Alexandria, Va., USA, May 6, 2020 – The International Association for Dental Research (IADR) announced Stefan Hans-Klaus Ruhl, University at Buffalo, New York, USA, as the 2020 recipient of Distinguished Scientist Award in Salivary Research.
Ruhl is a Professor of Oral Biology and Adjunct Professor of Microbiology and Immunology at the University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine. He earned his D.D.S. in 1984 and Ph.D. in 1988 from the University of Göttingen, Germany. His postdoctoral work took place from 1989-1994 at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, MD. Ruhl was Professor of Operative Dentistry and Periodontology at the University of Regensburg in Germany before he moved to the US in 2007.
His scientific interests encompass the general area of oral infection and immunity with major emphasis on the adhesin-mediated interactions of oral bacteria with host receptors. He investigates the molecular basis of glycan-mediated interactions of oral bacteria and systemic pathogens with glycoproteins in saliva and on host cells as well as the influence of biomaterial surface modifications on salivary protein adsorption and bacterial adhesion. More recently, Ruhl and his laboratory have become interested in the evolution of salivary proteins and how it interplays with the oral microbiome. Ruhl firmly believes that glycan recognition by oral microbes plays an important role that will help reveal how oral and systemic health are connected and that will lead to future promising therapies.
The IADR Salivary Research Award was designed to stimulate and recognize outstanding and innovative achievements that have contributed to the basic understanding of the salivary gland structure, secretion, and function, or salivary composition and function. It consists of a monetary award and a plaque, and is one of the 17 IADR Distinguished Scientist Awards, representing one of the highest honors bestowed by the IADR.
Due to the cancellation of the 2020 IADR/AADR/CADR General Session, the award was given locally.
About the International Association for Dental Research
The International Association for Dental Research (IADR) is a nonprofit organization with over 10,000 individual members worldwide, with a Mission to drive dental, oral and craniofacial research to advance health and well-being worldwide. To learn more, visit www.iadr.org.