Press Releases

Tara Aghaloo Named Recipient of the IADR Distinguished Scientist Isaac Schour Memorial Award

Alexandria, VA, USA, June 22, 2022 – The International Association for Dental Research (IADR) announced that Tara Aghaloo, University of California, Los Angeles, USA, is the recipient of the IADR Distinguished Scientist Isaac Schour Memorial Award. Aghaloo was recognized during the Opening Ceremonies of the virtual 100th General Session & Exhibition of the IADR, held in conjunction with the 5th Meeting of the Asia Pacific Region on June 20-25, 2022.

Aghaloo is a Professor in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at the University of California Los Angeles School of Dentistry, Los Angeles, CA; the first appointed Assistant Dean for Clinical Research; and a recognized leader in clinical research. She obtained her BA in Biology and DDS in Dentistry in 1994 from the University of Missouri, Kansas City, her MD in 1998 from UCLA, and her PhD in Oral Biology in 2007 from UCLA. 

For the past 20 years, her NIH funded research has focused on dental implant surgery, bone grafting, and medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaws (MRONJ). Aghaloo and her group received a NIDCR sponsored C-DOCTOR U24 award to study bone regeneration around ailing dental implants, the only UCLA investigator to reach Stage 3 of U24 funding and to conduct translational studies on new bone grafting materials and tissue engineered constructs. 

She has received many research awards including the American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons Clinical Research Award in 2020 and co-investigator for an IADR Innovation in Oral Care Award in 2019.

Funded through a generous endowment provided by Bernard G. Sarnat, a former graduate student of Isaac Schour, and Rhoda G. Sarnat through the Sarnat Family Foundation, the Isaac Schour Memorial Award consists of a monetary prize and plaque and recognizes outstanding scientific contributions in the anatomical sciences, including tissue engineering, tissue regeneration and stem cell research as it relates to the oral, dental, or craniofacial complex. It is one of the 17 IADR Distinguished Scientist Awards and is one of the highest honors bestowed by IADR.

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About IADR
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.