FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
AADR contact: Ingrid L. Thomas
+1.703.299.8084 or [email protected]
March 23, 2017
Alexandria, Va., USA – The American Association for Dental Research (AADR) has announced Yong-Hee Chun as the first recipient of the AADR Anne D. Haffajee Fellowship. She was recognized at the Association’s 46th Annual Meeting in San Francisco, Calif., USA, on March 22, 2017, at the Opening Ceremonies. This meeting is being held in conjunction with the 95th General Session & Exhibition of the International Association for Dental Research and the 41st Annual Meeting of the Canadian Association for Dental Research.
Chun is assistant professor of periodontics, and assistant professor of cell systems and anatomy, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, USA. Chun received her D.D.S. and Dr.Med.Dent. from Georg-August University Göttingen, Germany. She continued her studies at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA, where she earned her M.S. and Ph.D., and completed her postdoctoral work in oral health sciences.
Her primary research focus is on the protein ameloblastin, and studying the structure and function of ameloblastin in enamel formation. She developed innovative mouse models to analyze amelogenesis imperfecta and molar-incisor hypomineralization. In collaboration with colleagues in pediatric dentistry and from the Practice–based Research Network, Chun conducted a study to determine the prevalence of molar-incisor hypomineralization in South Texas. This is the first report of molar-incisor hypomineralization in the United States. Chun’s research builds the foundation for novel strategies to diagnose, prevent and treat molar-incisor hypomineralization and periodontal disease.
This is the first AADR Anne D. Haffajee Fellowship to be awarded and the first endowed AADR Fellowship as part of the AADR Matching Campaign that launched in 2014. This Fellowship is endowed thanks to generous donors and the AADR Board of Directors, which is matching donations to fund the endowment at $250,000 allowing for at least one Fellowship of $10,000 to be granted annually.
The Anne D. Haffajee Fellowship was created in recognition of Dr. Haffajee’s many contributions to clinical research in periodontology and oral biology and her prominence as a female leader in the field. Dr. Haffajee’s mentee and friend Flavia Teles created the fellowship, for which an endowment was started with a very generous gift from Haffajee’s husband, Charles Haffajee. In addition, 47 AADR members also contributed to make this Fellowship possible.
About the American Association for Dental Research
The American Association for Dental Research (AADR), headquartered in Alexandria, Va., is a nonprofit organization with nearly 3,500 members in the United States. Its mission is: (1) to advance research and increase knowledge for the improvement of oral health; (2) to support and represent the oral health research community; and (3) to facilitate the communication and application of research findings. AADR is the largest Division of the International Association for Dental Research (IADR). To learn more about the AADR, visit www.aadr.org.