AADOCR Bloc Travel Grant

About This Grant

Project Summary/Abstract Despite advances in dental, oral, and craniofacial research, challenges remain. Cleft lip and palate remain a common birth defect, oropharyngeal cancer is rising in young adults –related to HPV, dental caries remains one of the most common diseases of childhood, periodontal disease prevalence estimates have recently been revised upwards to nearly half the adult populations after a more thorough full-mouth exam methodology; and oral health consequences of the use of e-cigarettes remain largely unknown. There must be a well-trained, dental, oral, and craniofacial health research workforce to address these current scientific challenges, to serve as the catalyst to develop appropriate strategies and further the translation of dental, oral, and craniofacial research. AADOCR aims to provide the valuable opportunity for AADOCR Bloc Travel Grant recipients to present their scientific research in a public forum and to be exposed to senior scientists nationally and around the world, that otherwise would not be available to them. By providing travel and meeting support to the most promising U.S. dental and PhD students, residents, and postdoctoral fellows to attend the AADOCR Annual Meeting to present their own research, participate in career development programming, and network with established scientists in the field, the AADOCR Bloc Travel Grant helps to encourage investigators at a very early stage of their career to further pursue dental, oral, and craniofacial research as a long-term career. AADOCR is requesting support for the AADOCR Bloc Travel Grant program for three years for U.S. dental and PhD students, residents, and postdoctoral fellows to attend and present original research at the AADOCR Annual Meeting & Exhibition scheduled in the following locales: Minneapolis, Minnesota (2027); Baltimore, Maryland (2028), and Denver, Colorado (2029). As with each Annual Meeting, facilities are secured at each location to allow for simultaneous oral sessions, symposia, hands-on workshops, keynote lectures, and distinguished lecture speakers. There are numerous opportunities for student and postdoctoral fellow participation at the Annual Meeting, including training and professional development symposia/sessions offered alongside scientific poster and oral sessions. The opportunity to present their abstracts plays a vital role in helping these early-career researchers develop the skills necessary to communicate their science with clarity and impact.