Dr Edward Kabubei celebrates a rare double victory at the 2026 IADR Hatton Competition, winning first place in the Senior Clinical Research category at both the East & Southern Africa Division level and the international final. Image: Supplied

Standing on an international stage alongside the world’s leading oral health researchers, two academics delivered accomplishments that placed African scholarship firmly in the global spotlight. At the University of the Western Cape (UWC), this moment marked a proud recognition of research excellence, leadership and impact emerging from the Faculty of Dentistry.

The achievements were announced at the International Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research (IADR) General Session recently held in San Diego, California. During the Opening Ceremonies, the IADR recognised outstanding contributions to oral health research from across the world.

Prof Sudeshni Naidoo, a leading scholar in global oral health, was honoured with the John Greenspan Global Oral Health Research Award. The award forms part of the IADR Distinguished Scientist Awards, of which only 17 are made annually worldwide, and is regarded as one of the highest accolades in global oral health research. The recognition acknowledges Prof Naidoo’s impactful work addressing inequalities in oral health, particularly in underserved and vulnerable populations.

In another major achievement, Dr Edward Kabubei secured a notable double victory at the 2026 IADR Hatton Competition (Senior Clinical Research). Dr Kabubei won first place at both the East & Southern Africa Division (ESAD) level and the international final, a rare accomplishment in the competition’s history. His MSc research, titled “Dental Fluorosis and Oral-Health-Related Quality of Life among Adolescents in Naivasha, Kenya,” provided critical insights into the burden of fluorosis and its real-world impact on young people.

Professor Sudeshni Naidoo receives the John Greenspan Global Oral Health Research Award at the 2026 IADR General Session, recognising her impactful research addressing inequalities in oral health worldwide. Image: Supplied

He said: “I graduated in April 2025 and was particularly proud of my performance in the mini-thesis component. Shortly thereafter, Prof Kimmie encouraged me to re-engage with the International Association for Dental Research (IADR), of which I had previously been a member.” He added: “She also motivated me to submit my work for the prestigious Hatton Competition. To my great honour, I emerged as the winner in the East and Southern Africa Senior category, competing against highly experienced researchers, including PhD candidates.”

The Hatton Competition, first introduced in 1953 and later renamed in honour of Edward H. Hatton, is the oldest award of the IADR. It is designed to recognise outstanding students and early-career researchers, while providing them with the opportunity to present their work to an international scientific audience.

Dr Kabubei’s research was supervised at UWC by Prof Kimmie-Dhansay and Dr Hany Albougy, whose mentorship contributed to the project's success. He said: “I dedicate this award to my wife, Dr Mercy Gicheru, and our daughters, Gianna and Elianna, whose sacrifices have made my academic journey possible. My wife stood by me every step of the way. Even while heavily pregnant with our second child, she joined me in data collection in Naivasha. Their unwavering support and prayers have made this journey deeply rewarding, meaningful and impactful.”

Together, these achievements underscore UWC’s growing influence in global oral health research and its commitment to excellence that resonates far beyond national borders.