University of Bristol Dentist and Researcher Earns Prestigious International Fellowship

Dr Cher Farrugia from Bristol Dental School has been awarded an International Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research (IADR) STAR Network Academy Fellowship 2024.

The fellowship, which is made annually to dental researchers who have made a significant contribution in their field, seeks to bridge the knowledge and gap in clinical and basic science research, academic career development, and training methodologies so that researchers globally are exposed to best practices beyond their own schools, mentors, or programmes.

To date, Dr Farrugia, a National Institute for Health Care Research (NIHR) Academic Clinical Fellow at Bristol Dental School has 12 publications in a range of international peer-reviewed journals, served as a committee member on several initiatives of the European Cooperation in Science & Technology and currently serves as a British Division of IADR (BSODR) Councillor. In addition, she has secured funding grants and prestigous prizes to supplement her research work, including a Marie Sktodowska-Curie Actions Individual Fellowship, the British Society of Periodontology’s Sir Wilfred Fish Prize, and the British Division of IADR’s Senior Colgate Prize in 2020 and President’s Prize in 2022.

Dr Farrugia said: “Winning the International Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research 2024 STAR Network Academy Fellowship was a great honour. This fellowship opened doors for me to collaborate and learn from experts worldwide, while showcasing University of Bristol research. I am excited to see how this experience shapes my future contributions to dental research.”

Thanks to this award, which was presented during the 53rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research in New Orleans, Dr Farrugia benefited from a research experience at the Louisiana State University School of Dentistry, New Orleans, USA.