Academics have joined forces with leading global industry names such as Unilever, Phillips and Mars to trial new products which will have health impacts far beyond dental issues, including in diabetes and heart disease. The research has also led to a number of disease assessment tools being launched for high- street dentists, and low-cost tests to help people to stop smoking. In April 2016, following significant investment, the first new dental hospital in the UK for 40 years opened its doors, bringing a huge range of benefits to staff, students and patients.
Oral infectious and inflammatory diseases are the most common human diseases worldwide and cause significant morbidity, impacting upon general health, wellbeing and mortality rates. Their impact on the economy is substantial. Our research is making significant inroads into understanding their pathobiology and translating this into novel treatments.
Oral cancer is currently the 6th most common form of cancer with survival rates of only 60% and we aim to impact significantly upon these statistics through our collaborative research activities. Our interdisciplinary research excellence in the field of tissue repair, regeneration and rehabilitation draws upon multi-disciplinary expertise in the biological, physical and biological sciences to improve current, and develop future, therapeutic solutions.
Our clinician-basic science partnerships provide broad expertise and enable us to exploit our findings through clinical trials of novel diagnostics and therapeutics in collaboration with our NHS partners. While our state-of-the-art purpose built laboratories and associated clinics house cutting-edge technologies enabling us to explore disease mechanisms, improve our understanding of pathogenic processes, and formulate new healthcare solutions.
The strengths of our internationally-leading teams centre on developing a sound understanding of disease mechanisms to underpin novel diagnostic, tissue regenerative and engineering therapeutic strategies for periodontal diseases, caries and oral cancer; and are enhanced by strong local, national and international (Europe, North/South America, Far-East, Asia) collaborations.
Our focus on the scientific basis of oral and dental disease is providing innovative solutions to important problems significantly impacting the population and is helping us to deliver our vision for improving oral and general health.
Research themes within the School
Clinical and experimental oral sciences
Our Clinical and Experimental Oral Sciences research encompasses a wide range of areas, which aim to identify and develop new and improved diagnostics and preventative dental treatments for patient benefit. Our internationally leading research is underpinned by patient engagement and we are making significant advances in our understanding of complex oral diseases, which are being translated to impact on whole body well-being.
Our research groups
Oral regeneration rehabilitation sciences
Our Oral Regeneration and Rehabilitation Sciences research utilises cutting-edge, multidisciplinary approaches to develop new therapies for repairing and rebuilding the human body, which has become damaged due to disease or trauma. Driven by our world class collaborative research, we bring together biological, physical and clinical scientists to develop and translate novel therapeutic technologies.
Our research groups
Postgraduate research programmes within the School
Our Dentistry PhD/MSc by Research will equip you with the skills you need to contribute to research that focuses on the scientific basis of oral and dental disease, providing innovative solutions to important problems significantly impacting the population.