In a massive win for South African dental research, Professor Sudeshni Naidoo of the University of the Western Cape (UWC) has been named the 2026 recipient of the Distinguished Scientist John Greenspan Global Oral Health Research Award.
Awarded by the US-based International Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research (IADR), this honor is one of the highest accolades in the field. It serves as a global spotlight on Prof Naidoo’s decades-long commitment to transforming oral health, particularly within underserved and disadvantaged communities.
A Career Defined by Impact
Prof Naidoo, who serves as the Director of the UWC World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Centre for Oral Health, received the award during the IADR’s 104th General Session in San Diego this past March.
Her career is marked by a relentless drive to move oral health from the margins to the center of public health discussions. From shaping the WHO Global Oral Health Strategy and Action Plan (GOHAP) 2023–2030 to pioneering research on the intersection of nutrition, disease, and oral health, Prof Naidoo has consistently worked to bridge the gap between academic theory and real-world clinical practice.
Tackling Structural Inequality
Reflecting on the state of oral healthcare in Africa and South Africa, Prof Naidoo highlighted that the struggle for better health outcomes is often a struggle against structural inequality.
“Most oral diseases are preventable, yet they remain highly prevalent,” she noted. “This reflects structural issues: unequal access to care, an overreliance on treatment rather than prevention, and health systems that do not adequately integrate oral health.”
She argues that the solution lies in a paradigm shift:
- Prevention First: Moving away from reactive treatment toward preventative care.
- Primary Health Integration: Strengthening dental services at the primary health level rather than focusing solely on urban centers.
- Equitable Distribution: Ensuring dental professionals are accessible to those outside major cities.
Inspiring the Next Generation
For Prof Naidoo, this award is not just a personal milestone; it is a platform to advocate for the field. She views the recognition as an encouragement for young researchers to pursue work that exists at the intersection of disciplines.
“The real value [of awards] lies in how they are used,” she said. “For young researchers, the message is that impactful work requires persistence, collaboration, and a willingness to engage with real-world complexity.”
As she continues her work at UWC, Prof Naidoo remains focused on closing the “implementation gap”—the distance between what we know is healthy and what is actually being delivered to the public. Her latest award is a testament to the fact that when research is grounded in equity and systems thinking, it resonates across the globe.
