Dr. Hernandez-Kapila Earns ADA Award for Excellence in Clinical Research

Dr. Yvonne Hernandez-Kapila, wearing a white lab coat in a lab.
Dr. Yvonne Hernandez-Kapila is the first UCLA faculty member to receive the Norton M. Ross Award for Excellence in Clinical Research, first presented in 1991.
October 17, 2024

The American Dental Association (ADA) has announced that Dr. Yvonne Hernandez-Kapila, the UCLA School of Dentistry’s associate dean for research and holder of the Felix and Mildred Yip Endowed Chair, has been awarded the Norton M. Ross Award for Excellence in Clinical Research.

This prestigious honor – the first for a UCLA faculty member since it was first awarded in 1991 – recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to clinical investigations that advance the diagnosis, treatment, or prevention of craniofacial-oral-dental diseases. It is one of the highest honors for research excellence in the field of clinical dentistry. Dr. Hernandez-Kapila will accept the Ross Award on Friday, Oct. 18 during the Changemakers Celebration at ADA’s SmileCon™ in New Orleans, La.

“Awards are always gratifying, but those recognizing your full body of work carry added significance,” Dr. Hernandez-Kapila said. “Upon learning I had earned the 2024 Ross Award, I immediately reflected upon the myriad of mentors, colleagues, and trainees without whom this honor would not be possible. Thank you to the ADA, and thank you to all who have worked alongside me to advance clinical oral health care.”

A professor of periodontics as well as biosystems and function, Dr. Hernandez-Kapila’s research career spans more than two decades of groundbreaking discoveries in the cell and molecular biology mechanisms affecting periodontal disease and oral cancer. Her work has combined in vitro and in vivo models with human clinical studies to advance our understanding of these critical areas of oral health. Through leadership positions at UCLA, UC San Francisco, and the University of Michigan, she has helmed research teams in both basic and clinical investigations.

Dr. Hernandez-Kapila’s research has been supported by continuous funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) throughout her career. The Hernandez-Kapila Lab is currently engaged in multiple NIH projects studying host-bacterial interactions, the oral microbiome, and inflammatory status in cancer patients. Simultaneously, Dr. Hernandez-Kapila is committed to mentoring the next generation of scientists through her leadership of the K12 training program at UCLA and the Dental Research Fellowship Program for Bruin D.D.S. students.

In addition to her extensive research, Dr. Hernandez-Kapila has been a key figure in shaping global oral health initiatives, launching research and exchange programs that bridge cultural and academic gaps. As a former Inaugural Director of Global Oral Health Initiatives at the University of Michigan, she introduced programs such as the Kenya Summer Research Program and the Brazil-UM Exchange Program, fostering global collaboration in dental research.

Her work has been recognized through numerous awards, including:

  • The American Academy of Periodontology (AAP) Clinical Research Award Distinguished Scientist Award (2024)
  • UCSF Alumni Discovery Award (2021) 
  • The American Associations for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research Irwin D. Mandel Distinguished Mentoring Award (2019)
  • The AAP Clinical Research Award (2019)
  • The International Association for Dental Research (IADR) GSK Innovation in Oral Care Award (2014), among many others
     

Please see the ADA's press release for more information about the 2024 Norton M. Ross Award for Excellence in Clinical Research