Alexandria, VA, USA – The International Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research (IADR) has announced Li Meng as the 2026 recipient of the IADR Newell Johnson Travel Award. Meng, from Shanghai Jiao Tong University, China, 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.
Meng is a postdoctoral fellow at Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital at the Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine. Her research focuses on uncovering the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying craniofacial development and regeneration. Meng received her dental and research training at Nanjing Medical University, earning a Ph.D. in stomatology in 2024. Her doctoral work investigated epigenetic regulation and signaling pathways in palatogenesis and osteogenic differentiation.
She is currently continuing her postdoctoral research, exploring the interplay between epigenetic regulators, bioactive materials, and skeletal tissue repair. Her scientific interests lie at the intersection of craniofacial developmental biology and regenerative medicine. She is particularly dedicated to understanding how epigenetic factors, such as protein arginine methylation, control gene expression programs during palate formation, as revealed in her recent publication in Nature Communications. Additionally, her work on bioactive glass nanoparticles for bone regeneration, published in Acta Biomaterialia, highlights her translational approach to developing therapeutic strategies for skeletal disorders. Meng's research aims to bridge fundamental biological discoveries with potential clinical applications to improve treatments for craniofacial anomalies and bone defects.
Named after the late Newell W. Johnson, this award was established to assist new investigators residing in low- to upper middle-income countries to attend the IADR General Session & Exhibition. IADR uses the annual World Bank classification of countries by income to determine which countries are low and middle income. The IADR Newell W. Johnson Travel Award is designed to encourage new investigators to undertake research and to support their attendance at the IADR General Session & Exhibition for presentation of research in any of the IADR Scientific Group & Network research areas. The award is supported by generous donations from individuals who created the endowment.
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.
