On October 28-29, 2023, the 2023 Rising Star/Guiding Star Symposium of IADR APR, sponsored by the International Association for Dental Research (IADR) Asia-Pacific Region (APR) and organized by West China School and Hospital of Stomatology (WCSS/WCHS), Sichuan University, was successfully held in Chengdu.

The symposium was chaired by Prof. Ling Ye, Dean of WCSS/WCHS, Vice President of Sichuan University, and President of IADR APR. The keynote speeches were given by Academician Yimin Zhao and Academician Songling Wang. The meeting contained several sessions, including the Rising Star Session, Guiding Star Session, and Postgraduate Poster Exhibition Session. In total, more than 300 delegates from China, Japan, Korea, India, Thailand, Indonesia, Pakistan, and other countries attended the symposium. At the same time, the conference was synchronized with online broadcasting, which reached a global audience of over 2,000.

At the opening ceremony, speeches were delivered by Prof. Chuanbin Guo, President of the Chinese Stomatological Association, Prof. Nobuhiro Takahashi, member of the IADR Global Council and representative of the IADR APR, Prof. Risa Chaisuparat, Immediate Past President of IADR East & Southern Africa Division, Prof. Zhuan Bian, President of the IADR Chinese Division, and President Ling Ye, respectively. The opening ceremony was hosted by Prof. Jiefei Shen, Secretary of the IADR APR and Associate Dean of WCSS/WCHS.

When it comes to the Rising Star/Guiding Star Session, 11 internationally renowned scholars gave keynote speeches on cutting-edge scientific issues and the latest research discoveries in the field. Prof. Yunfeng Lin, Prof. Songsong Zhu, and Prof. Xianglong Han, acted as the hosts of the sessions.  

The conference also held a Poster Exhibition Session, tailored specifically for postgraduate students, in which nearly 300 postgraduates from more than ten countries and regions of IADR APR submitted their posters. After the on-site evaluation by international experts, 15 postgraduates were awarded the Best Poster Award, the Poster Innovation Award, and the Poster Presentation Award, respectively.

The 2023 Rising Star/Guiding Star Symposium of IADR APR is the most important academic event of IADR APR this year, and it is also the first on-site academic meeting held by IADR APR since the outbreak of COVID-19. Through this symposium, the cooperation and exchange between these schools and institutes have been strengthened and promoted.