Building research careers at 91̽»¨

The School of Clinical Dentistry is supporting two primary care dentists who have just been awarded prestigious NIHR In-Practice Research Fellowships.

James Bird and Sarah Young
James Bird (left) and Sarah Young will start their fellowships in autumn 2022

These fellowships are awarded to medical and dental clinicians who have the potential to make a difference in primary healthcare through research. James Bird (Community Dentist, The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust) and Sarah Young (Hafren House Dental Practice) will be starting their research in autumn 2022 and for the next 30 months will split their time equally between clinical positions and their academic training.

Sarah Young will assess the acceptability of intraoral cameras for oral health education in children with caries. This will involve a scoping review and data collection in general dental practices. She will also be studying for a Masters in Dental Public Health. Sarah is supervised by Professor Zoe Marshman and Dr Diana Papaionnou.

James Bird will be investigating how oral health effects the day-to-day lives of adults with learning disabilities. He will have the opportunity to build on the Patient and Public Involvement work he has already undertaken to start the process of developing a tool to measure the oral health related quality of life of adults with learning disabilities. The fellowship will also allow James to undertake some specific research training. He will be supervised by Professor Zoe Marshman, Professor Sarah Baker and Dr Liz Croot