Alexandria, VA, USA – The International Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research (IADR) has announced Mario Brondani as the 2026 recipient of the IADR Distinguished Scientist Award in Geriatric Oral Research. Brondani, from the University of British Columbia (UBC), 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.
Brondani is Associate Professor in Dental Geriatrics, at the Department of Oral Health Sciences, at UBC. He has extensive experience in research and teaching in geriatric oral health since commencing his career in Brazil in 1994. Both his M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees have focused on dental geriatrics, in which he was involved in exploring the use of psychometric estimates of oral health related quality of life.
Brondani has been an advocate for the inclusion and promotion of gerodontology in dental curricula, and has supervised the research of numerous international higher degree graduates, as well as conducting educational and media-centered symposia in Canada and Brazil. He has published widely in the field of dental geriatrics and has contributed to two important text-books in the field: Oral Healthcare for Frail Elders (Blackwell Munksgaard) and Prosthetic Treatment for Edentulous Patients (Elsevier Mosby). Brondani has received substantial competitive research funding for his work on the impact of COVID-19 on the provision of oral health care for vulnerable people including those in nursing homes; and the relationship of oral health and systemic health across the life span.
Brondani has published more than 100 research papers in international literature, and among other partnerships, has established collaborative research in dental geriatrics across North America, Europe, the Middle East and Australasia. He has been an invited speaker to allied and oral health symposia internationally. He is currently Associate Editor of Gerodontology, and is the recipient of the UBC Faculty Teaching Award for 2020-21. Brondani has been an active member of IADR for over 20 years.
The IADR Distinguished Scientist Award in Geriatric Oral Research consists of a monetary award and plaque and is generously supported by Haleon. The award is designed to stimulate, encourage, and recognize outstanding research accomplishments in the field of geriatric oral research. This is one of the 17 IADR Distinguished Scientist Awards and is one of the highest honors bestowed by IADR.
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.
