Professor Francesco D’Aiuto has been appointed UEF Distinguished Professor at the University of Eastern Finland’s School of Dentistry, starting in May 2026. The part-time professorship focuses on Oral–Systemic Medicine and Inflammation Biology. UEF Distinguished Professorships are invited positions awarded to internationally recognised researchers.
Professor D’Aiuto is an internationally recognised clinician-scientist whose research focuses on the links between oral inflammation, systemic diseases and healthy ageing. His work has contributed to advancing understanding of the associations between periodontitis and chronic conditions including cardiovascular disease, diabetes and multimorbidity, as well as the potential impact of periodontal treatment on systemic inflammatory pathways and vascular health.
He is currently affiliated with Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust in the UK and collaborates internationally across translational medicine, dentistry and inflammation research.
The UEF Distinguished Professorship further strengthens the translational dentistry research environment at the University of Eastern Finland led by Professor Pirkko Pussinen. Translational dentistry aims to bridge basic science, clinical research and patient care, with a particular focus on the interactions between oral health and overall health.
Professor D’Aiuto comments: “I am delighted to join the University of Eastern Finland as Distinguished Professor and to collaborate with Professor Pussinen and colleagues at UEF. I believe there is significant potential to further develop interdisciplinary and translational research exploring the role of oral inflammation in systemic diseases and healthy ageing.”
