Alexandria, VA, USA – The International Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research (IADR) has announced David Conway as the 2026 recipient of the IADR Distinguished Scientist H. Trendley Dean Memorial Award. Conway, from the University of Glasgow, Scotland, was recognized during the Opening Ceremonies of the 104 th General Session of the IADR, which was held in conjunction with the 55 th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research and the 50 th Annual Meeting of the Canadian Association for Dental Research on March 25-28, 2026 in San Diego, CA, USA.
Conway is a Professor of Dental Public Health at the University of Glasgow and holds the position of Honorary Consultant in Dental Public Health in the national agency, Public Health Scotland. His academic career began with a Bachelor of Dental Surgery (B.D.S.) and a Ph.D. from the University of Glasgow.
Conway’s research focuses on socioeconomic inequalities in health and oral health, particularly on understanding and evaluating measures to address these inequalities in head and neck cancer and child oral health. His methodological interests include data linkage and epidemiology, systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and the evaluation of complex public health interventions and policies. He has over 170 peer-reviewed publications that have significantly contributed to the fields of oral epidemiology and public health. His research has attracted over £15 million in funding from European, government, and charitable sources.
His work has provided important insights into risk factors, disease burden, clinical management, and survival outcomes across the cancer continuum. Additionally, he has played a key role in evaluating and informing public health policies and interventions, including national programs such as the Scottish Childsmile initiative and international guidelines from the WHO. Conway has received numerous awards and serves on major research consortia and advisory panels. His research has had a major impact on public health strategies and policies, and he continues to lead efforts to reduce oral health inequalities and improve health outcomes globally.
The IADR Distinguished Scientist H. Trendley Dean Memorial Award, one of the 17 IADR Distinguished Scientist Awards, is supported by the Colgate-Palmolive Company in memory of H. Trendley Dean, the 21 st President of the IADR and first dental officer of the National Institutes of Health. The award consists of a monetary award and plaque and is given for meritorious research in epidemiology and public health. It is one of the highest honors bestowed by IADR.
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 .