The oral health research incubator is one of five awarded funding from the NIHR to address areas where there is a need to build research capacity at a national level.

Led by Newcastle University and the University of Sheffield, it will play a vital role in training and supporting researchers, helping them to tackle health and care challenges.

‘Growing next generation of researchers’

In particular, work at the incubator will focus on bringing together a community of those working, or aspiring to work in applied oral health research.

It is hoped that the new scheme will increase the visibility of policy-relevant research and ensure sustainable support for enhance careers of those working in the field.

Chris Vernazza, Interim Head of School of Dental Sciences and Professor of Oral Health Services at Newcastle University, said: “Growing the next generation of researchers is one of the most important aspects of our work and this new incubator has a vital role to play in ensuring we are well equipped to deal with the many challenges we face in oral health.

“The focus on the interface between research and policy is key to unlocking benefits for the many individuals and groups affected by oral health problems.”

Incubators are virtual and bespoke to their community. They run engagement and outreach activities and also provide training to help develop and support research careers.

The objectives of the oral research incubator are:

• Identify barriers to careers in oral health research amongst early and mid-career researchers
• Develop an academic community able to co-design solutions to attract and retain oral health researchers within the workforce
• Upskill this workforce to conduct high-quality policy-relevant applied oral health research
• Forge links between researchers, stakeholders and policymakers to identify areas for future research and devise a sustainable approach to maintain these links.

‘Network of researchers’

Zoe Marshman, Professor in Dental Public Health at the University of Sheffield, said: “Over the past year, dentistry has rarely been out of the news.

“There are many current oral health challenges facing national and local policymakers, including the best ways to promote the oral health of communities and patients, how to prevent and detect early oral diseases, including oral cancer, and supporting access to dental services particularly for vulnerable groups.

“This incubator will grow a network of researchers across the UK equipped with the right skills to identify solutions to these problems.”

For more information about the oral health research incubator and to join the network of interested professionals and representatives of industry and patient groups visit here