Dentist receives chewing gum prize

A weekend job at Gumlink, the chewing gum factory in Vejle, in the early years of the new millennium kick-started Peter Bangsgaard Stoustrup’s research career. This was where he and a fellow student cleaned pipelines of sweeteners. And in the long corridors with their heavy, sweet scent, the two young students talked about different things. Among them, whether sweeteners affect oral cavity bacteria. Some people might it nerdy, but the fact is, an interest in research was kindled.

Now the 37-year-old researcher is receiving the Bagger Sørensen Foundation's Talent Award 2016. He receives the award for his large scientific production within the area of arthritis of the jaw or temporomandibular joints in children and young people. His CV includes a list of publications with primary authorship of articles in recognised rheumatology journals such as "Nature Reviews Rheumatology" and "Journal of Rheumatology".

"Receiving the Bagger Sørensen Foundation's Talent Award is a particular honour. The award is rooted in Vejle, where I come from, and the chewing gum factory played a central role in my interest in research. It reminds me of where it all began and also of the many hours spent on research from then until today,” says Peter Bangsgaard Stoustrup, from The Department of Dentistry and Oral Health at Aarhus University.

Better treatment of children with arthritis of the jaw

The award winner is a board member of the TMjoint organisation, which is an international network for researchers and clinicians who work with research and treatment of children with arthritis of the jaw. The purpose of the organisation is to promote research collaboration across disciplinary boundaries. It therefore includes both dental specialists, child rheumatoid arthritis doctors, oral and maxillofacial surgeons and radiologists.

Peter Bangsgaard Stoustrup is research coordinator for one of the network's international working groups, which is working to establish global guidelines on clinical diagnostics and treatment of children and young people with arthritis of the jaw. This work involves 16 international centres. Its recommendations will be published in 2016-2017, and they are expected to help improve the quality of the clinical facial examinations of patients with arthritis of the jaw around the world.

Peter Bangsgaard Stoustrup was born and grew up in Vejle, Denmark. He now lives in Mols with his wife and the couple's three children. Peter Bangsgaard Stoustrup began the dentistry degree programme in Aarhus in 2000. After completing his final exam for the dentistry degree, he earned his PhD in 2010, and in 2015 he became a dental specialist in orthodontics. He has carried out research since 2004.

Peter Bangsgaard Stoustrup received the award at a ceremony held by the Bagger-Sørensen Foundation on 22 September 2016.

Further information

Peter Bangsgaard Stoustrup
Aarhus University, Department of Dentistry and Oral Health
Direct tel.: (+45) 8716 7416
Email: pstoustrup@dent.au.dk