Each year, the ITI singles out two research teams for outstanding work in advancing dental research and development to award them the highly prestigious André Schroeder Research Prize. This year’s winners, Hsiao H. Sung and Algirdas Puisys, were presented with their award at the ITI Annual Conference in Paris in May 2025.
Hsiao H. Sung and her team received the André Schroeder Research Prize in the preclinical category for their study entitled “Sclerostin antibody enhances implant osseointegration in bone with Col1a1 mutation”. The clinical prize was awarded to Algirdas Puisys and his team for their study “Influence of mucosal tissue height on implant crestal bone: A 10-year follow-up of a controlled clinical trial”.
In this interview the winners talk about their studies and motivation as well as the impact winning this prize has already had on them.
Congratulations to both of you! What does this award mean to you as researchers?
Algirdas Puisys: It’s an unbelievably huge honor. This award is likely the most prestigious in implant dentistry and it’s a great motivator for future studies.
Hsiao H Sung: I can only agree. This award validates our efforts to innovate in patient care and it serves as a powerful motivation to continue our pursuit of cutting-edge research and solutions in implant dentistry. The prize also provides a powerful platform to share our findings with the broader implant dentistry community.
How did you come to choose your individual topics?
Algirdas:I always wanted to be a good doctor and seeing crestal bone loss after final restoration around almost every implant was really disappointing. My colleagues and I found a clinical study showing that the vertical thickness of soft tissue influences the stability of crestal bone. Logical thinking demanded that we try to thicken the soft tissue and then see what happens.
Hsaio: As an oral surgeon, my mission has been to elevate patient care, especially for those who are medically compromised. By specializing in implant and bone regeneration surgeries, I can address the unique and often complex needs of these patients. The research carried out by my team focuses on developing therapies for low bone mass disorders in oral rehabilitation using sclerostin within an osteogenesis imperfecta model, specifically targeting craniofacial bone.
And what was the result of your study?
Algirdas: We were able to show that there was actually less crestal bone loss as a result of soft tissue thickening.
Hsaio: In our mouse model, we discovered that the treatment increased bone formation around the implant and improved its resistance to external forces. The results were almost on par with those seen in mice without bone fragility.
How relevant do you feel your project is to daily practice?
Algirdas: Whenever questions arise during daily clinical practice, I look to see if there is any scientific evidence that can help me further. If there isn’t, it’s a good reason to try and develop a protocol, which is what happened with this study. It is important to understand how soft tissue seals the bone and the implant from the oral cavity and how it protects from bacterial invasion. In fact, now there is data that could allow us to reconsider the criteria for implant success and to aim for zero bone loss over 10 years as opposed to accepting 1.5 mm bone loss in the first year and an additional 0.2 mm annually thereafter.
Hsaio: Our study showed that sclerostin antibody treatment can enhance peri-implant osseointegration and strength in a model of osteogenesis imperfecta, potentially improving dental implant success rates for patients with low bone mass disorders. Moreover, the increased osseointegration observed in wild-type (control) mice suggests that this strategy could also benefit healthy patients requiring bone augmentation and dental implants. Our current study utilized systemic administration, but future research will explore local application of the treatment, potentially benefitting patients both with and without pre-existing bone conditions.
How do you see the ITI and its role?
Algirdas: The ITI is a very important organization with a great mission that helps all professionals, not just researchers, to grow through its continuing education offering, networking and treatment recommendations.
Hsaio: Personally, I view the ITI as a benchmark organization that continually raises the standards of practice in implant dentistry, driving the field towards excellence in all its endeavors.
Both winners emphasized the importance of discipline, perseverance and adaptability to address the challenges thrown up by research as well as the often-many setbacks along the way. Hsaio adds “Above all, maintaining a patient-focused approach and a commitment to translating findings into practical, impactful advancements in implant dentistry will drive meaningful progress in the field.”
Hsiao H. Sung is a PhD candidate at thi e Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboudumc, The Netherlands.
Algirdas Puisys is a Periodontologist in the private practice ‘VIC clinic’
Have you published your research? Then reap the fruits of your success and apply for the 2026 André Schroeder Research Prize. Get more information
