Luciana Macchion Shaddox, professor of periodontology at the University of Kentucky College of Dentistry, is one of 16 University Research Professors for 2023-24. The University Research Professorships honor faculty members who have demonstrated excellence that addresses scientific, social, cultural and economic challenges in our region and around the world.

College leadership develop criteria for excellence within their area of expertise and then nominate faculty who excelled at these criteria. Each University Research Professor receives a one-year award of $10,000. 

“Being named a University Research Professor is a huge honor,” Shaddox said. “I want to thank my colleagues and others who thought of me, and who nominated me for this award. This year has been full of career accomplishments that have been a culmination of years of hard work, and I couldn’t have done any of it without my great colleagues, students and staff.”

Shaddox’s recent research primarily focuses on identifying susceptibility of a severe form of periodontal disease which affects 1-3% of the U.S. population around puberty. This form of the disease causes severe bone loss around certain areas of the mouth which can cause an array of other complications during one’s life. Underserved groups within the population are particularly at risk for this disease.

Recently, Shaddox and her team were awarded a large U01 grant from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research to study this disease in seven different countries across the globe.