Alexandria, VA, USA – A symposium emphasizing the urgent need for oral health research capacity in low- and middle-income countries was presented at the 103rd General Session of the IADR, which was held in conjunction with the IADR/Pan European Regional Congress on June 25-28, 2025 in Barcelona, Spain.
This symposium highlighted the need for building oral health research capacity in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Throughout this oral symposium, speakers directly addressed region-specific health challenges and solutions on how to solve those challenges through fostering collaborative networks needed for sustainable progress. This topic was ideal for the IADR General Session meeting, aligning with its mission to promote global research equity and empower LMICs to lead impactful research initiatives. Arthur Kemoli, University of Nairobi, Kenya presented his findings on integrating oral HIV research into Kenya’s health system. His work addresses cultural and structural barriers in LMIC health systems, supporting regional expertise in oral health. Modupe Coker, Penn Dental Medicine, Philadelphia, USA explored inflammatory markers in HIV-exposed children, emphasizing systemic and oral health interconnections in West sub-Saharan countries. Her research bridges basic and translational science, advancing our understanding of biological risk factors that affect oral health outcomes in LMICs. Also presenting was Waranuch Pitiphat, Khon Kaen University, Thailand, who leads a large-scale Southeast Asian research training project.. Her work has built a sustainable network of over 300 regional researchers, focusing on interventions for high-risk populations in oral health. Ana Lucia Seminario, University of Washington, Seattle, USA examined how HIV and alcohol use disorders impact oral health in Peruvian men who have sex with men (MSM) populations. Her presentation emphasized developing research infrastructure within LMICs, demonstrating how tailored interventions can address unique community health needs.
Organized by Sara Stanley and Ana Lucie Seminario, University of Washington, Seattle, USA, the Symposium, “Creating Research Capacity in Low- and Middle-Income Countries” took place on Wednesday, June 25 at 10 a.m. CEST (UTC+2).
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 www.iadr.org.
