Barcelona, 28 June 2025 — drg. Heriati Sitosari, M.DSc., Ph.D., lecturer at the Department of Oral Biology, Faculty of Dentistry, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), has received the prestigious IADR John Greenspan Travel Award from the International Association for Dental Research (IADR). This award recognizes the scientific contributions of young researchers in oral health and supports their participation in international scientific forums.
drg. Sari was selected through a highly competitive process that evaluated the quality of research abstracts, scientific track records, and potential contributions to advancing knowledge. Her research focuses on modulating signaling pathways and extracellular vesicles to support bone regeneration, representing an innovative approach in regenerative dentistry. This theme aligns with the UGM Faculty of Dentistry’s research roadmap , which emphasizes strengthening translational research and biomedical innovations, particularly in tissue engineering, biomaterials, and regenerative technologies aimed at improving evidence-based oral health care.
“This study is part of my long-term effort to explore regenerative therapies based on molecular biology and tissue engineering,” explained Dr. Sari. She added that this award not only serves as personal motivation but also as recognition of the collaborative work conducted with colleagues across disciplines at UGM Faculty of Dentistry and Okayama University, Japan. This achievement also supports the Faculty’s Performance Targets (TCK) and Key Performance Indicators (IKU) in reputable international publications, global research collaboration, and the development of impactful research innovations that strengthen the Faculty’s academic reputation and research excellence at the international level.
During the course of her research, Dr. Sari, who is also a home base lecturer in the Undergraduate Dentistry Study Program, faced various technical challenges and resource limitations. However, with the support of senior mentors and a collaborative academic environment at UGM Faculty of Dentistry, her research progressed to the point where it was ready to be presented at an international scientific forum.
The award also opens new opportunities for international collaboration and strengthens the position of UGM Faculty of Dentistry in the global research arena. Dr. drg. Alma L. Jonarta, M.Kes., Head of the Department of Oral Biology, expressed appreciation for Dr. Sari’s achievement: “This demonstrates that research in oral biology, as one of the fundamental sciences in dentistry, has international competitiveness and relevance,” she stated.
In addition, Dr. Sari emphasized the importance of fostering a research spirit early among students and young researchers: “Research is a long process that requires consistency, the courage to try, and community support until it can be translated into practice and benefit society. Don’t be afraid of failure—because it is through failure that we learn,” she encouraged.
Looking ahead, she hopes that regenerative research, especially in craniofacial hard tissues, will continue to grow—not only within laboratory walls or as theoretical knowledge, but also through tangible contributions in developing innovative therapies, tissue engineering technologies, and the application of research outcomes that directly improve oral health services for the community.
Contributor: Dept. of Oral Biology
