Research Grants
Applicants were encouraged to collaborate with other research groups in the University of Liverpool in order to build the School of Dentistry’s research capability and portfolio. Applications were externally reviewed with an approved marking system and then awarded through the LDAA Sub-Research Committee. All members of clinical and academic staff employed by the Dental School or Dental Hospital were eligible to apply. If they were not a member of the Liverpool Dental Alumni Association, they needed to involve a current dental student in their application. Successful applicants are expected to provide an overview of their research at the LDAA meeting prior to the annual WH Gilmour Memorial Lecture.
Applications are now closed for 2026. Read about the successful research projects below:
Study on Photobiomodulation Therapy
The first recipient of the Research Grant is an exciting new research project led by Dr Caroline McCarthy and Mr Francis O'Neill at the University of Liverpool’s School of Dentistry. The study, titled The ACCEPT-PBMT Study: Capturing Real-World UK Patient Perspectives on Photobiomodulation Therapy in Oral Diseases, aims to explore how patients experience and perceive a promising non-invasive treatment for chronic oral conditions.
Chronic oral mucosal and orofacial pain disorders, including oral lichen planus, recurrent aphthous stomatitis, temporomandibular disorders, and burning mouth syndrome, affect a significant proportion of the population and can have a profound impact on quality of life. Current treatments often rely on long-term medications, which may provide incomplete relief and can be associated with unwanted side effects.
Photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT), a light-based treatment using red or near-infrared wavelengths, has emerged internationally as a safe, non-invasive approach that may reduce inflammation, promote healing, and alleviate pain. Despite growing evidence supporting its effectiveness, PBMT is not yet widely implemented in routine UK clinical practice largely due to a lack of UK-based data on patient acceptability and feasibility.
The ACCEPT-PBMT study will address this gap by recruiting 60 patients from Liverpool University Dental Hospital who are living with one of these chronic conditions. Participants will undergo a short course of PBMT delivered as part of their care, before sharing their experiences through questionnaires, interviews, and focus groups.
A key feature of the study is its strong emphasis on patient involvement. Participants will help co-design accessible, patient-centred information materials to support future implementation of PBMT in NHS settings. This collaborative approach will ensure that patient perspectives shape not only the research findings but also how the therapy may be introduced into routine care.
The study will generate valuable insights into the acceptability, practicality, and perceived benefits of PBMT, as well as identifying potential barriers to its adoption. These findings will form the foundation for future large-scale clinical trials and funding applications, with the long-term aim of integrating PBMT into NHS treatment pathways.
With a 12-month timeline and support from the LDAA, this project represents an important step towards developing safer, patient-centred, non-pharmacological treatment options for individuals living with chronic oral disease. The LDAA’s support of this work highlights the vital role that alumni funding plays in enabling early-stage, high-impact research and fostering innovation within the Liverpool School of Dentistry.
New research to strengthen inclusive dental care
A new research project led by Dr Janine Yazdi-Doughty, Dr Gemma Ahearne, and Dr Heather Raison and involving dental students Stef Ryder-Walker, Posey Jolly and Heni Nagy, is building on pioneering work exploring the oral health experiences of women involved in sex work in Liverpool. Focus groups with Liverpool dental students identified a lack of confidence when communicating with socially excluded and marginalised groups. Therefore, this new research project seeks to improve how dental students communicate with people from Inclusion Health groups including sex workers, people experiencing homelessness, and people who use drugs.
The new study will move this work from understanding experiences to improving practice. The project will explore outreach-based learning opportunities and examine how direct engagement with Inclusion Health and other vulnerable populations influences students' communication skills, cultural competence and confidence. Researchers will work with colleagues from Brownlow Medical Centre and the Universities of Plymouth and Dundee to learn from established outreach educational programmes and evaluate the development of a new outreach module at Liverpool.
The project will produce practical educational resources, including guidance on trauma-informed and stigma-aware communication, alongside short films co-developed with lived-experience contributors. Ultimately, the aim is to equip future dental professionals with the skills, empathy and understanding needed to provide more inclusive and equitable care for underserved communities.
By bringing together lived experience, student learning and educational innovation, this work represents an important step towards reducing oral health inequalities and ensuring that every patient feels respected, understood and able to access the care they need.
Please direct any questions relating to the Research Grants to Lee Cooper (Technical Supervisor and Research Support Administrator in the School of Dentistry): Lee.Cooper@liverpool.ac.uk.
Back to: Alumni