Chilean researchers win La Roche-Posay grant for dental and skin health study

A Chilean research team led by dermatologist Daniela Carvajal has been selected as one of six global winners of the La Roche-Posay 2026 Research Grants. The project, which includes Universidad Andrés Bello (UNAB) researcher Dr. Alejandra Fernández, will investigate the connection between atopic dermatitis and periodontitis.

The study aims to determine how these two conditions coexist and whether oral bacteria from periodontitis can enter the bloodstream to exacerbate systemic inflammation, affecting the mental health and quality of life of patients. The research will recruit participants in Santiago to establish if periodontal health should be a core component of clinical care for dermatological patients.

Separately, Dr. Mariely Navarrete, Director of Periodontics at UNAB, participated in the fourth meeting of the Latin American Oral Health Study Group (GELSO) in Lima, Peru. The meeting brought together regional academics to discuss periodontal health policies, technological developments in dentistry, and strategies to improve oral health access across Latin America.