Ann Arbor, MI — July 6, 2012 — Two University of Michigan School of Dentistry faculty members and researchers were recently honored for their work by the International Association for Dental Research.

Jacques Nör

Dr. Jacques Nör, the Donald Kerr professor of dentistry in the Department of Cariology, Restorative Sciences, and Endodontics, received IADR’s Distinguished Scientist Award in pulp biology and regeneration. 

Nör, who is also a professor of biomedical engineering at the U-M College of Engineering and a professor of otolaryngology at the U-M Medical School, conducts research that focuses on the biology of stem cells in head and neck cancer and in dental pulp tissue repair and regeneration.  He recently discovered mechanisms where dental pulp stem cells differentiate in vascular endothelial cells which could have an important impact in the emerging field of regenerative endodontics.

Nör is also an associate editor of the IADR/AADR Journal of Dental Research and president of the IADR’s Pulp Biology and Regeneration Scientific Group.

David Kohn

Another School of Dentistry faculty member and researcher, Dr. David Kohn, also received a Distinguished Scientist Award.  Kohn, a professor of dentistry in the Department of Biologic and Materials Sciences at the U-M School of Dentistry and a professor of biomedical engineering at the College of Engineering, received the Isaac Schour Memorial Award for outstanding scientific contributions in oral, dental, and craniofacial research. 

Kohn was also named a Fellow of the International Union of Societies for Biomaterials Science and Engineering during the organization’s annual session held in Chengdu, China, in June.  The group includes individuals and groups dedicated to advancing biomaterials, surgical implants, prosthetics, artificial organs, tissue engineering, and regenerative medicine.

Kohn’s research focuses on understanding biomineralization and the dynamics of bone growth and adaptation.  That research is attempting to understand the physical, chemical, and biological factors behind bone formation with the goal of mimicking them in a controlled manner in a laboratory or clinical setting.

The awards conferred upon Nör and Kohn were two of 16 IADR Distinguished Scientist Awards that were presented in June during IADR’s annual session in Iguacu Falls, Brazil.