Alexandria, VA, USA – The International Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research (IADR) has announced Patricia Diaz as the 2025 recipient of the IADR Distinguished Scientist Award in Research in Oral Biology. Diaz, from the University at Buffalo, New York, USA, was recognized during the Opening Ceremonies of 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.
Diaz graduated as a D.D.S. from the Instituto de Ciencias de la Salud CES, Colombia. She later obtained her B.Sc. Dent. and her Ph.D. in Microbiology at the University of Adelaide, Australia. In 2008, she was awarded a M.Sc. and Clinical Certificate in Periodontology at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, USA. She undertook her postdoctoral training at the National Institute for Dental and Craniofacial Research in Bethesda, Maryland, USA.
Diaz’s laboratory was one of the first to apply high throughput DNA sequencing to characterize the oral microbiome communities in homeostasis and disease. She co-authored 59 peer-reviewed publications that have over 8,790 citations, and a H-index of 42 (Google Scholar). She has demonstrated a strong commitment to the teaching and training of undergraduate and postgraduate students, and the mentoring of postgraduate research fellows and clinicians, some of whom have secured faculty positions in dental schools around the world. Diaz served as Program Officer of the IADR Women in Science Network (2012-15), and is currently President of the Western New York Division of the American Society of Microbiology. Diaz serves as an editorial board member on numerous dental based journals, including Associate Editor for Journal of Periodontology.
Sponsored by Church & Dwight Company, the Research in Oral Biology Award is one of the 17 IADR Distinguished Scientist Awards and one of the highest honors bestowed by IADR. The award recognizes outstanding research in the field of oral biology.
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.
