The American Association for Dental Research (AADR) held its 3rd Fall Focused Symposium in the Washington, DC area. This year, the them was the fast moving field of Salivary Diagnostics, with a focus on Scientific and Clinical Frontiers. The symposium was sold-out, but AADR also offered a live WEBINAR braodcast of the oral sessions.  AADR created the Fall Focused Symposium under the objective to provide networking opportunities and exchange of ideas, and to offer small regional symposia focused on cutting-edge technology and techniques. At this two-day scientific program, attendees had the opportunity to view scientific posters, collaborate with colleagues and attend three panel discussions. The programming commenced with opening remarks and perspectives on salivary diagnostics by 

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Lawrence Tabak,newly appointed principal deputy director of the National Institutes of Health. The symposium brought together key opinion leaders from diagnostic sciences, the dental profession, scientists from the NIH’s Directors Office, NIDCR and NCI, biotechnology companies, the FDA and CMS, the ADA, the dental insurance industry, and NIH-funded investigators. 

Twenty-two scientific posters were presented. Invited speakers also presented in five sessions pertaining to different areas in salivary diagnostics research, titled: “Diagnostics, Saliva and Dentistry,” moderated by AADR President David T. Wong, University of California, Los Angeles; “Scientific Frontiers: Emerging Technologies,” moderated by Jim Melvin, NIDCR; “A New Industry – The Innovators’ Journey” and “A New Industry – The Regulatory and Payor Environment,” both moderated by Jed Jacobson, Delta Dental; “Clinical Frontiers: Translational & Clinical Applications,” moderated by Dan Malamud, New York University; and “Salivary Diagnostics in Dentistry, Research and Education,” moderated by Dan Meyer, American Dental Association. 

“AADR is delighted with the record turnout of its 3rd Fall Focused Symposium,” said AADR Executive Director Christopher H. Fox. “The high caliber of research presented at the meeting contributed to its overall success. I commend AADR President David Wong for his vision for the Symposium and tireless efforts in organizing its content.” 

The recorded proceedings will be available through the AADR Web site within two weeks and the proceedings will be published in Advances in Dental Research in early 2011 in what is sure to be a landmark publication. 

Source: 
Ingrid L. Thomas
International & American Association for Dental Research