Irish Division · International Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research
Join researchers, clinicians, students and colleagues in Cork to present research, hear new ideas, build collaborations and strengthen the oral health research community in Ireland.
Welcome
We welcome new and established members of the IADR Irish Division to Cork to present their research, listen to colleagues, network and socialise.
You do not need to be presenting research to attend. Researchers, clinicians, undergraduate and postgraduate students, members of the wider dental team and colleagues interested in becoming involved in research are all encouraged to participate.
IADR mission
2026 Meeting
The Annual Scientific Meeting combines oral and poster research competitions, the Seamus O’Hickey Lecture, the Irish Division AGM and a conference dinner. Professor John F. Cryan will deliver the 2026 Seamus O’Hickey Lecture, Gut Feelings – Microbiome Research in Stress and Pain, at 4:00 pm on Thursday 8 October.
Scientific meeting
The meeting begins on Thursday with registration and a welcome buffet, followed by scientific presentations, poster discussion and the Seamus O’Hickey Lecture at 4:00 pm. Friday continues with oral and poster sessions before prize presentations and close.
Full registration
€150Includes the scientific programme, buffet lunch on Thursday and refreshments on Friday.Conference dinner
€50Thursday evening. Ticket sold separately from meeting registration.Undergraduate rate
€20Reduced rate for undergraduate students. Dinner can be added separately.Registration policy
No refundsHotel accommodation is not included in registration.2026 Seamus O’Hickey Lecture
Professor Cryan will deliver the 2026 Seamus O’Hickey Lecture on microbiome research, stress and pain at 4:00 pm on Thursday 8 October.
Vice President for Research & Innovation, University College Cork
Professor & Chair, Department of Anatomy & Neuroscience, UCC
Principal Investigator, APC Microbiome Institute
Microbiota–gut–brain research across stress, mood, pain, cognition and behaviour.
Prof. Cryan’s research explores how the trillions of microbes living in our gastrointestinal tract communicate with the brain and influence stress, mood, pain, cognition and behaviour. By uncovering the biological pathways of the microbiota–gut–brain axis, his research aims to understand how diet, lifestyle and our microbial environment can be harnessed to support brain health and wellbeing across the lifespan.
John F. Cryan is Professor and Chair of the Department of Anatomy & Neuroscience at University College Cork (UCC) and has served as Vice President for Research & Innovation since 2021. He is also a Principal Investigator at the APC Microbiome Institute. He holds a BSc in Biochemistry and a PhD in Pharmacology from the University of Galway, Ireland. He was a visiting fellow at the University of Melbourne in 1996/1997 and completed postdoctoral training at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, and The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla. He spent four years as a Group Leader at Novartis in Basel before returning to Ireland and UCC in 2005.
His research focuses on the microbiome–gut–brain axis and its role in stress, psychiatric and immune-related disorders across the lifespan. He is co-author of the bestselling book The Psychobiotic Revolution and serves on more than 15 editorial boards.
Prof. Cryan has received numerous international awards and was elected to the Royal Irish Academy in 2017. A past president of the European Behavioural Pharmacology Society, he is currently Treasurer of the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology. An avid science communicator, he has delivered TEDMED and TEDx talks and was featured in the Netflix documentary Hack Your Health: The Secrets of the Gut.
Abstract submission
Abstracts are open for oral and poster presentation prize competitions. The maximum abstract length is 300 words.
Prepare your abstract with a clear research question or aim, methods, principal results and conclusion. The abstract word limit is 300 words.
State clearly which of the six prize competitions you wish to enter. Eligibility criteria are summarised below.
Send the abstract to IrishDivisionIADR2026@outlook.com. Include the prize competition in your email.
All attendees, including presenters and competition entrants, must register through Eventbrite.
Research prize competitions
Indicate your preferred competition when submitting your abstract. IADR membership is required for the award competitions.
For dentally relevant research primarily associated with an Irish research institution.
Undergraduate poster competition for dentally relevant research.
For dentally relevant postgraduate research primarily associated with an Irish research institution.
Postgraduate poster competition for dentally relevant research.
For a dentally relevant research project with a focus on oral health promotion.
For a clinically relevant dental research project.
Provisional programme
Programme information will be updated as final timings are confirmed.
Registration, buffet lunch and networking.
Research presentations and competition session.
Poster viewing, discussion and refreshments.
30-minute Seamus O’Hickey Lecture followed by Q&A.
Timing and final programme sequencing to be confirmed.
Separate dinner ticket required. Price: €50.
Research presentations and prize competition session.
Poster viewing, discussion and refreshments.
Research presentations and competition session.
Presentation of research prizes and conclusion of the 2026 meeting.
Book of Abstracts
The 2026 Book of Abstracts will provide a permanent meeting resource containing accepted oral and poster presentations.
This area is ready for the final PDF once abstract review and compilation are complete. The booklet can then be linked here for delegates, authors and the wider research community.
Meeting gallery
After the meeting, this section can feature speakers, posters, networking, prize winners and the conference dinner.
Event photography. Photography may take place during the meeting for documentation, the Irish Division website, social media and future meeting communications. Attendees who prefer not to appear in photographs can tell the organising team at registration. Close-up or posed photographs will be handled with particular care. Read the Event Photography Notice.
Venue & accommodation
Carrigrohane Road, Cork, T12 P680. The meeting is fully in person.
Frequently asked questions
Registration, competition eligibility, accommodation and attendance details.
Register on EventbriteYou can become an IADR member through IADR Membership. Select Join/Renew and remember to choose the Irish Division as your primary division.
No. Attendees who want to listen to research, learn about oral health research happening in Ireland, socialise and network are very welcome.
Full registration is €150 and includes the scientific programme, buffet lunch on Thursday and refreshments on Friday. It does not include the conference dinner or hotel accommodation.
Yes. A reduced rate of €20 is available for undergraduate students only, not postgraduate students. This includes the scientific programme. A conference dinner ticket can be purchased separately for €50.
There are a limited number of rooms available at a reduced rate at The Kingsley Hotel for meeting attendees. Contact the reservations team on +353 (0)21 480 0500 and quote “Irish Division IADR meeting”.
Abstract submissions for oral and poster presentation prize competitions are open and close at 5:00 pm on Wednesday 23 September 2026. Email your 300-word abstract to IrishDivisionIADR2026@outlook.com and state which prize competition you are entering.
There are six competitions: IADR Undergraduate Research Prize (Oral), IADR Undergraduate Poster Prize, IADR Postgraduate Research Prize (Oral), IADR Postgraduate Poster Prize, Dental Health Foundation Research Prize (Oral), and IADR/RCSI Clinical Research Prize (Oral). Indicate your preferred competition when submitting your abstract.
These awards are open to undergraduate students presenting dentally relevant research primarily associated with an Irish research institution. The entrant must have carried out the research as part of undergraduate training and must be an Irish Division IADR member.
These awards are open to registered postgraduate students, or entrants no more than 3 years post PhD/Masters, presenting a dentally relevant research project primarily associated with an Irish research institution. The entrant must be an Irish Division IADR member.
The award is open to all members of the dental team presenting a dentally relevant research project with a focus on oral health promotion. The entrant must be an Irish Division IADR member.
The award is open to all members of the dental team presenting a clinically relevant dental research project. The entrant must be an Irish Division IADR member.
Yes. All attendees must register through the Eventbrite page. Abstract submission and meeting registration are separate.
Conference dinner tickets for Thursday evening are sold separately at €50.
Privacy & data protection
The website has been designed to minimise tracking. The site code does not configure analytics or advertising cookies. Registration, abstract submission and event photography are covered by dedicated privacy information.
How the Irish Division uses attendee, abstract, competition and enquiry data, including retention, sharing and your GDPR rights.
Read the Privacy Notice →The website code does not use analytics or advertising cookies. The policy explains essential hosting technology and external links.
Read the Cookie Policy →How photographs from the meeting may be used, how to let organisers know you prefer not to be photographed and how to raise concerns.
Read the Photography Notice →Contact the 2026 Irish Division IADR meeting team.