Oral biology professor named 2025 AAAS Fellow

Keith Kirkwood, DDS, PhD, senior associate dean for research and Centennial Endowed Chair in the Department of Oral Biology, UB School of Dental Medicine, has been elected a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), the world's largest general scientific society and publisher of the journal Science.

Kirkwood is among nearly 500 scientists, engineers and innovators who have been elected 2025 Fellows for their scientifically and socially distinguished achievements throughout their careers. 

“This year’s AAAS Fellows have demonstrated research excellence, made notable contributions to advance science, and delivered important services to their communities," said Sudip S. Parikh, PhD, AAAS chief executive officer and executive publisher of the Science family of journals. ”These Fellows and their accomplishments validate the importance of investing in science and technology for the benefit of all."

Kirkwood was selected for his "distinguished contributions in the area of periodontal osteoimmunology, particularly for understanding innate immune signaling mechanisms and post-translational regulation of effector molecules as the basis of defining new therapeutic targets."

Over the course of his career, Kirkwood has served as principal investigator or co-PI on numerous projects garnering more than $45 million in funding. In 2025, he received a $7.38 million grant from the NIH to fund the creation of a new microbiome research facility center at UB, the first of its kind in the region. 

His research focuses on aging-associated inflammation and bone homeostasis. He recently completed a research project with geriatric experts on how one protein slows down the aging process.

Kirkwood began his academic career at UB as an assistant professor of periodontics in 2000. He returned to the university in 2017 after holding faculty roles at other institutions.