Chair of CITER appointed as the new Head of School of Dentistry

Professor Alastair Sloan will take over from Professor Michael Lewis as Head of School for the School of Dentistry on 1^st August 2017 to oversee all aspects of dental research and teaching.

Upon accepting his new post, Professor Sloan said: "I am delighted to have been appointed as the next Head of School of Dentistry and I am looking forward to working closely with colleagues within the School, Hospital and College to ensure we achieve excellence in our educational programmes and research, and that our staff can realise their potential.”

Professor Sloan joined Cardiff University in 2005 from The University of Birmingham where he was Lecturer in Oral Biology. During his time in Cardiff, he developed the Mineralised Tissue Research Group with Professor Rachel Waddington and has led our Oral and Biomedical Sciences Research Theme. Professor Sloan was awarded his personal chair in 2012 and went on to be appointed Vice-Dean of Research and International for the school in 2015.

His research is focussed on the repair of mineralised tissues and novel drug delivery systems for mineralised tissue infections and is internationally recognised. He holds positions as Visiting Chair at the Fourth Military Medical University in Xi'an, China, Dalian Medical University and China medical University. He also sits on the Management Committee of the British Society for Oral and Dental Research (BSODR), the Executive Committee of the Tissue and Cell Engineering Society (UK) and, more recently was appointed to the main Grant Panel of the NC3Rs. He has attracted research funding from the NC3Rs, NISCHR, MRC, EPSRC, Dr Hadwen Trust and Dunhill Medical Research Trust along with commercial/industrial sources. His research in oral and dental medicine was recognised in 2011 when we was awarded the International Association for Dental Research Distinguished Scientist Young Investigator Award. He has teaching commitments on both Undergraduate and Postgraduate programmes in the School and was the Chair of CITER Research Committee from 2011-2014 before taking up the position leading CITER in 2015.

Professor Lewis, who will continue as Director for the Clinical Board for Dentistry, said: "I am absolutely delighted that Alastair has been appointed to succeed me in August as Dean and Head of the School of Dentistry.  When Alastair first joined the School in 2005, as a lecturer, I knew that he was one of the rising stars in Dentistry within the UK. His outstanding achievements and contribution to the School of Dentistry since that time have now been recognised with his appointment as the next Head of School.  I am sure that he has the full support of the staff and that School will be in good hands under his leadership going forward."