Laureate Professor Eric Reynolds awarded prestigious Clinical Research Award

Eric Reynolds has recently been named the recipient of the 2020 Clinical Research award from the American Academy of Periodontology.

Eric’s article, titled “Porphyromonas gingivalis in Alzheimer’s disease brains: Evidence for disease causation and treatment with small molecule inhibitors”, was recognised for its practical contributions to the profession.

This article features research into the link between the organism Porphyromonas gingivalis and dementia.

P. gingivalis, referred to as a “microbial vampire”, enters the bloodstream from the mouth when a patient brushes their teeth or eats food. It is an organism which many researchers around the world are beginning to identify as a risk factor for rheumatoid arthritis, certain cancers, cardiovascular diseases and, the focal point of Eric’s work, dementia.

WendyEarlier this year, Eric was featured on an episode of ABC’s Catalyst program discussing his work developing a preventative vaccine for such risks.

The Clinical Research award recognises an outstanding published scientific manuscript with direct clinical relevance and application to the practice of periodontics.

Furthermore, the manuscript must present new information which can be readily used by practitioners when evaluating or managing patients with periodontal diseases.

Eric is the first Australian to receive this award from AAP.