Awards

IADR Innovation in Oral Care Awards

The Innovation in Oral Care Awards (“Award(s)”) are jointly sponsored by IADR and Haleon, with funding provided exclusively by Haleon. The IADR mission is to drive dental, oral and craniofacial research for health and well-being worldwide. It does so through its Divisions and Sections as well as in partnership with international dental associations, industry, health agencies, and scientific and educational professional organizations. These innovation awards offer opportunities for investigators to conduct dental research that will have a direct impact on the oral health of the public.

Award Prize/Recognition

Up to $50,000 and Plaque

Key Dates

Applications Open:

Jul 14, 2025

Applications Closed:

Nov 24, 2025

Introduction:

As a leader in consumer oral care, Haleon recognizes the need for pioneers to produce innovative technologies that can be used routinely by the public to maintain and improve oral health and quality of life. The Award(s) is intended to help investigators pursue innovative and novel research in oral care, above and beyond the bounds of traditional dental research.

Three competitive Award(s), of up to $50,000 each, will be provided to recipients to advance oral care programs directed toward the development of innovative and novel compounds, biomaterials or devices that can be used ultimately at the public health level. Examples of areas of interest could include, but not be limited to:

  • inhibition or removal of biofilms etc. adhering to natural or artificial surfaces,
  • modification of those surfaces to inhibit biofilms and other deposits, stains and odors,
  • adhesives for removable prosthetic devices,
  • inhibition of tooth surface loss and gingival recession, and amelioration of their effects, and
  • counteracting the oral effects of dry mouth, systemic illness, hormonal disturbances or physiological aging.

The Award(s) will be provided in the form of an unrestricted research grant which carries no obligation to the recipient’s organization for licensure, patenting, or transfer confidential information, although Haleon may discuss the possibility of future collaboration with some applicants.

Sponsored by:

Haleon

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2025 Recipients

Prasanna Neelakantan

University of Alberta
Bioinspired Nanogel for the Management of Oral Candidiasis
co-investigators: Santiago Orrego and Cesar de la Fuente

 

 

Prasanna Neelakantan
Yong Wang

University of Missouri- Kansas City
Biomimetic Multifunctional Compounds for Advanced Oral Care 
co-investigator: Zhonghua Peng and Viviane Hass

Yong Wang
Ollie Yiru Yu

The University of Hong Kong
A Self-Healing Dental Sealant for Caries Prevention and Management 
co-Investigators: Chun-Hung Chu, Christie Ying-Kei Lung, and Kelsey Xingyun Ge

Ollie Yu

Questions about the award?

Beatrice Nguyen

Assistant Manager, Awards, Fellowships, & Grants

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