On October 28-29, 2023, the 2023 Rising Star/Guiding Star Symposium of IADR APR, sponsored by the International Association for Dental Research (IADR) Asia-Pacific Region (APR) and organized by West China School and Hospital of Stomatology (WCSS/WCHS), Sichuan University, was successfully held in Chengdu.

Prof. Ling Ye, Dean of WCSS/WCHS, Sichuan University Vice President, and IADR APR President, chaired the symposium. Academician Yimin Zhao and Academician Songling Wang delivered keynote speeches. The event featured various sessions, including the Rising Star Session, Guiding Star Session, and the Postgraduate Poster Exhibition Session. The symposium attracted over 300 delegates from multiple countries, such as China, Japan, Korea, India, Thailand, Indonesia, and Pakistan. Additionally, the event was broadcast online, reaching a global audience of more than 2,000 viewers.

During the opening ceremony, several distinguished speakers delivered their addresses, including Prof. Chuanbin Guo, President of the Chinese Stomatological Association, Prof. Nobuhiro Takahashi, a member of the IADR Global Council and the IADR APR representative, Prof. Risa Chaisuparat, the Immediate Past President of the IADR East & Southern Africa Division, Prof. Zhuan Bian, President of the IADR Chinese Division, and Prof. Ling Ye. Prof. Jiefei Shen, Secretary of the IADR APR and Associate Dean of WCSS/WCHS chaired the opening ceremony.

During the Rising Star/Guiding Star Session, eleven esteemed scholars delivered keynotes on the latest scientific advancements and research findings. Professors Yunfeng Lin, Songsong Zhu, and Xianglong Han served as session moderators. Additionally, the conference featured a Poster Exhibition Session designed for postgraduate students. This session saw submissions from nearly 300 students across over ten IADR APR countries and regions. Following an evaluation by international experts, 15 students received awards for the Best Poster, Poster Innovation, and Poster Presentation.

The 2023 Rising Star/Guiding Star Symposium represents the pinnacle of academic events for the IADR APR this year. Notably, it marks the first in-person academic gathering the IADR APR has organized since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. This symposium has significantly enhanced and facilitated collaboration and exchange among participating schools and institutes.