Oral and Dental Research

Since 2008 the Faculty of Dental Surgery has been committed to promoting oral and dental surgery research. This year, the Faculty has formed partnerships with the British Orthodontic Society, the Association of British Academic Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, the British and Irish Society for Oral Medicine, the British Society of Paediatric Dentistry, the British Society of Periodontology and Implant Dentistry, the British Society for Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, the British Association of Oral Surgeons and the Society for the Advancement of Anaesthesia in Dentistry, and will be offering a number of pump-priming grants and a fellowship.

• If you would like any information or have any questions, please email the Faculty office  

Pump-priming grants 2026

Applications for the 2026 awards are now open. Closing date: Monday 10 November at 5pm.

Applicants will be informed of the outcome of this first stage application process by the end of November/early December 2025 and successful applicants will be invited to submit a more detailed 2nd stage application (for which the closing date will be Monday 9 February 2026 at 5pm).

Please find the Stage 1 application form here

Please read the following information before completing the online application form

Applicants can apply for an award funded by the Faculty of Dental Surgery and/or for a co-funded award funded by the Faculty of Dental Surgery and one of the specialty associations. Eligibility details may vary slightly between co funders, so please check the undernoted information relating to any grant for which you apply.

The following grants are available for application this year:

FDS (Faculty of Dental Surgery)

The grant is worth a maximum of £10,000 and aims to support clinicians/researchers at the early stages of their career (e.g. pre-doctoral). 

Applicants must be a fellow or member of FDS at the time of the second stage application unless they are dental care professionals who are not eligible. All fellows and members are required to pay an annual subscription to RCS England.

FDS-ABAOMS (Association of British Academic Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons)

The FDS RCSEng-ABAOMS pump-priming grants will be for up to £10,000 and are intended to support research that supports Oral and Maxillofacial surgery. Applicants should be in early stages of a research career (e.g. pre-doctoral). Applicants may be working in any field of dentistry, but must be members of ABAOMS. 

Applicants need not be a Fellow or Member of FDS RCS England at the time of the stage 1 application. However, if successful in being invited to apply for stage 2, and not already a member or fellow of FDS RCS England, the applicant will be required to apply to the Awards Committee for the award of Fellow or Member ad Eundem if eligible, and take up FDS RCS England membership before submitting a stage 2 application. If fellowship or membership is offered, they will be expected to pay an annual subscription to RCS England for the duration of the grant. Those who are not eligible for membership (e.g. DCPs) can hold the grant without FDS RCS England membership.

FDS-BISOM (British and Irish Society for Oral Medicine)

Additionally, applicants must be a member or fellow of RCS England (see note1 below) unless they are dental care professionals who are not eligible for FDS membership. 

Note 1

Those eligible for membership need not be need not be a Fellow or Member of FDS RCS England at the time of the stage 1 application. However, if successful in being invited to apply for stage 2, and not already a member or fellow of FDS RCS England, the applicant will be required to apply to the Awards Committee for the award of Fellow or Member ad Eundem if eligible, and take up FDS RCS England membership before submitting a stage 2 application. If fellowship or membership is offered, they will be expected to pay an annual subscription to RCS England for the duration of the grant.

On completion of their research project, successful applicants will be expected to present their research at a BISOM conference. 

FDS-BSPD (British Society for Paediatric Dentistry)

The FDS-BSPD Pump-Priming grants will be for up to £10,000 and are intended to support research into the oral health of children in the broadest sense.  Applicants should be in early stages of a research career (e.g. pre-doctoral). Applicants may be working in any field of dentistry, but must be members of BSPD.  Successful applicants are expected to remain members of BSPD for 3 years following the award of the grant.  On completion of their research project, successful applicants will be expected to present their research at a BSPD or other relevant conference within 2 years.  

Applicants need not be a Fellow or Member of FDS RCS England at the time of the stage 1 application. However, if successful in being invited to apply for stage 2, and not already a member or fellow of FDS RCS England, the applicant will be required to apply to the Awards Committee for the award of Fellow or Member ad Eundem if eligible, and take up FDS RCS England membership before submitting a stage 2 application. If fellowship or membership is offered, they will be expected to pay an annual subscription to RCS England for the duration of the grant. Those who are not eligible for membership (e.g. DCPs) can hold the grant without FDS RCS England membership.

FDS-BSP (British Society for Periodontology and Implant Dentistry)

The FDS-BSP Pump-Priming grant will be for up to £10,000 and are intended to support research into periodontal disease in the broadest sense. Applicants should be in early stages of a research career (e.g. pre-doctoral). Applicants may be working in any field of dentistry, but must be members of BSP.  Successful applicants may be expected to present their research at a BSP conference. 

If eligible for FDS RCS England membership, applicants must be a Fellow or Member of FDS RCS England at the time of submitting a stage 2 application. Before submitting a stage 2 application, applicants not already a Fellow or Member of FDS RCS England should apply to the Awards Committee for the award of Fellow or Member ad Eundem if eligible. If fellowship or membership is offered, they will be expected to pay an annual subscription to RCS England for the duration of the grant. Those who are not eligible for membership (e.g. DCPs) can hold the grant without FDS RCS England membership. 

The funding should be spent within 24 months of the grant being awarded to ensure that the research is completed in a timely and accountable manner. Any underspend of the grant at the end of the 24-month period must be returned to the funder, unless there are extenuating circumstances. A report detailing the project outcomes and expenditure is mandatory at the end of the 12-month funding period. 

FDS-BOS (British Orthodontic Society)

The FDS-BOS Pump-Priming grants will be for up to £10,000 and are intended to support research into orthodontics.  Applicants should be in early stages of a research career (e.g. pre-doctoral). Applicants may be working in any field of dentistry, but must be members of BOS.  Successful applicants are expected to remain members of BOS for 3 years following the award of the grant.  On completion of their research project, successful applicants will be expected to present their research at a BOS conference within 2 years. 

Applicants need not be a Fellow or Member of FDS RCS England at the time of the stage 1 application. However, if successful in being invited to apply for stage 2, and not already a member or fellow of FDS RCS England, the applicant will be required to apply to the Awards Committee for the award of Fellow or Member ad Eundem if eligible, and take up FDS RCS England membership before submitting a stage 2 application. If fellowship or membership is offered, they will be expected to pay an annual subscription to RCS England for the duration of the grant. Those who are not eligible for membership (e.g. DCPs) can hold the grant without FDS RCS England membership.

FDS-BSOMP (British Society for Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology)

The FDS RCSEng-BSOMP pump-priming grants will be for up to £10,000 and are intended to support research in oral and maxillofacial pathology. Applicants should be in early stages of a research career (e.g. pre-doctoral). Applicants may be working in any field of dentistry, but must be members of BSOMP. 

Applicants need not be a Fellow or Member of FDS RCS England at the time of the stage 1 application. However, if successful in being invited to apply for stage 2, and not already a member or fellow of FDS RCS England, the applicant will be required to apply to the Awards Committee for the award of Fellow or Member ad Eundem if eligible, and take up FDS RCS England membership before submitting a stage 2 application. If fellowship or membership is offered, they will be expected to pay an annual subscription to RCS England for the duration of the grant. Those who are not eligible for membership (e.g. DCPs) can hold the grant without FDS RCS England membership.
Applicants need to be a trainee member of the BSOMP based in the UK and/or Ireland and undertaking training in diagnostic oral and maxillofacial pathology. OMFP Trainees who are out of programme and currently undertaking a PhD (not completed), are also eligible to apply.

FDS-BAOS (British Association of Oral Surgeons)

The FDS-BAOS Pump-Priming grants will be for up to £10,000 and are intended to support research into oral surgery in the broadest sense.  Applicants should be in early stages of a research career (e.g. pre-doctoral). Applicants may be working in any field of dentistry, but must be members of BAOS.  Successful applicants are expected to remain members of BAOS for 3 years following the award of the grant.  On completion of their research project, successful applicants will be expected to present their research at a BAOS conference within 2 years. 

Applicants need not be a Fellow or Member of FDS RCS England at the time of the stage 1 application. However, if successful in being invited to apply for stage 2, and not already a member or fellow of FDS RCS England, the applicant will be required to apply to the Awards Committee for the award of Fellow or Member ad Eundem if eligible, and take up FDS RCS England membership before submitting a stage 2 application. If fellowship or membership is offered, they will be expected to pay an annual subscription to RCS England for the duration of the grant. Those who are not eligible for membership (e.g. DCPs) can hold the grant without FDS RCS England membership.

Video stories from past FDS Fellowship and pump-priming grant recipients.

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The Academy of Medical Royal Colleges have published a statement and recommendations about mitigating the impact of COVID-19 on research and clinical academia.