2024 FDS research awards recipients

The Faculty of Dental Surgery at the Royal College of Surgeons of England is delighted to announce the recipients of the 2024 research awards. This year's pump-priming grants and fellowship awards have been given to outstanding applicants, and we are proud to recognise and support their proposed research.

Congratulations to the eleven recipients of a pump-priming grant and the two recipients of a fellowship. We wish all awardees success in their research projects and future academic careers.

---

 2024 FDS research award recipients

FDS Dental Research Fellowship

• Sarah McKernon, University of Liverpool: Exploring remote treatment planning for a dental general anaesthetic. By specialists in paediatric dentistry – a vignette study.

FDS-ABAOMS Research Fellowship

• Sylwia Nowak, University of Liverpool: Green Bone - Proteomics evaluation of bone regeneration using 3D-printed biomaterial.

FDS Pump-Priming Grant

• Samantha Watt, University of Sheffield: Consumption of sugar sweetened beverages in children and young people attending dental practices.
• Emily Black, University of Bristol: Oropharyngeal cancer awareness and screening in dental settings.
• Emma Morgan, University of Liverpool: Exploring parent and carer experiences of dental care access for children with neurodisabilities.
• Emma Elliott, Leeds Dental School: Exploring the feasibility of an integrated care model to improve oral health outcomes in people with severe mental illness.
• Chun Wang Chau, University of Hong Kong: Artificial Intelligence (AI) Enhanced Oral Health Education in a Community Setting.

FDS-BSPD Pump-Priming Grant

• Alice Rigby, University of Leeds: Amelogenesis Imperfecta: Investigating cases unsolved by NHS genetic testing.
• Laura Timms, University of Sheffield: For young children with dental caries waiting for treatment under GA, can silver diamine fluoride reduce negative impacts associated with waiting for treatment; a feasibility study.

FDS-BSP Pump-Priming Grant

• Guiseppe Mainas, Kings College London: Relationship between dietary habits and periodontal inflammation in a UK population.

FDS-BOS Pump-Priming Grant

• Amaar Hassan, University of Liverpool: White Spot Lesions: Impact on and Perception of children and their parents/guardians: a mixed-methods study (WSLIP).
• Beth Bradley, University of Leeds: Clinician Consensus on Patient Suitability for Surgery First Orthognathic Treatment.

FDS-BAOS Pump-Priming Grant

• Timothy Kwaskowski, University of Manchester: Bone regeneration using dental pulp stem cells in a 3D printed collagen scaffold: An in vitro study.

---

Professor Sondos Albadri, Chair of the FDS Research Committee, commented "This was my first time judging these applications for the pump priming grant and I must admit I was impressed by the high standard and the enthusiasm of early career researchers across all specialities. The collaboration with the specialists’ societies is an excellent way for the College to support research and maximise the benefits.”

Professor Sondos also highlighted her delight in awarding a one-year fellowship to Mrs Sarah McKernon, "The fellowship is an excellent way to support clinicians who are interested in a clinical academic career, and this year's worthy candidate is a testament to the College for investing in supporting oral and dental research and early career researchers.”

Thank you to the many colleagues and our lay representative, Nathan Davies, for dedicating their time and expertise to reviewing all the applications. We also extend our gratitude to the following specialist societies for generously co-funding the pump-priming grants: Association of British Academic Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, British Society of Paediatric Dentistry, British Society of Periodontology and Implant Dentistry, British Orthodontic Society and British Association of Oral Surgeons.