Award for Elinor Chalmers

Research medal for new cleft lip and palate research

Elinor Chalmers awarded Arnold Huddart Medal

Elinor Chalmers, Speciality Registrar in Orthodontics and Masters student at the University of Dundee School of Dentistry has been awarded the prestigious Arnold Huddart Medal by the Craniofacial Society of Great Britain and Ireland for her groundbreaking cleft lip and palate research on the feasibility of substituting dental impressions with direct intra-oral scans, and subsequent production of accurate 3 dimensional images.

“This research has the potential to revolutionise cleft care by reducing the burden on patients with clefts who are subjected to repeated impressions during their treatment and rehabilitation,” explained Professor Pete Mossey, Associate Dean for Research at Dundee Dental School.

Elinor’s research project is part of her Prosthodontics Masters programme (MDSc) which provides a unique opportunity for joint NHS - University education and training and also includes an externally examined Masters dissertation.

“This project would not have been possible without the exceptional supervision given by both Prof Mossey and Dr Grant McIntyre,” said Elinor Chalmers. “I am very honoured to have been awarded the medal knowing that there were many excellent papers in the running. I am very grateful for having being given the opportunity to present our findings to the international Cleft Care community.” The study would not have been possible without the funding given by Scottish Association for Cleft Lip and Palate Charity.

The Arnold Huddart Medal was established in 1990 for the encouragement of original and promising research papers at the Annual Scientific Conference of the Craniofacial Society for Great Britain and Ireland, an international conference aimed at advancing and promoting the best practice in the treatment and prevention of craniofacial anomalies.