Unity in Diversity, Beauty in Every Pattern

Professor Azeez Butali is a Professor of Craniofacial Genetics and the Gilbert Lily endowed Professor of Diagnostic Sciences at the College of Dentistry, University of Iowa. He holds secondary appointments as Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at the Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, and the Iowa Institute for Human Genetics. Professor Butali is the director of the African Craniofacial Anomalies Network (AfriCRAN), a member of the Smile Train Research and Innovations Advisory Council, Director of the International Association for Dental Research Craniofacial Biology Group, a standing member of the NIH Genetics of Health and Diseases study section, Group Program Chair of the Global Oral Health Inequalities Research Network, Executive member of the African Society for Dental and Craniofacial Genetics, a member of the Facebase Scientific Advisory Council, a member of the Clinical Advisory Board of the United Kingdom Medical Research Council National Mouse Genetics Network, and member of the College of Dentistry Faculty Promotion Advisory Council. Professor Butali was one of the first two dentists in the USA to receive the Harold Amos Medical Faculty Development Award in 2014 and a recipient of the prestigious NIDCR K99-R00 Dental Scientist Career Development award in 2012. He is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (FAAAS), a Fellow of the Academy of Medicine Specialties of Nigeria (FAMedS), and a Fellow of the International College of Dentists (FICD). He is a recipient of the 2022 University of Iowa International Student Graduation Faculty recognition award, the 2023 SCADA Faculty Adviser Award, and the 2023 University of Iowa Leadership in Research Award. He is also a recipient of the 2025 Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers by the President of the United States and White House, a 2025 US Presidential Fulbright Scholar, and a 2025 recipient of the Fellow of the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria in Dental Surgery (FMCDS - Honoris Causa). Prof Butali is currently leading efforts to translate discoveries into health and the prevention of oral, dental, and craniofacial diseases. He is happily married with 3 children and enjoys playing table tennis and reading biographies.