Research
University of Glasgow Dental School Research Strategy 2010 – 2014
Introduction
The significant improvement in the result of the recent RAE exercise (RAE 2008) was a major achievement for Glasgow Dental School. It is now essential that we build upon this success by refining our current research strategy in a way that will result in further and continuing quality enhancement. The importance of a good result in the forthcoming Research Excellence Framework (REF) cannot be over-stated, and attention to the likely nature of that exercise should be an important backdrop to our strategic vision and direction.
In order to be successful at an international level, present-day biomedical and healthcare research requires not only academic expertise, but also significant financial and infrastructural resources. Dental schools are relatively small research organisations and there are significant dangers for individual schools if they attempt to undertake research in too many subject areas, without clear focus. The key requirements are to develop critical mass, collaboration and interdisciplinary working. Furthermore, the REF will require us to demonstrate the relevance of our research outputs to society, and will rate highly the value of applied and translational research.
Objectives
The objectives of this revised Research Strategy are:
- To maintain and strengthen the three existing research groups of Biotechnology & Craniofacial Sciences, Community Oral Health and Infection & Immunity, but to focus their scope of research to ensure that each has a small number of clearly defined themes for which there will be national and international recognition.
- To develop a strong Dental Education Research Group that will focus on assessment of novel teaching methods and digital educational technologies in dentistry.
- To ensure that the Dental School Research Strategy is well integrated with the Scottish Strategy for Oral Health Research and relevant strategies of the University of Glasgow.
- To enhance the quality of our research outputs by developing strong interdisciplinary collaborations locally, nationally and internationally.
- To increase the volume of high quality research council funding.
- To increase the number of PhD students and post-doctoral researchers.
Individual Reseach Group Strategies
Download the overview of research strategy (pdf, 169kb).