain. Dr. Kishen's academic work includes more than 250 journal articles, 24 book chapters and three books. He is the recipient of the W. W. Wood Award from the Association of Canadian Faculties of Dentistry (ACFD) for excellence in Dental Education. While his exemplary research contributions have been recognized with the 2021 Louis I. Grossman Award from the American Association of Endodontics and the 2023 National Dental Research Award from the Canadian Association for Dental Research (CADR) and ACFD for exceptional contributions to dental research in a Canadian University.
As a prolific researcher and Principal Investigator for the Kishen Lab, Dr. Kishen’s research explores new developments in bioactive nano biomaterials and phototherapeutic to fight oral infections and improve outcomes for patients. He is a co-inventor in 12 patents and has presented over 185 invited plenary or keynote lectures worldwide.
Ariadne Letra
University of Pittsburgh, USA
Dr. Ariadne Letra is a tenured professor of Endodontics, and Oral and Craniofacial Sciences, and a senior member of the Center for Craniofacial and Dental Genetics at the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine. She obtained her DDS degree from Fluminense Federal University, a MS in Endodontics at State University of Rio de Janeiro, and a PhD in Oral Biology from the University of Sao Paulo, Brazil. She obtained her postdoctoral fellowship training in Human Molecular Genetics at the University of Pittsburgh, where she remained as Assistant Professor until 2011. From 2011 to 2022, Dr. Letra was on the faculty at UTHealth School of Dentistry at Houston before returning to the University of Pittsburgh. The Letra Lab research focuses on cellular and molecular basis of pulpal and periapical disease, and of common craniofacial birth defects. Another aspect of her work focuses on elucidating the interconnectedness between oral health with systemic health and disease. Her research has been continuously funded by grants from the National Institutes of Health and the Foundation for Endodontics. Dr. Letra’s work has been recognized through prestigious awards including the Journal of Endodontics Best Paper in Clinical Research Awards (2020 and 2024), first place in the IADR Hatton Competition (2016) and the AADR/SCADA Burton C. Borgelt Faculty Advisor Award. Her work has been featured on the cover of the Journal of Endodontics, Journal of Dental Research, and Orthodontics and Craniofacial Research Journal. She has authored over 160 peer-reviewed articles, 8 book chapters, and numerous abstracts and publications in the media. She is an associate editor of the Journal of Endodontics and Chair of the AAE Research and Scientific Affairs Committee.
SYMPOSIUM 5
Clinical Perspectives:
Ikhlas El-Kharim
Queen's University Belfast, Ireland
Clinical Professor and Consultant in Restorative Dentistry at the School of Medicine Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences Queens University Belfast.
Graduated from Faculty of Dentistry Khartoum University and completed PhD and speciality training in the School of Dentistry Queen’s University Belfast. Dr El karim currently leads a clinical and translational pulp biology research programme in endodontics with a focus on developing novel pulpal diagnostics and therapeutics for vital pulp treatment at the Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, Queens University Belfast. She has published over 70 peer reviewed papers, edited Vital Pulp Treatment book and contributed to many book chapters in the field. Dr El karim is past president of the Irish Division of the International Association of Dental Research, Vice President of the Pulp Biology and Regeneration Group and Associate Editor for Clinical Research for the International Endodontic Journal. She was a member of the European Society of Endodontology Steering Group for development of quality guidelines in endodontics and a co-lead for the treatment of pulpitis working group. She led the COSET project for development of core outcome set for endodontic treatments.
Ove Peters
University of Queensland, Australia
Switzerland as well at the University of California at San Francisco, CA, USA. His main scientific interests have been in technology and biology broadly relevant to endodontics and more recently in dental public health. D. Peters has published more than 230 journal articles, 24 book chapters and 2 books and lectures extensively worldwide. He has received the Hans Genet Award, the Louis I. Grossman Award and the Alan Docking Award from the ESE, the AAE and the IADR ANZ, respectively.
Laura Ceballos
King Juan Carlos University, Madrid, Spain
Prof. Dr. Laura Ceballos Garcia is the Head of the Department for
Conservative Dentistry at Rey Juan Carlos University, Alcorcón,
Madrid, Spain, and serves as the Academic Secretary of the Health
Sciences Faculty.
She obtained her DDS in 1997 and her PhD in 2001 at University of
Granada in Spain. In 2003, she moved to Madrid, as Interim
Associate Professor, to teach Dental Materials in the newly
created Degree in Dentistry at the Rey Juan Carlos University. In
the following years, she added Dental Pathology and Conservative
Dentistry to her teaching duties, while being promoted to
Associate Professor in 2007 and Full Professor in 2019. Dr. Ceballos
founded a Master in Esthetic Restorative Dentistry and
Endodontics in 2009, as well as a Research Group, named IDIBO.
She has focused her research activity on the field of Adhesive
Dentistry, including laboratorial and clinical studies. Her
publications can be conferred at https://orcid.org/0000-0002-
6024-9559, being most of them related to doctoral theses that she
has supervised. Dr. Ceballos was President of the Spanish Society
of Conservative Dentistry and Esthetics (SEOC) between 2012-
2015. She was also part of the Executive Commission of the
European Federation of Conservative Dentistry (EFCD) on behalf of
SEOC (2015-2023). She is currently the President of CED-IADR.
Anibal Diogenes
University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, USA
Dr. Anibal Diogenes received his D.D.S. from the Federal University of Pernambuco in Brazil, his M.S. in Molecular Biology from the University of Nebraska, and his Ph.D. in Pharmacology and Certificate in Endodontics from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. Dr. Diogenes is a professor and the vice-chair of the Department of Endodontics at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. His areas of research include pain, neuroscience and regenerative endodontics. He is also an Associate Editor for the Journal of Endodontics and a director of the American Board of Endodontics. Dr. Diogenes maintains a private practice limited to Endodontics in addition to his teaching and research activities.
