Alexandria, VA, USA – The International Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research (IADR) has announced the winners of the 2026 IADR Hatton Competition. The recipients were 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.
The winners are:
JUNIOR CATEGORY
• 1st – Jasmine Canlas, Dental College of Georgia at Augusta University, American Division
Engineered Small Extracellular Vesicles as a Novel Antimicrobial Therapy for Periodontal Disease
• 2nd – Cicely Chau, The University of Hong Kong, Southeast Asian Division
GelMA Hydrogel Modulates Macrophage Polarization to Promote Tissue Regeneration
SENIOR BASIC SCIENCE CATEGORY
• 1st – Heliya Ziaei, Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC, American Division
Epigenetic Regulation of Mesenchymal BMP Signaling Directs Tooth Sensory Innervation
• 2nd – Nicha Tokavanich, University of California, San Francisco, American Division
Salt-Inducible Kinases Inactivation Reverses Primary Failure of Eruption in Mice
SENIOR CLINICAL RESEARCH CATEGORY
• 1st – Edward Kabubei, Moi University, East & Southern Africa Division
Dental Fluorosis and Oral-Health-Related-Quality-of-Life Among Adolescents in Naivasha, Kenya
• 2nd – Claire Curtin, University College Cork, Irish Division
Oral Health and Care Practices in an Irish Residential Facility
The Hatton Award was first presented as the "Novice Award" in 1953 and is the oldest IADR Award. The name was changed to the Edward H. Hatton Award in 1957 to honor IADR past president Edward H. Hatton. The competition is designed to provide an opportunity for the best junior investigators from all IADR Divisions and Sections to present their research at the annual IADR General Session. A major goal of the IADR Hatton Competition and Awards is to give as many students and new investigators as possible access to the IADR General Session, as well as the experience to present their research to a global audience.
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.
