World-Renowned Researcher Robert J. Genco Passes

Hailed as a pioneer in the discovery of the oral-systemic link, researcher, academician and periodontist Robert J. Genco, DDS, PhD, passed away unexpectedly on March 6 at age 80. Genco’s research in oral biology provided some of the very first evidence demonstrating a potential association between periodontal disease and other systemic conditions, such as cardiovascular disease, stroke and several cancers.

A longtime faculty member at the University at Buffalo (UB) in New York, Genco served as director of the UB Microbiome Center and chair of the Department of Oral Biology. In his more than 50 years with the university, he published more than 400 articles, edited or contributed to nearly 30 books and book chapters, and served in the editorial leadership of more than 10 scientific journals. Among his many accolades were the Gold Medal Award for Excellence in Dental Research and Norton M. Ross Award from the American Dental Association, and the Gold Medal Award and Distinguished Scientist Award from the American Academy of Periodontology.

From Decisions in Dentistry. April 2019;5(4):8.