CHICAGO, October 17, 2024 — The American Dental Association (ADA) has announced the winners of two research awards – the Gold Medal Award for Excellence in Dental Research and the Norton M. Ross Award for Excellence in Clinical Research – at SmileCon™ in New Orleans, La.
Gold Medal Award for Excellence in Dental Research
William Giannobile, D.D.S., D.Med.Sc., Dean and the A. Lee Loomis Jr. Professor of Oral Medicine, Infection & Immunity of the Harvard School of Dental Medicine, has been selected as the recipient of the 2024 Gold Medal Award for Excellence in Dental Research. Established in 1985, and sponsored by the ADA together with Colgate, the Gold Medal Award for Excellence in Dental Research honors individuals who, through basic or clinical research, have contributed to the advancement of the profession of dentistry or to major improvements in the oral health of the public. The award is presented every three years, and the winner receives $25,000, a gold medallion and, if eligible, a three-year term as a member of the ADA’s Council on Scientific Affairs.
Dr. Giannobile is a fellow of both the American Academy for the Advancement of Science and the American and International Colleges of Dentists. Internationally recognized, he is a leader in precision medicine who has made significant contributions to oral health research, particularly in the field of periodontal regenerative medicine.
Dr. Giannobile earned his dental and master’s degrees in oral biology from the University of Missouri School of Dentistry, and his certificate in periodontology and Doctor of Medical Science in oral biology from the Harvard School of Dental Medicine. He has received notable awards in periodontology, including the Distinguished Scientist Awards from the American Academy of Periodontology and the International Association for Dental Research, the William J. Gies Award from the American Academy of Periodontology and American Dental Education Association, and the Norton M. Ross Award for Clinical Research from the ADA in 2018.
From 2012-2020, he served as the chair and Najjar Endowed Professor of Dentistry of the Department of Periodontics and Oral Medicine at the University of Michigan School of Dentistry and a professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at the University’s College of Engineering. Dr. Giannobile also previously served from 2010-2020 as editor-in-chief for the “Journal of Dental Research” and has been a consultant for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Dental Panel.
Dr. Giannobile is known for his research contributions to bone and tissue regeneration, using stem cell therapy and other treatment methods. His approach to research has led to and supported further understanding of periodontal diseases. Dr. Giannobile has received continuous funding from the National Institute of Health (NIH) for 30 years and serves as a co-principal investigator for the NIH/National Institute Dental and Craniofacial Research Michigan-Pittsburgh-Wyss Regenerative Medicine Resource Center to promote the translation of basic science discoveries to clinical applications.
For more information about the Gold Medal Award for Excellence in Dentistry, visit https://www.ada.org/about/volunteer-and-get-involved-with-the-ada/gold-medal-award.
Norton M. Ross Award for Excellence in Clinical Research
Yvonne Kapila, D.D.S., professor at the University of California, Los Angeles, has been selected as the recipient of the Norton M. Ross Award for Excellence in Clinical Research. Established in 1991 and sponsored by Kenvue Inc., the Norton M. Ross Award for Excellence in Clinical Research recognizes an individual who has made significant contributions in clinical investigations that have advanced the diagnosis, treatment and/or prevention of craniofacial-oral-dental diseases, as well as outstanding research endeavors in other areas.
Dr. Kapila received her bachelor’s degree in human biology from Stanford University and went on to receive her dental degree, doctor of philosophy degree, postdoctoral fellowship and Periodontology Certificate from the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) where she was an assistant professor in the Department of Stomatology. She also took a position at the University of Michigan School of Dentistry as a professor in the Department of Periodontics and Oral Medicine. At the University of Michigan, Dr. Kapila was also the Inaugural Director of Global Oral Health Initiatives. Dr. Kapila then returned to UCSF where she was the R. Earl Robinson Endowed Distinguished Professor of Periodontology and Chair of the Division of Periodontology from 2016-2022. Currently, Dr. Kapila is a professor of dentistry in the Sections of Biosystems and Function and Periodontics at the University of California, Los Angeles, the Felix and Mildred Yip Endowed Chair in Dentistry and the Associate Dean of Research.
At the University of Michigan School of Dentistry, Dr. Kapila served on the Executive Committee, Tenure and Promotions Committee and the Admissions Committee, among others. At UCSF, she served on multiple admissions committees, three Chancellor appointed committees including the Stewardship Review Committee for the Dean for the School of Pharmacy. Outside of her work within universities, Dr. Kapila was an integral part of the American Academy of Periodontology (AAP) Research Submission’s Committee for over five years and served as committee chair for seven years.
Dr. Kapila’s laboratory has made important discoveries centered around the cell and molecular biology mechanisms that govern periodontal disease pathogenesis and oral cancer carcinogenesis using in vitro and in vivo models, and human clinical studies. She has led basic and clinical research teams for over 25 years in studies related to periodontal disease, oral cancer, caries assessment, fluorosis assessment and oral health and pain research in the United States and in Kenya. Her laboratory has authored more than 160 peer reviewed publications in high impact journals.
Dr. Kapila has received several awards for her research and contributions to the field of periodontology and student mentorship throughout her career, and she has been continuously funded by the NIH for more than 25 years.
While director of Global Oral Health Initiatives at the University of Michigan, Dr. Kapila launched three global engagement programs: the Kenya Summer Research Program, the Brazil-UM Exchange Program, and the “United Nations Program,” that fostered the engagement of students and faculties in global research and cultural appreciation. Dr. Kapila also brought in speakers and scholars of diverse backgrounds to speak at university events, encouraging diversity and inclusion within education. While at USCF, she continued her mentorship of young faculty members and students of diverse or disadvantaged backgrounds and supported a wide number of research trainees in her laboratory through minority supplements on her NIH grants and other programs.
For more information about the Norton M. Ross Award for Excellence in Clinical Research, visit https://www.ada.org/about/volunteer-and-get-involved-with-the-ada/norton-m-ross-award-of-excellence-in-clinical-research.
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