AAP, Sunstar name 1st research grant recipient

The American Academy of Periodontology (AAP) and Sunstar Americas have announced the first recipient of a $30,000 research grant.

Yvonne Kapila, DDS, PhD, is the recipient of the AAP's Sunstar Innovation Grant. Her research project, "Natural bacteriocins as pre/pro-biotics to promote oral health and prevent periodontal disease," was chosen from 15 grant submissions, according to the AAP. Dr. Kapila is a professor and vice chair of the division of periodontology at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) School of Dentistry.

Sunstar has pledged $250,000 for six research grants over a three-year period. The grants will be awarded to AAP members and must address innovative treatments and research on periodontitis, focusing on an interdisciplinary team approach and "novel approaches to achieve patient compliance," according to the company. The next round of applications for a research grant will be accepted in the fall.