The UConn School of Dental Medicine research office recently announced the 2025 recipient of the Outstanding Researcher Award, a prestigious honor within the School that has been recognizing the research accomplishments and contributions of faculty for nearly a decade.

Dr. Peter Maye, associate professor in the Center for Regenerative Medicine and Skeletal Development, was honored for having the most noteworthy research accomplishments in fiscal year 2025.

Since 2018, the award has recognized the outstanding faculty behind the School of Dental Medicine’s powerhouse research program, who have contributed to increased knowledge related to oral and systemic health.

“We developed this award program to recognize the success and dedication of our research faculty,” said Dr. Rajesh Lalla, associate dean for research at the UConn School of Dental Medicine. “The award criteria are based on objective measures of national-level research success and productivity for the year of record.”

Previous award winners include Drs. Ivo Kalajzic (2018), Mark Litt (2019), Changchun Liu (2020), Robert Aseltine (2021), David Rowe (2022), I-Ping Chen (2023), and Tannin Schmidt (2024).

Dr. Maye commented: “I’m honored to receive this recognition from the School of Dental Medicine. I’m grateful for the support that has enabled my research in skeletal biology. What drives me most is simply the love of doing this work, and this recognition means a great deal.”

Maye, and past award winners, were selected by an ad hoc committee of three School of Dental Medicine faculty members. The committee evaluates data on new and continuing extramural grant funding received, especially from national-level funding agencies such as the National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation, and the Department of Defense. The committee also reviews candidates’ scholarly activity including data on publications for that fiscal year.

The award not only highlights outstanding faculty members and the importance of research as an integral part of the mission of the dental school, but also aims to incentivize further interest and growth in the School’s strong research program.

“Since the establishment of this annual award in 2018, there has been significant growth in our research programs, due to the success of these awardees and others in receiving highly competitive national-level funding,” Lalla continued. “Through their cutting-edge basic and translational research, our research faculty and their teams are working to improve human health and have a global impact.”