The ITI awards 2018 André Schroeder Research Prizes to Vivianne Chappuis and Ui-Won Jung

The International Team for Implantology (ITI), a leading academic organization dedicated to the promotion of evidence-based education and research in the field of implant dentistry, awarded the 2018 André Schroeder Research Prizes to PD Dr Vivianne Chappuis and Dr Ui-Won Jung. The André Schroeder Research Prizes are two of the most prestigious awards in the field of implant dentistry and are awarded annually to independent researchers for advancing dental research and development. Dr Chappuis and Dr Jung were presented with the award by ITI President Dr Stephen Chen during the ITI Congress UK & Ireland in London on April 27, 2018. Each prize winner received 10,000 Swiss francs as well as an engraved gold medallion.

Dr Ui-Won Jung received the André Schroeder Research Prize for Preclinical Research for his study entitled Simultaneous lateral bone augmentation and implant placement using a particulated synthetic bone substitute around chronic peri-implant dehiscence defects in dogs. The objective of this study was to determine the histological outcomes when using a highly porous synthetic bone substitute and a cross-linked collagen membrane for lateral bone augmentation of peri-implant dehiscence defects. The principal finding shows that these materials used together demonstrated significantly better histological outcomes for lateral augmentation than traditional guided bone regeneration materials and are therefore a viable alternative in daily practice.

"The choice of biomaterials is very a crucial aspect for clinicians, and we wanted to give objective scientific evidence on material selection by showing the difference in bone regenerative efficacy in a standardized and clinically reproducible experimental model", said Dr Won. He also emphasized that although this study was a preclinical model, the chronic dehiscence defect model was induced to fully reproduce the actual clinical situation.

"This award is a milestone in my research career. While this price is awarded to me, in fact it should go to my team of colleagues - Jae-Kook Cha, Fabio Vignoletti, Javier Nuñez, Javier Sanz and Mariano Sanz - without whom none of this would have been possible" said the happy winner.

Dr Ui-Won Jung holds a degree in dentistry from Yonsei University in Seoul, Korea, where he also obtained his Ph.D. in the Department of Periodontology. In 2007, he spent one year as an ITI Scholar in the Department of Fixed and Removable Prosthodontics and Dental Material Science at the University of Zurich. Among other awards, he received the Dong-Sun Award of the Korean Academy of Periodontology in 2006.

This year's André Schroeder Research Prize for Clinical Research went to PD Dr Vivianne Chappuis for her study about Long-term effectiveness of contour augmentation using GBR - 10 year results. Together with her co-authors, Dr Lira Rahman, Dr Ramona Buser, Dr Simone Janner, Prof. Urs Belser and Prof. Daniel Buser, PD Dr V. Chappuis presented the first case series to assess the effectiveness of early implant placement with simultaneous contour augmentation through GBR using a 2-layer composite graft in aesthetic post-extraction single-tooth sites over an observation period of 10 years. "The critical analysis of long-term outcomes is the key milestone to assure predictable treatment outcomes for our patients" explained PD Dr V. Chappuis. "With our findings we want to assist clinicians in their decision-making process in order to enable them to obtain successful results in daily practice. My team's mission is to translate the findings from research into predictable clinical applications." During this recent 10-year study, contour augmentation showed a success rate of 95%, along with high esthetic scores, healthy peri-implant soft tissue conditions and stable bone crest levels at the 10-year examination. For PD Dr V. Chappuis, this award has a very special meaning: "As a researcher at the University of Bern, Prof. André Schroeder has always been a true inspiration for me in research and education in order to translate our findings form basic research into successful treatment protocols in daily clinical practice."

PD Dr Vivianne Chappuis, a clinician with broad-ranging expertise in tissue regeneration in aesthetic implant rehabilitations, graduated from the University of Zurich and qualified as an oral surgeon in 2004. During her fellowship at the Harvard School for Dental Medicine in Boston between 2009-2011, she examined the molecular basics of bone regeneration. After her fellowship she returned to the University of Bern to follow her research in the field of translational research related to bone and tissue regeneration, digital 3D computational biology, esthetic dental implant rehabilitations and others. In 2016, she received her qualification for professorship (Privatdozent, PD) in oral surgery, stomatology and implantology. In addition, she obtained a Certificate of Advanced Studies in Entrepreneurship, followed in 2018 by a Diploma as Business Economist HF in Change & New Business Management on the topic of Medicine in the Digital Transition.

The winners felt very honored: "We are all thrilled to receive this prestigious prize." Both took the opportunity to thank their teams without whom they would not have come this far. "Great things are never done by one person but by a team of people", added Dr Chappuis.

About the ITI

The International Team for Implantology (ITI) is an academic association that unites professionals around the world from every field of implant dentistry and related disciplines. It actively promotes networking and exchange among its membership of currently more than 17,000 ITI Fellows and Members regularly share their knowledge and expertise from research and clinical practice at meetings, courses and congresses with the objective of continuously improving treatment methods and outcomes to the benefit of their patients.

In 38 years, the ITI has built a reputation for scientific rigor combined with concern for the welfare of patients. The organization focuses on the development of well-documented treatment guidelines backed by extensive clinical testing and the compilation of long-term results. The ITI funds research as well as Scholarships for young clinicians organizes congresses and continuing education events and runs more than 600 Study Clubs around the globe. The organization also publishes reference books such as the ITI Treatment Guide series and operates the ITI Online Academy, a peer-reviewed, evidence-based e-learning platform with a unique user-centric approach.