Alexandria, Va., USA – The American Association for Dental Research (AADR) announced Martha Somerman, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Md., as the 2021 recipient of the AADR Jack Hein Public Service Award. Somerman was recognized during the Opening Ceremonies of the virtual 50th Annual Meeting of the AADR, held in conjunction with the 99th General Session & Exhibition of the International Association for Dental Research (IADR) and the 45th Annual Meeting of the Canadian Association for Dental Research (CADR), on July 21-24, 2021.
Somerman served as Director of the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research from August 2011 - December 2019 and is currently an adjunct investigator in the Laboratory of Oral Connective Tissue Biology at the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, Bethesda, Md. She received her D.D.S. from New York University, N.Y., and her Ph.D. from the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, N.Y.
Somerman began her dental research career analyzing links between vitamin D and bone remodeling and continued research of mineralized tissues characterizing extracellular matrix proteins from bone and their bioactive effects on osteoblasts and osteoclasts in culture. Among many important findings, Somerman discovered key adhesion molecules and phosphate regulators in dental tissues and provided a clinical application. Through her research she demonstrated the importance of controlling regulators of phosphate metabolism to maintaining and regenerating oral/dental tissues. Somerman has more than 150 peer-review publications with over 8,000 citations and she has contributed to 20 books or book chapters.
Somerman served as the 30th AADR president (2001-02). She has received the IADR Straumann Award in Regenerative Periodontal Medicine, the 2005 IADR Distinguished Scientist Award for Research in Oral Biology Award and the 2018 IADR Distinguished Scientist Award in in Basic Research in Biological Mineralization.
The AADR Jack Hein Public Service Award honors individuals who have given exemplary service in the area of public affairs by consistently promoting the interests and activities of oral health research to a wide constituency.
About the American Association for Dental Research
The American Association for Dental Research (AADR) is a nonprofit organization with over 3,100 individual members in the United States, with a mission to drive dental, oral and craniofacial research to advance health and well-being. The AADR is the largest Division of the International Association for Dental Research (IADR). The AADR also manages the activities of FNIDCR. The AADR also manages the activities of FNIDCR. To learn more, visit www.iadr.org/aadr.