UK roadmap targets recovery in dental research workforce
Five-year plan seeks to restore at least 75 research-active academic posts
A Dental Schools Council report seeks to restore at least 75 full-time-equivalent research-active academic posts over five years. Chaired by Newcastle University's Professor Chris Vernazza, it reports that dental clinical academic posts fell from 435 in 2005 to 360 in 2025.
The UK-wide roadmap proposes flexible careers, stronger mentoring and improved employment conditions and pay parity. It highlights underrepresentation of primary care dentists and dental care professionals in research. A dedicated taskforce will oversee implementation, with review by the Office for Strategic Coordination of Health Research.
Why this matters for policymakers
- Accountability Published workforce measures could help Parliament assess progress towards the five-year target.
- Career stability Delivery will require scrutiny of insecure posts, service pressures and research opportunities.
- Broader participation Widening research access could strengthen evidence relevant to primary care and underserved communities.
Read the original announcement.
Image: Illustrative dental surgery and chair; not a photograph of the roadmap authors or participating researchers. SFD John, CC BY 4.0. Resized and converted to JPEG for display.