Professor Challacombe, from King's College London, was recognised during the Opening Ceremonies of the 102^nd General Session of the IADR, which was held in conjunction with the 53^rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research and the 48th Annual Meeting of the Canadian Association for Dental Research, on March 13-16, 2024, in New Orleans, LA, USA.

Professor Challacombe is a world leader in oral and craniofacial science, notably the immunology and microbiology of mucosal conditions including HIV related lesions, caries, and periodontal disease. His major contributions in basic/translational research in mucosal immunology, and in clinical research in oral medicine/microbiology, are widely cited and have led to significant contributions in the field of food allergy. He has over fifty years of leadership in those fields and in related areas of education and care.

Professor Challacombe was awarded the IADR Distinguished Scientist Award for Experimental Pathology in 1997. He has since served as President of the IADR (2003-4), the British Society for Dental Research, the British Society for Oral Medicine, and the European Association for Oral Medicine. He has worked to raise the profile of oral and dental research by becoming actively involved in National and International panels, research organizations, and grant giving organizations including the National Institute for Dental and Craniofacial Research. He is one of only nine clinical academics in dental schools to have been elected to the UK Academy of Medical Sciences.

The IADR Gold Medal is the highest recognition bestowed by the IADR. It is presented to a previous recipient of an IADR Distinguished Scientist Award who later builds on their original scientific achievements to more broadly impact science, health research, or population health through the expansion of their field into other disciplines, or through higher administrative positions in academia, government, non-profit, or private industry.