Alexandria, Va., USA – The International Association for Dental Research (IADR) announced Eija Könönen, University of Turku, Finland, as the 2021 recipient of the IADR Distinguished Scientist Award in Research in Oral Biology. Könönen was recognized during the Opening Ceremonies of the virtual 99th General Session & Exhibition of the IADR, held in conjunction with the 50th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Dental Research (AADR) and the 45th Annual Meeting of the Canadian Association for Dental Research (CADR), on July 21-24, 2021.
Könönen is currently a Professor and Chair of Periodontology at University of Turku, Finland. She obtained a Doctor of Odontology (Dr. Odont/Ph.D.) and a specialty in clinical dentistry/periodontology from the University of Helsinki, Finland. Her outstanding contributions to oral biology started during her Ph.D. studies at the National Institute of Health (KTL) in Finland. Thereafter, she made substantial contributions to the field of oral microbiology and published 149 peer reviewed publications on this and related topics. Könönen has received numerous distinctions and has participated on several national and international committees.
Könönen was one of the pioneers that showed that the heterogeneity and stability of the oral microbial community has a role in the development of a successful immune response, and in the establishment of a stable host-oral microbiome relationship. Her salivary diagnostic studies distinctively included information on systemic diseases and conditions that may affect the levels of biomarkers, and led to the development of a novel salivary diagnostic method, the Cumulative Risk Score, that has been used in several studies in which diagnosis of periodontal status by traditional clinical indexes was not possible.
Sponsored by Church & Dwight Company, the Research in Oral Biology Award is one of the 17 IADR Distinguished Scientist Awards and is one of the highest honors bestowed by IADR. The award consists of a monetary award and plaque and recognizes outstanding research in the field of oral biology.
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 for health and well-being worldwide. To learn more, visit www.iadr.org