Rate My Professor Warwick Duncan

Professor Warwick Duncan is a Professor in the Department of Oral Sciences at the University of Otago Faculty of Dentistry, where he currently serves as Director of the Sir John Walsh Research Institute since May 2021 and Associate Dean (Research). He obtained his BDS, MDS in Periodontics with Distinction in 1989, and PhD in Periodontology and Implantology in 1995, all from the University of Otago. He is a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons in Periodontics (FRACDS Perio) and the International College of Dentists (FICD). Duncan leads the discipline of Periodontics in the School of Dentistry and has operated a private specialist periodontal clinic for 25 years. His extensive 40-year part-time military career with the Royal New Zealand Dental Corps included peacekeeping in East Timor and culminated in his appointment as Regimental Colonel. Additional appointments include Associate Dean (Facilities and Clinical Services) from 2008 to 2015, President of the New Zealand Society of Forensic Odontology, leader of regional teams for forensic dental victim identification, and Honorary Dental Surgeon to the Governor-General of New Zealand.

Duncan's research focuses on periodontics, dental implantology, bone grafting and regeneration, new bone replacement materials, implant osseointegration surfaces, stem cell therapy for bone regeneration, treatments for periodontal and peri-implant diseases, and diagnostic imaging of gums and jawbones. Through collaboration with the late Professor Jules Kieser, he developed expertise in forensic biology and victim identification. He was promoted to full Professor in 2015 as the first Otago-qualified periodontist to attain this rank and received a commendation for excellence in research supervision from the SJWRI in 2020. With over 5,800 citations from 155 publications, key works include 'In vitro and in vivo investigation of antibacterial silver nanoparticles functionalized bone grafting substitutes' (2024), 'In vivo healing of low temperature deproteinized bovine bone xenograft in a rabbit cranial model' (2024), 'A disaster victim identification workshop focused on forensic odontology' (2022), 'Establishment and evolution of the Otago sheep animal models' (2024), and 'Meeting the challenges and clinical requirements for dental implant macrodesign' (2021).