Alexandria, VA, USA – The International Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research (IADR) has announced Alexander Kerr as the 2026 recipient of the IADR Distinguished Scientist Award in Oral Medicine & Pathology Research. Kerr, from New York University (NYU), was recognized during the Opening Ceremonies of the 104th General Session of the IADR, which was held in conjunction with the 55th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research and the 50th Annual Meeting of the Canadian Association for Dental Research on March 25-28, 2026 in San Diego, CA, USA.
Kerr is a Clinical Professor in the NYU College of Dentistry, and at the NYU School of Medicine, Department of Otolaryngology. He holds an Honorary Fellowship from the Royal College of Physicians & Surgeons, Glasgow, Scotland. He started his career earning a Doctor in Dental Surgery from McGill University, Montreal, Canada, completed a General Practice Residency at Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, USA, then a Masters of Science in Oral Medicine at the University of Washington, Seattle, USA.
Kerr is a past President of the American Academy of Oral Medicine, and the current President and the Director of the American Board of Oral Medicine. His research is primarily focused on current and emerging methods for the screening, diagnosis, and management of patients with oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma and oral potentially malignant disorders. He has also played a significant role in the World Workshop on Oral Medicine’s research agenda within education, clinical practice, and research on salivary hypofunction. Kerr has published more than 100 peer-reviewed articles that collectively have been cited over 11,000 times.
One of the 17 IADR Distinguished Scientist Awards, the Oral Medicine & Pathology Research Award is one of the highest honors bestowed by IADR. The Award recognizes outstanding and sustained peer-reviewed research that has contributed to the understanding of the mechanisms governing the health and disease of the oral cavity and associated structures, principally encompassing skin, bone, and the oral soft tissue.
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.
