It’s a challenge to list all the achievements of Melbourne Laureate Professor Eric Reynolds AO on one page.
As well as being a board member and chief executive officer of the Oral Health CRC, he has been head of the Melbourne Dental School at the University of Melbourne, a recipient of the Victoria Prize, the Anne and Eric Smorgon Memorial Award and awarded an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for his service to community dental health through research and development of preventive and restorative products, to education through curriculum development, as an administrator and teacher.
To say Professor Reynolds has been a leading figure in oral health science is almost an understatement. For over 30 years he has dedicated his life to dental research, management and the commercialisation of innovations.
“What can I say—I enjoy research!” says Professor Reynolds with a laugh. “I really like research translation and seeing outcomes rather than just publications in top journals which of course is gratifying. But it’s great if you can work with a company to translate results from the bench or the clinic into a product, a treatment or a diagnostic, that has the potential to have a real benefit to patients.”
Just to name a few of the innovations Professor Reynolds has invented along with his team at Oral Health CRC: casein phosphopeptide-amorphous calcium phosphate, or CPP-ACP, aka Recaldent (which has made its way into sugar-free gum), Toothmousse and Toothmousse Plus (to reduce tooth sensitivity, to lower the risk of tooth decay and to repair early stages of decay or hypomineralised enamel), Fuji VII-EP (a glass ionomer cement) as well as MI (minimal intervention) varnish.
Professor Reynolds is particularly excited about the work that he and the Oral Health CRC are doing on a potential new product to diagnose periodontitis. “I’ve been working with a team on identifying risk factors for chronic periodontitis, which is important as one-in-three dentate adults have moderate to severe forms of periodontitis. We’re very excited because it’s the first specific and sensitive diagnostic that’s chair-side and should allow early diagnosis and hopefully prevention of development of moderate to severe forms of chronic periodontitis.” Professor Reynolds says he’s not one to rest on his laurels (and we believe him)—his aim, along with the Oral Health CRC program, is to continue improving and strengthening his research and links with industry.
