Alexandria, VA, USA – The International Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research (IADR) has announced Pirkko Pussinen as the 2024 IADR Distinguished Scientist Award in Research in Oral Biology. Pussinen, from the University of Helsinki, Finland, was recognized during the Opening Ceremonies of the 102nd General Session of the IADR, which was held in conjunction with the 53rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research and the 48th Annual Meeting of the Canadian Association for Dental Research, on March 13-16, 2024, in New Orleans, LA, USA.
Pussinen is presently Professor of Translational Dentistry, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland. She received her MS and PhD degrees in Biochemistry from the University of Helsinki. She has served as a Principal Investigator, Oral and Maxillofacial Diseases with the University of Helsinki Faculty of Medicine since 2002. She has mentored 15 PhD students and more than 30 Master’s students over the course of her career. She has served as a peer reviewer for numerous scientific journals and granting agencies and has received several awards for her scientific and educational activities.
Pussinen and her colleagues have been actively investigating the microbiology of periodontal disease for the past 20 years. Her research has focused on the identification of bacteria associated with periodontitis, the evaluation of the host response to these bacteria, and the connection of oral dysbiosis and inflammation in systemic processes such as atherosclerosis, as well as resulting diseases such as cardiovascular disease and stroke. Her group has published over 140 peer-reviewed publications, as well as numerous meeting abstracts and presentations.
Sponsored by Church & Dwight Company, the Research in Oral Biology Award is one of the 17 IADR Distinguished Scientist Awards and one of the highest honors bestowed by IADR. The award recognizes outstanding research in the field of oral biology.
About IADR
The International Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research (IADR) is a nonprofit organization with a mission to drive dental, oral, and craniofacial research for health and well-being worldwide. IADR represents the individual scientists, clinician-scientists, dental professionals, and students based in academic, government, non-profit, and private-sector institutions who share our mission. Learn more at www.iadr.org.