Stephen James Challacombe (born April 1946) is professor of oral medicine at King's College in London, best known for research in oromucosal immunology and for developing the Challacombe scale for measuring the extent of dryness of the mouth. He led the team that laid out research challenges of global health inequalities and oral health, particularly relating to the oral manifestations of HIV.
Stephen Challacombe was born in April 1946. He attended Culford School, where he played sports including rugby.[1]
Mucosal immunology
Challacombe initially worked in the field of immunology.[2] In 1978, he was appointed assistant professor and senior research fellow in the Department of Immunology at the Mayo Clinic in the United States,[3] and completed the fellowship in 1979.[4]
From 1984 to 2011, Challacombe was consultant in diagnostic microbiology and immunology to Guys & St Thomas Hospitals.[5] During this time, he became professor of oral medicine in the department of Oral Medicine and Pathology at Guy's Hospital in 1986 and the Martin Rushton Professor of oral medicine in 1988.[2][6]
Later career
Challacombe was appointed Director of External Strategy at the Dental Institute in 2005 and a year later became Dean for King's College London KCL External Affairs, holding both posts until 2011.[5][7]
His experience has also included coordinating conferences and university departments, managing grants, finances and research, and teaching.[3]
Challacombe scale
Challacombe developed the Challacombe scale for measuring the extent of dryness of the mouth in human beings. It was launched in 2011 at Tylney Hall in Hampshire[8] and has become widely used as a medical tool for assessing and monitoring dry mouth.[9][10][11]
Global oral health
Challacombe became involved in clinical research in oral HIV and AIDS, and has chaired international workshops on the oral manifestations of HIV infection in the UK, South Africa, Thailand, China, and India. In 1991 and 1993, he contributed to the consensus meeting on the classification of oral lesions in HIV.[1][3] He was chairman of the International Steering Committee on Oral Health and Disease in HIV infection between 2000 and 2017.[3]
In 2011, Challacombe led the team that laid out research challenges of global health inequalities and oral health, particularly relating to Noma, tuberculosis, sexually transmitted disease and HIV, four of the most serious global oral health infections.[12][13][14] With regards to clinical signs in the mouth in AIDS, he identified a significant role for dentists.[13]
Later, using Sierra Leone as a case study to develop oral health programmes in low-income countries, he worked with the King's Sierra Leone Partnership's dentistry section,[15] as a member of The Kings Centre for Global Health.[1]
In 2020, he co-authored a review which proposed using povidone-iodine to reduce cross-infectivity of COVID-19,[16] and highlighted the role of saliva in the transmission of the disease.[17]
He is married to Tina and they have two children.[1]
In 2013, he joined the Board of Governors of Culford School.[1] He also continues to support students of the world's oldest rugby club, Guy's Hospital RFC.[22]
Writing
He has been an author, co-author, editor and co-editor of a number of publications including nine books, over 240 peer-reviewed research papers and 160 other works on various aspects of oral and maxillofacial medicine.[3] These have included publications on induction of secretory immune responses, oral tolerance and on immunological aspects of the oral cavity.[2] His interest on mucosal immunity in HIV and how HIV can present with signs in the mouth, has resulted in over 25 research articles.[3]
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