Dr. Aparicio is Group Leader of the Bioinspired Oral Biomaterials and Interfaces (BOBI) Lab and ICREA Research Professor at the Dpt. of Materials Science and Engineering of the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya-BarcelonaTech (UPC) since September 2024. Dr. Aparicio is materials engineer by training. He started his academic career at UPC, but moved to University of Minnesota (UMN) where he spent 12+ years in the Dpt. of Restorative Sciences and was Deputy Director of the Minnesota Dental Research Center for Biomaterials and Biomechanics (MCRCBB). He returned to Barcelona as FBA fellow at UIC Barcelona–Universitat International de Catalunya, where he was Vice-rector for Research, Innovation and Knowledge Transfer and director of the Study and Control of Oral Infections Research Group. He is also associated researcher at IBEC-Institute for BioEngineering of Catalonia and elected fellow of AIMBE-American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering.

Avijit is Professor of Cariology & Operative Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, Oral & Craniofacial Sciences (FoDOCS), King’s College London, UK and Hon. Consultant, Restorative Dentistry, Guy’s & St. Thomas’ Hospitals Foundation Trust, London, UK. He currently holds three international honorary chairs as well as being a member of the Board of Trustees of the UK Oral & Dental Research Trust (ODRT) & the Oral Health Foundation (UK).

He holds the following senior national executive professional positions in the UK:

• Honorary Consultant Advisor, Office of the Chief Dental Officer, England (2020-)
• President, British Society of Oral & Dental Research (BSODR; 2025 – 27)
• Dean, Faculty of Dentists, College of General Dentistry (CGDent; 2024 - 27)
• NIHR Research Delivery Network (RDN) South London RRDN Lead for Oral & Dental Speciality, Deputy National Lead, National Industry Lead (2021 - )
• Editor-in-Chief, British Dental Journal Portfolio (BDA & Springer Nature, 2024 - )

In 2022, he was awarded the prestigious William H Bowen Caries Research Distinguished Scientist Award from the International Association of Dental Research (IADR) in recognition of his global scientific and clinical research impact in cariology & minimally invasive operative dentistry over the last 25 yrs.

In 2024, the UK British Dental Association (BDA) bestowed upon him the John Tomes Medal, one of its most esteemed professional accolades, to honour his clinical academic and scientific services and achievements to the profession and the BDA.

In his discipline of cariology & operative dentistry (minimum intervention oral care (MIOC) & minimally invasive dentistry (MID), biomaterials science, clinical trials and national / global policy development), he has authored 5 internationally acclaimed textbooks (including “Pickard’s Guide” and now its successor, “A Clinical Guide to Advanced Minimum Intervention Restorative Dentistry”, Elsevier 2024), 13 book chapters, >188 peer-reviewed papers (H index 59, citations: 12,524 to date) and has supervised 50 doctorates & masters’ students.

Graduated summa cum laude in Dentistry and Dental Prosthesis at the University of Ancona in 1992. Active Member and Former President of the Italian Society of Endodontics. Active Member of the Italian Society of Conservative Dentistry. Certified Member of the European Society of Endodontology. Associate Member American Association of Endodontists. Honorary Member of Lebanese Society of Endodontology. Diamond Member of Styleitaliano Endodontics.

Co-author of the book “Testo Atlante di Anatomia Endodontica" published by Tecniche Nuove in 2011. Co-author of the book “Isolamento del campo operatorio" published by ANDI Servizi in 2013. Co-author of the book "Manuale di Endodonzia" published by Elsevier Masson Italy in 2013. Co-author of the iBook “The Isolation Game” published in Apple iBook Stores.

Co-author of the book “Ritrattamenti: soluzioni per le patologie apicali di origine endodontica" published by EDRA in 2018 available even in English, Spanish, Russian, Portuguese, Polish, Taiwanese, Korean and Chinese language. Lecturer in theoretical and practical courses on subjects related to the isolation of the operative field and endodontics. Speaker at courses and conferences in Italy and abroad. Private practice, concentrating mainly in Endodontics and Restorative Dentistry and author of publications on journals of national and international sector.

Dr. Mary Anne Melo is Professor and Chair of the Department of Comprehensive Dentistry at the University of Maryland School of Dentistry. She is an internationally recognized clinician-scientist whose research focuses on bioactive dental materials, oral microbiology, biomaterials, and minimally invasive strategies for the prevention and management of dental caries.

Her work integrates microbiology, materials science, and translational research to develop restorative materials that promote remineralization while modulating cariogenic biofilms. Dr. Melo has authored more than 200 peer-reviewed publications and has received funding from NIH and multiple national and international agencies.

She currently serves as President-elect of the Baltimore Section of the American Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research (AADOCR). Her research aims to translate scientific discoveries into evidence-based solutions that improve oral health and clinical practice.

Alejandro Mira es licenciado en biología por la Universidad de Alicante y doctor en microbiología por la Universidad de Oxford, Reino Unido. Realizó estancias postdoctorales en EEUU y Suecia, donde se especializó en técnicas genómicas, de microchips y bioinformáticas aplicadas a patógenos bacterianos. En el año 2009 ganó el premio Jaime Ferrán de investigación en microbiología, en 2018 el Premio Nacional FIPSE de Innovación en Salud y en 2019 el Premio de Fomento de la Salud Oral del Consejo General de Dentistas.

Actualmente trabaja en la Fundación FISABIO de Valencia, donde dirige el Laboratorio del Microbioma Oral, y aplica técnicas moleculares al estudio del microbioma, a través de las cuales su equipo descubrió la bacteria Streptococcus dentisani. Dirige el proyecto de desarrollo para utilizar esta bacteria como probiótico contra la caries dental, que ha salido al mercado en 2026.

Asímismo, es inventor de un test de diagnóstico de caries y otro de diagnóstico de cáncer de colon, además de varias patentes de prebióticos y probióticos orales, y del uso de nanopartículas inteligentes para el tratamiento endodóntico. Actualmente investiga la relación entre las bacterias orales y la salud sistémica, como el riesgo cardiovascular, el cáncer de colon o la producción de compuestos anti-envejecimiento.

Dr. Virginie Pilliol is an Assistant Professor and Hospital Practitioner in Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics at the School of Dental Medicine, Aix-Marseille University, and AP-HM Timone Hospital, Marseille, France. Her work bridges clinical cariology, minimally invasive restorative dentistry and oral microbiology, with a particular interest in the role of microbial ecosystems in carious disease.

She graduated as a Doctor of Dental Surgery from Aix-Marseille University in 2016 and completed postgraduate training in restorative and aesthetic dentistry, biomaterials, preventive, adhesive and digital dentistry, and minimally invasive dentistry. She also holds a Master’s degree in Health Sciences, Infectious Diseases and Microbiota, and defended her PhD in 2024.

Her research is conducted within the MEPHI research unit, “Microbes, Evolution, Phylogeny and Infection”, at Aix-Marseille University and IHU Méditerranée Infection. Her scientific work focuses on oral microbiology, particularly the oral microbiota and methanogenic Archaea, and explores their potential contribution to oral health and disease.

Her academic activities include undergraduate and continuing education in restorative dentistry, oral microbiology, minimally invasive dentistry and preventive management of carious disease. Her clinical and teaching approach is oriented toward patient-centered cariology, caries risk assessment, tissue preservation and the integration of preventive and restorative strategies.

Dr. Pilliol has authored several international publications in oral microbiology, cariology, preventive dentistry and minimally invasive operative interventions. Her current perspective aims to connect microbial ecology with caries prevention and bioactive restorative strategies, in order to support more biologically driven approaches to caries management.

• DDS degree in 2000, Istanbul University Faculty of Dentistry
• PhD in 2007 with the doctorate thesis entitled “Comparison of antibacterial effects of dentin bonding agents in vitro”-Istanbul University Faculty of Dentistry
• Assoc. Professorship degree in 2012; Prof.degree in 2020.
• 2012- Visiting Lecturer in King’s College Dental Institute, Guy’s Hospital.
• Scientific publications in internationally/nationally indexed journals, book chapters.
• Lectures in various master programmes, international conferences, seminars and performed hands-on courses in restorative dentistry about adhesive dentistry, minimal invasive dentistry and restorative materials.
• Memberships in international scientific associations
• Member of the Board of Istanbul University
• Board Member of Turkish Dental Association International Affairs Commitee
• Board Member of Turkish Aesthetic Dentistry Academy Association-EDAD
• Chairperson of ERO/FDI Working Group Continuing Medical Education
• FDI Regional Continuing Education Director of Europe

Dr. Amel Slimani, DMD, PhD, is Associate Professor in Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics at the Faculty of Dentistry - University of Montpellier, France. She serves as Co-Program Director of the postgraduate training program in Minimally Invasive Dentistry, jointly developed by Aix-Marseille University and the University of Montpellier and is a Board Member of the European Federation of Conservative Dentistry (EFCD).

Dr. Slimani received her dental degree from Laval University, Canada, and earned her PhD in Medical Biophysics from the University of Montpellier, France. She leads the Photonic Biomarkers research team at the Laboratory of Bioengineering and Nanosciences (LBN), University of Montpellier, and also conducts research at the IHU Méditerranée Infection in Marseille, France, on symbiotic and dysbiotic oral microbiota in health and oral disease.

Her research focuses on integrating advanced photonic technologies, oral microbiology, minimally invasive approaches and bioactive dental materials into evidence-based restorative dentistry. By bridging fundamental biophysics, microbiome research, clinical investigation and translational outcomes, her work aims to advance biologically driven clinical decision-making and develop evidence-based protocols for contemporary restorative dental practice, promoting long-term oral health.

Pr. Hervé Tassery has received his PhD in biomaterials from Aix Marseille University 2001. Currently, he is professor, past head of the Department of Restorative Dentistry of Marseille Dental School at Aix-Marseille University and head of the International department. His major fields of interest are in cariology, fluorescence devices, minimally invasive dentistry and clinical research.

Working in the MEPHI laboratory, IHU Mediterranean, his actual research interest lies in improving the links between fundamental research, clinical researches, clinical applications and oral microbiota. He currently leads the Master of MI dentistry with Dr Slimani, in Montpellier university.

For more details, please links to: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Herve_Tassery/

Prof. Dr. L. Sebnem Türkün graduated from the Ege University School of Dentistry in 1991. She earned her PhD in Restorative Dentistry in 1998, was appointed Associate Professor in 2004, and became a full Professor in 2009. She currently serves as a full-time Professor in the Department of Restorative Dentistry at Ege University.

Her principal research interests include adhesive dentistry, the clinical performance of aesthetic restorative materials, antibacterial and bioactive dental materials, glass ionomers, and minimally invasive dentistry. She has published extensively in peer-reviewed national and international journals, authored and translated numerous book chapters, and served as a translation editor for several major dental textbooks. Additionally, She is a frequent keynote speaker, workshop leader, and hands-on instructor at national and international conferences.

Beyond her academic output, Prof. Türkün is an active leader in the International Association Dental Research community. She has represented Turkey on the Board of the Continental European Division (CED-IADR) since 2021 and served as CED Councilor to the IADR since 2023. She serves as Vice President of the Turkish Restorative Dentistry Association and has been a Board Member of the European Federation of Conservative Dentistry (EFCD) for over 12 years.