Alexandria, VA, USA – The International Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research (IADR) has announced Diep Ha as the winner of the 2024 IADR John Clarkson Fellowship. Ha, from The University of Queensland, Australia, was recognized during the Opening Ceremonies of the 102nd General Session of the IADR, which was held in conjunction with the 53rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research and the 48th Annual Meeting of the Canadian Association for Dental Research, on March 13-16, 2024, in New Orleans, LA.
Ha is a dentist and a Senior Research Fellow at the University of Queensland School of Dentistry. She was Chief Investigator in three project grants of the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) and one Medical Research Future Fund grant developing new data collection instruments such as questionnaires and oral epidemiological examination protocols. She currently leads a clinical and research team to conduct a large population-based birth cohort study of child dental health (the SMILE study), which has been running for ten years. She is also the principal trainer in oral epidemiological examination of the Queensland Child Oral Health Study.
Ha’s research led to the development of a prediction model to assist clinicians in deciding recall interval for children depending on their risk of future dental caries. The model has been included in the management system of the South Australian Dental Services. Additionally, her research informed the NHMRC Review on Water Fluoridation (2017) and the IADR Policy Statement on Community Water Fluoridation (2022).
The purpose of the IADR John Clarkson Fellowship is to allow investigators to obtain training and experience in dental public health at a center of excellence. The Fellow will receive funding for accommodation, subsistence, and travel (up to $15,000) following approval. The Fellowship is awarded every two years in honor of John Clarkson, who served as Executive Director of IADR/AADOCR from 1990-97.
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 at www.iadr.org.