Marcello Pasquale Riggio

Professor Marcello Pasquale Riggio serves as Professor of Comparative Oral Microbiology at the University of Glasgow's Dental School within the School of Medicine, Dentistry & Nursing. He leads the Comparative Oral Sciences research group and has published over 70 peer-reviewed papers focusing on animal oral health and disease.

Professor Riggio earned his BSc (Hons) in Chemistry-with-Biochemistry from the University of Leicester in 1983, completed his PhD in 1991, and joined Glasgow Dental School in 1994 as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow. His academic progression included Lectureship (1995), Senior Lecturer (2002), and Professorship (2021).

His primary research investigates the microbial ecology of oral health and disease in animals (cats, horses, dogs, cattle) using next-generation sequencing of bacterial 16S rRNA genes. His work examines host-pathogen interactions through in vitro and ex vivo models, with future research aiming to adopt combined 'omics' approaches to understand underlying disease processes.

Analysis of Professor Riggio's recent publications reveals consistent focus on comparative oral microbiology across multiple animal species, with emphasis on microbial community composition, host immune responses, and disease mechanisms. His research demonstrates sophisticated application of molecular techniques to characterize oral microbiomes in veterinary contexts.

• President of British Society for Oral and Dental Research (2019-2021)
• Immediate Past President (2021-2023)
• IADR Council member
• External Examiner for multiple UK dental schools (2010-2024)
• Principal Investigator on numerous research grants totaling over £1 million

Professor Riggio has held significant administrative roles including Postgraduate Convenor (2008-2014), Deputy Director of Postgraduate Dental Education (2009-2014), and Deputy Postgraduate Convenor (School of Medicine, 2011-2016). He represents the Dental School on University Senate and various committees, demonstrating strong leadership in academic governance and research administration.