Professor of Orthodontics

Martyn Cobourne has been promoted to Professor of Orthodontics at King's College London. Professor Cobourne was appointed as a Senior Lecturer/Honorary Consultant in Orthodontics within the Dental Institute at King's College London in 2004. His current research interests focus on molecular mechanisms underlying craniofacial disorders, in particular cleft lip and palate. In addition, he has conducted several randomised controlled trials investigating clinical efficiency of orthodontic appliances.

Basic Research Prize

Dr Nikos Mardas has won the prestigious Basic Research Prize of the European Association for Osseointegration (EAO) for his study Novel purmorphamine/β-TCP filled degradable polymer membrane for GBR. Dr Mardas is a Senior Clinical Lecturer in Periodontology at the UCL Eastman Dental Institute. Dr Mardas shared first prize with Dr Andreas Stavropoulos from the University of Aarhus.

Double appointments for Professor Eaton

Professor Ken Eaton has been elected as the chair of the recently formed Platform for Better Oral Health in Europe. The platform is a collaboration between the Association for Dental Education in Europe, the Council of European Chief Dental Officers and the European Association for Dental Public Health, together with Wrigley and GlaxoSmithKline.

Professor Eaton was also elected President of the European Association of Dental Public Health (EADPH) during the recent annual meeting in Rome.

Management success for 72

A record-breaking 72 dental practice managers and dentists achieved an Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM) qualification with UMD Professional in 2011.

The successful candidates all achieved a qualification awarded by the ILM, either through attending a workshop-based course or studying via distance learning. A limited number of grants are still available for 2012. www.umdprofessional.co.uk.

First dentist on Academy council

Professor Jonathan Shepherd of Cardiff University School of Dentistry has been elected to the Academy of Medical Sciences' council. The council is the governing body for the Academy, the independent body in the UK representing the whole spectrum of medical science.

Professor Shepherd has been a Fellow of the Academy since 2002. He becomes the first dental surgeon elected to its council and will now serve a three year term on the body.

Premier Awards 2011

The winners of the Premier Awards 2011, the annual risk management competition, were announced at the 11th Premier Symposium organised by Dental Protection and schülke. Luke Blythe and Andrew Wilson from Bristol Dental School won first prize in the undergraduate category; Anchal Puri and Gilliam Smith won first prize in the postgraduate category; and Jack Colclough, a dental hygienist, won first prize in the dental care professional (DCP) category.