UK summit on oral and dental research
The future of oral and dental research in the UK was debated at a summit held at the University of Sheffield on Wednesday 14 April. The event was organised by Prof Paul Speight (President of the British Society for Oral and Dental Research; BSODR), and was co-sponsored by the BDA, the BSODR and the National Institute for Health Research. Delegates included representatives of the organisers and sponsors, BSODR, BDA and NIHR. Other delegates included the UK dental schools, the Royal Colleges, the Cochrane Oral Health Group, the International Association for Dental Research (IADR) and the Department of Health (including the Chief Dental Officer for England).
Speakers Prof Stephen Holgate (Medical Research Council), Prof David Williams (President of IADR), Prof Mike Curtis (Immediate Past President of BSODR) and Prof Jimmy Steele (Newcastle University) described the current global, national and economic context of oral and dental research in the UK, and outlined the challenges that must be addressed to promote and enhance excellence and international competitiveness. During breakout sessions following each talk, delegates discussed practical steps to tackle these challenges. Emerging themes included maximising the potential for collaboration between dental schools and with other disciplines, and the need for greater advocacy and engagement with both funders of research and the public.
Pictures of the event are available via Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/23766806@N00/sets/72157623773829577