BUFFALO, N.Y. — Marcelo W.B. Araujo, DDS, PhD, dean of the University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine, has been elected to the Science Committee of the FDI World Dental Federation (FDI), an international professional organization for dentists and the leading global voice for the dental profession.

Araujo joins a distinguished group of experts helping guide evidence-based dialogue on oral health on a global scale.

“I am deeply honored to be elected to the FDI Science Committee and to contribute to work that improves oral health worldwide,” Araujo said. “It is a meaningful opportunity to collaborate with my international colleagues as we connect science, policy and practice for the betterment of our patients and profession.”

Araujo’s candidacy was presented to the FDI by the American Dental Association (ADA), the largest professional dental organization in the U.S. and an FDI Regular Member.

“Dr. Araujo’s election to the FDI Science Committee is a reflection of his exceptional leadership and the depth of expertise he brings to the dental profession,” said Richard J. Rosato, president of the ADA. “As a scientific leader, clinical researcher and long-time advocate for evidence-based science in oral health, he brings an important perspective to the committee and the FDI as it leads global advocacy efforts around oral health. We congratulate him on this tremendous achievement.”

The FDI works to bring oral health to the forefront of the global health conversation through partnerships with organizations such as the World Health Organization, the World Health Assembly and others. The FDI Science Committee supports these efforts by providing scientific expertise and ensuring the organization’s work is grounded in sound scientific evidence.

The six-person committee identifies areas of international concern in dentistry, develops scientific papers and policy statements, and advises the FDI’s Council on communicating scientific information to oral health professionals.

The election took place in September during the FDI 2026 General Assembly held in Prague. Araujo was selected from a highly competitive candidate pool that included representatives from Sri Lanka, Norway and Hong Kong. He was nominated for the seat previously held by Jeffrey Platt, DDS, of the Indiana University School of Dentistry, whose term ended in 2026. He will serve a three-year term through 2029, with the possibility of re-election to a second three-year term.

Araujo’s election reflects his internationally recognized leadership, policy work and contributions to evidence-based dentistry. He previously worked with the FDI from 2017 to 2018 to support their efforts related to the Minamata Convention, a United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) congress that is defining the global elimination of mercury use, including the phase-out of mercury-containing dental fillings, known as dental amalgam.

Araujo’s career has involved leadership positions at top nonprofit dental organizations, including the American Dental Association, and within the pharmaceutical industry, where he made a significant impact in health care products research. His research addresses the connection between oral and systemic health, including the search for new safe biomaterials through AI and its implications for public health, as well as emerging areas such as epidemiology and clinical translational research.

Araujo became the dean of UB’s School of Dental Medicine in 2023. He holds a PhD in epidemiology and community health and a master’s degree in oral sciences from UB, where he also completed a fellowship in periodontology clinical research and teaching. He received his DDS in 1995 and a certificate in periodontology in 1997 from Universidade Gama Filho in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.