Alexandria, Va., USA – The American Association for Dental Research (AADR) announced Nisha D’Silva, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, as the 2021 recipient of the AADR Irwin D. Mandel Distinguished Mentoring Award. D’Silva was recognized during the Opening Ceremonies of the virtual 50th Annual Meeting of the AADR, held in conjunction with the 99th General Session & Exhibition of the International Association for Dental Research (IADR) and the 45th Annual Meeting of the Canadian Association for Dental Research (CADR), on July 21-24, 2021.
D’Silva is the Donald A. Kerr Endowed Collegiate Professor of Oral Pathology and a Professor in the Department of Periodontics and Oral Medicine in the School of Dentistry at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. She is also a Professor of Pathology at the University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor.
She received her B.D.S. from the University of Bombay, India, her M.S.D. from Indiana University, Indianapolis, where she also completed her residency in oral and maxillofacial pathology, and her Ph.D. from the University of Washington, Seattle.
D’Silva is an oral pathologist, cancer biologist and educator. Her research in head and neck cancer focuses on biomarkers and molecular mechanisms of tumor progression and treatment resistance. D’Silva has mentored more than 60 undergraduate, graduate students and post-doctoral fellows, including pre-dental, dental students and faculty.
D’Silva has volunteered for the IADR and AADR in many ways. She currently serves as IADR Treasurer (2018-21) and as a JDR Editorial Board member (2008-22). She has previously served as the AADR representative to the IADR/AADR Publications Committee (2017-20) and as president of the IADR Oral Medicine & Pathology Group. D’Silva is an AADR Fellow and won the 2017 IADR Distinguished Scientist Award for Oral Medicine and Pathology Research.
The AADR Irwin D. Mandel Distinguished Mentoring Award provides national recognition for outstanding efforts to foster and promote research training and career development of students, trainees, and junior faculty. It is intended to identify individuals at all levels of their career with an exemplary record of mentoring. This award was renamed in 2012 in honor of its first recipient, Irwin D. Mandel. The award consists of a monetary prize of $1,000.00 and a plaque.
About the American Association for Dental Research
The American Association for Dental Research (AADR) is a nonprofit organization with over 3,100 individual members in the United States, with a mission to drive dental, oral and craniofacial research to advance health and well-being. The AADR is the largest Division of the International Association for Dental Research (IADR). The AADR also manages the activities of FNIDCR. The AADR also manages the activities of FNIDCR. To learn more, visit www.iadr.org/aadr.