We are pleased to announce we have the following speakers confirmed.
Graham Embery Lecture
Professor Anthony Smith
Tony Smith is an Emeritus Professor at, University of Birmingham, UK where he was previously Professor of Oral Biology and Director of Research for many years and has honorary chairs at Trinity College Dublin in Ireland and at two universities in China. He has long been active in the areas of pulp biology and regeneration, particularly cell behaviour in dentine-pulp and in the modulation of cell behaviour during pulp regeneration and engineering and in response to dental restorative procedures. His experience in the dentine-pulp field extends over approximately 45 years and he has published widely in the area. In 2004, he was awarded the IADR Distinguished Scientist in Pulp Biology award and was President of the IADR Pulp Biology research group in 2004/2005. He was Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Dental Research from 2004 to 2010.
Keynote Speakers
Dr Nick Jakubovics
Dr. Nick Jakubovics is a Senior Lecturer at Newcastle University, UK. He has established a strong track record in oral microbiology, with a focus on translational research aimed at controlling oral biofilms and extra-oral biofilm-related infections. A key area of his research program is the biofilm matrix, and the role of extracellular DNA (eDNA) in particular. His work to develop a marine deoxyribonuclease (DNase) enzyme for biofilm control led to global media coverage in 2012 and 2013, and has underpinned a range of industry-funded and PhD studentship projects. More recently, he has been funded by the Dunhill Medical Trust to develop applications based on stimulating the activity of DNase enzymes produced by commensal dental plaque bacteria to control plaque and maintain oral health. Dr Jakubovics also discovered that L-arginine is a potent disruptor of oral biofilms and is co-inventor on patent ‘compositions and method for destabilizing, altering, and dispersing biofilms’ (PCT/US2014/057235). He has collaborated closely with engineers, materials scientists and chemists to develop a range of physically or chemically modified surfaces for the control of biofilm formation. Overall, he has published >80 papers and been named on awarded grants totaling >£3.4M (€3.8M).
Dr Gilles Richard
Gilles Richard is the Director of Research and Development at Septodont. Based in the global Septodont R&D center at Saint Maur des Fossés, near Paris, he is leading a team of 30 researchers dedicated to developing new dental products. His mission is to continuously improve the product range and to turn scientific and technological concepts into clinically available innovative products for worldwide use.
Gilles Richard has gained over 20 years of experience in developing innovative medical devices for the healthcare industry, filling more than 20 patents. Biodentine was the first product launched from an internal exclusive hydraulic cement technology, which continues to be declined into new dental products. Beside the scientific aspects, bringing a new product to the market requires a multi-expertise coordination in order to deal with formulation, chemical and physical characterization, industrial transfer, packaging, regulatory, marketing, biological and clinical inputs. His research interests currently covers pain management and regenerative dentistry.
Professor Farida Fortune
Professor Fortune is Professor of Medicine in Relation to Oral Health, Queen Mary University London, and Honorary Consultant Oral Medicine/Medicine, Bart’s and the London Trust. She is also Director, National Centre for Behçet’s Syndrome, London. Professor Fortune is on the specialist register for Oral Medicine in Dentistry (GDC), and Immunology in Medicine (GMC). Prof Fortune has held a number of senior positions at Queen Mary including Head of Clinical and Diagnostic Sciences, Director of National Centre of Excellence for Behçet’s Syndrome, Director Clinical Academic Unit Bart’s and the London NHS Health Trust and,Dean and Director, Institute of Dentistry, Bart’s and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry. HEFCE- Healthcare Education Advisory Committee. She was awarded a CBE for services to Medicine and Dentistry.
Her research is focused on Behçet’s Syndrome, mucosal diseases and oral cancers: all aspects including cellular immunopathogenesis, clinical sciences and impact of social and epidemiological factors of health outcomes.
Professor Mike Dixon
Mike qualified with a degree in dentistry from the University of Manchester (1983) and, after completing several clinical positions, secured a Wellcome Trust Clinical Training Fellowship graduating with a PhD in developmental biology (1988). After post-doctoral research at St. Mary’s Hospital London, Mike returned to an academic position at the University of Manchester where he was promoted to the post of Professor of Dental Genetics (1996) Research in Mike's laboratory is conducted at the clinical/basic science interface and integrates genetic analyses in clinically-defined human populations, developmental biology, biochemistry, and experimental embryology to dissect the molecular pathogenesis of craniofacial anomalies that include cleft lip/palate.
Guest Speaker
Dr Kerry McLaughlin
Dr Kerry McLaughlin is a Programme Manager in the Medical Research Council’s Training & Careers team and MRC’s Deputy Lead for Future Leaders Fellowships. Her particular areas of interest are Clinical Careers, particularly early career stages, and Data & Quantitative Skills Development. Prior to joining MRC, Kerry held a fellowship at the University of Oxford and has a background in type 1 diabetes and autoimmunity.