Advancing a Global Oral Health Research Agenda

Abstract

National oral health research strategies (NOHRSs) are increasingly recognized as critical mechanisms for aligning oral health research with public health needs, strengthening health systems, and advancing the World Health Organization’s (WHO’s) vision of “oral health for all.” They are also pivotal for accelerating global progress toward Strategic Objective 6 of the WHO Global Oral Health Action Plan 2023–2030, which calls for the development of public health–oriented national research agendas. While global momentum for NOHRS development is growing, countries remain at markedly different stages of readiness and implementation. To support coordinated international progress, a satellite workshop was convened at the International Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research (IADR) General Session and Pan European (PER) Congress in Barcelona, Spain, in June 2025. The workshop brought together invited participants, policymakers, and researchers representing diverse geographic, economic, and governance contexts. Drawing on a preworkshop survey, invited workshop presentations, and structured breakout discussions, this article synthesizes key insights and lessons learned.

Background of the International National Oral Health Research Strategies Workshop at the 2025 IADR/PER General Session and Exhibition

Objective 6 of the Global Strategy and Action Plan on Oral Health (GSAPOH) 2023–2030 calls for 50% of countries to establish a national oral health research agenda focused on public health and population-based interventions by 2030 (World Health Organization [WHO] 2024). This objective reflects growing recognition of national oral health research strategies (NOHRSs) as essential investments across the research spectrum, including health systems and health services research, prevention, surveillance, and equity-focused evidence. NOHRSs are also critical for integrating oral health within broader health agendas and advancing the WHO vision of “oral health for all.” As of 2023, 18% of countries reported having achieved this target (WHO 2025).

Prior to the GSAPOH, several countries had initiated national efforts to articulate oral health research priorities. Brazil established its National Oral Health Policy (Brasil Sorridente) in 2004, embedding oral health within a broader public health framework (Pucca Junior et al 2009). In the United Kingdom, the James Lind Alliance Priority Setting Partnership, supported by the National Institute for Health and Care Research, engaged patients, carers, clinicians, and researchers to identify oral research priorities, informed by evidence syntheses conducted by the Cochrane Oral Health (National Institute for Health and Care Research 2018). Iran published a national oral health research needs assessment in 2019 (Rafie et al 2019), while the United States released the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research Strategic Plan for 2021–2026 (National Institutes of Health National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research 2022). More recently, Peru identified national oral health research priorities in 2023 (Echevarria-Goche et al 2023), and Canada launched its NOHRSs in 2024 (Rock et al 2025).

Despite this growing momentum, countries remain at markedly different stages of readiness. Some have mature strategies, others are in planning phases, and many are seeking to initiate the process. Existing strategies also differ significantly in scope and structure. In Brazil, oral health research priorities are embedded within a broader national health strategy. In the United Kingdom, the process focused on a research priority-setting exercise. In the United States, it forms part of a broader dental and craniofacial research strategy. To address this heterogeneity and promote global alignment, a satellite workshop was convened at the International Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research (IADR) General Session and Exhibition/ Pan European Region (PER) Congress in Barcelona, Spain, in June 2025.

The overarching objective of the workshop was to promote and enable the creation, advancement, and implementation of NOHRSs globally. Specific aims were to 1) facilitate the exchange of shared and context-specific experiences to identify best practices; 2) map and leverage existing programs, institutes, and research infrastructures that bridge oral and general health; 3) support countries at varying stages of readiness; 4) explore the establishment of an international consortium dedicated to NOHRS advancement; 5) generate collective input to support the WHO GSAPOH to advance global oral health research capacity; and 6) identify alliances with established organizations such as the IADR, the World Dental Federation (FDI), and the WHO.

Structure and Participation

The satellite workshop took place on June 24, 2025, and included 24 participants from Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, India, Iran, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Nigeria, Peru, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Primary consideration was given to individuals who had led previously published NOHRSs in Brazil, Iran, Peru, the United Kingdom, and the United States, as well as those leading emerging initiatives in Germany and Ireland. Representation was also sought from relevant organizations and from patient and community groups. Disciplinary diversity was considered across dental hygiene, dentistry, and both fundamental and applied research.

Because initial representation was largely from the Americas and Europe, additional invitations were extended to leaders in Africa, India, the Far East, Southeast Asia, and Australia. Participation, particularly for invitees from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) or those geographically distant from Barcelona, was constrained by the absence of travel funding for the workshop. Attendance was therefore largely limited to individuals already funded to attend the IADR conference. Invitees were identified using these criteria through a pragmatic approach prioritizing individuals and organizations engaged in NOHRSs already attending IADR. While this introduced limitations, particularly in LMIC representation, the workshop was not intended as a systematically sampled research study but rather a timely initiative to advance Objective 6 of the WHO GSAPOH.

To gather information and promote participant engagement, a participant survey was distributed in April 2025, and a preworkshop meeting was held on May 28, 2025. A brief description of the survey and its results is provided in the Appendix.

Presentations

Presentations were made illustrating the continuum of NOHRS development across countries, from early conceptualization to advanced implementation (Table). They highlighted substantial heterogeneity in governance, funding mechanisms, research infrastructure, and policy integration.

Table.

Summary of NOHRS Development Stages and Stakeholder Perspectives Presented at the Workshop.

Country/Stakeholder	Stage of NOHRS Development	Key Characteristics
Brazil	Advanced implementation	Established national governance structures; sustained funding mechanisms; strong integration within broader health research systems
Peru	Early implementation	Foundational partnerships established; institutional mobilization underway
Germany	Starting phase	Initial development efforts focused on aligning oral health research priorities with digital health and health systems research
Ireland	Early consideration	Exploratory consultations and situational analyses to inform potential strategy structure and scope
CIHR (Canada)	National research funder perspective	Emphasis on cross-sectoral collaboration and alignment with existing health research priorities
Patient and public contributors (United Kingdom, Spain)	Cross-cutting stakeholder input	Advocacy for patient engagement, equity, and contextual sensitivity in research agenda setting
WHO, IADR, FDI	International organizations	Support for international collaboration, capacity development, and advancement of the WHO GSAPOH

CIHR, Canadian Institutes of Health Research; FDI, World Dental Federation; GSAPOH, Global Strategy and Action Plan on Oral Health; IADR, International Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research; NOHRS, national oral health research strategy; WHO, World Health Organization.

Brazil presented an advanced strategy characterized by strong governance structures, sustained funding mechanisms, and integration within broader health research frameworks. Peru described an early implementation context, emphasizing foundational partnership and emerging institutional support but limited human resources and funding. Germany presented a strategy in its development phase, which is acknowledged but not officially mandated by the National Health Ministry. It has involved national oral and craniofacial research societies (DGZMK and affiliate societies), the German dental chamber (Bundeszahnaerztekammer), and the National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Dentists (KZBV). After an initial workshop, working groups are writing texts around principal themes. Ireland described an exploratory phase in which consultations and situational analyses will inform a future national oral health research strategy reflecting the objectives of the inaugural Irish national government research strategy, Curiosity, Capability and Competitiveness. The existing oral health research agenda commenced in 2015 and focused on the need for research to support the government-mandated National Oral Health policy actions. The new research strategy will be broader and integrated with research across other government departments.

Following these examples, additional perspectives were provided by key stakeholder groups. A Canadian Institutes of Health Research representative presented the perspective of a national research funder, underscoring the importance of cross-sectoral collaboration and alignment with existing health research priorities. Patient and community perspectives were shared by contributors from the United Kingdom and Spain, who emphasized equitable participation and contextual sensitivity in shaping research agendas. International organizations were represented by participants from the WHO, IADR, and FDI, each highlighting the importance of international collaboration, capacity development, and coordinated support for national strategies.

Collectively, these presentations illustrated diverse yet convergent global efforts to establish NOHRS frameworks. They also highlighted the value of shared learning, partnership, and alignment between national initiatives and global policy frameworks in advancing the goal of “oral health for all.”

Following the presentations, participants engaged in small-group discussions to generate ideas aligned with the workshop’s objectives and goals. Key themes emerging from these discussions are summarized below.

Discussion Summary

Exchange of Experiences and Identification of Best Practices

Participants shared perspectives reflecting different stages of NOHRS development and implementation. These discussions underscored the importance of flexibility, contextual adaptation, and continuous stakeholder engagement throughout the strategy life cycle. Early identification and engagement of key stakeholders, including funders and decision-makers, was highlighted as critical for ensuring alignment between research agendas and national priorities. Participants also noted that in many countries, there may be no single unified research plan but rather multiple parallel initiatives across the public, not-for-profit, and private sectors, adding further complexity to the development of NOHRS.

Discussion converged on the identification of core content priorities essential to NOHRS design, including the establishment of robust oral health surveillance systems to monitor inequalities, disease trends, and intervention effectiveness. Participants emphasized incorporating patient-centered outcomes and economic evaluations to enhance relevance for health system decision-makers. Integrating oral health metrics into broader population health surveys was viewed as a pivotal mechanism for positioning oral health within general health priorities. Emerging research areas, including artificial intelligence, antimicrobial resistance, and sustainability, were identified as strategic frontiers. Participants further emphasized the need to examine sugar-related policies, alongside conducting cost-effectiveness analyses, to assess the impact and value of proposed interventions. This discussion also highlighted the need to be cognizant of potential conflicts of interest if the commercial sector is involved.

Recognizing the diversity of populations and demographic transitions, there was a shared understanding that NOHRS frameworks must reflect population heterogeneity, including aging, immigration, and socioeconomic disparities. Implementation research was also highlighted as essential for translating evidence-based interventions into policy and practice.

Leveraging Existing Programs and Research Infrastructures

Building on the GSAPOH, participants discussed how NOHRSs can capitalize on existing national and international infrastructures to strengthen integration across health domains. It was noted that oral health research remains underrepresented in multidisease surveillance systems and general health datasets, limiting opportunities to demonstrate the impact of oral health interventions on systemic outcomes. Embedding oral health measures within ongoing health research initiatives, such as those in primary care, chronic disease surveillance, or national biomonitoring programs, was viewed as critical for alignment and advocacy.

The workshop also highlighted the value of including decision-makers and policymakers in NOHRS processes, with “report-back” mechanisms to illustrate the societal and economic returns of oral health research. This bidirectional communication was considered vital for securing sustained governmental investment and institutional accountability.

Supporting Countries at Varying Stages of Readiness

Participants recognized that countries are at differing levels of readiness, ranging from initial awareness-building to advanced implementation. As such, capacity-building emerged as a recurring theme. For LMICs, infrastructure development, training, and international mentorship were identified as priorities to enable meaningful engagement and co-creation. It was further recognized that, although NOHRS priority areas may differ across settings, in certain parts of the world, the development of regional, as opposed to national, strategies may represent a more efficient use of limited resources.

To guide emerging strategies, methodological recommendations included the use of Delphi-style consensus processes to identify national priorities, scoping and systematic reviews to synthesize existing evidence, and public engagement mechanisms to ensure legitimacy and relevance. Discussions emphasized that research agendas should not be static lists but rather dynamic, iterative frameworks responsive to evolving health system contexts. Basic science research was seen as integral to this process, providing a mechanistic understanding to complement applied health research questions.

Participants also called attention to the need for effective leadership structure, transparent communication, and implementation-focused planning to ensure that strategies move beyond aspirational documents toward actionable programs.

Toward an International NOHRS Consortium

A strong consensus emerged regarding the value of forming an international NOHRS consortium to coordinate global efforts and share tools, methodologies, and resources. Such a consortium could serve as a mechanism for mutual learning and collective advocacy, especially when facing barriers to political and stakeholder support and sustained capacity-building (Baker et al 2025). To support the operationalization of this proposed consortium, participants noted the value of outlining a minimal governance structure, including an initial leadership model, clear criteria for country participation, and a definition of the consortium’s early functions.

Participants proposed that the consortium include diverse stakeholder groups, including researchers, educators, professionals, governments, patients, community representatives, funders, and global health agencies. The inclusion of patients and community members was seen as essential to ensuring equity, accountability, and legitimacy consistent with the WHO’s principles of community participation in health governance. Examples such as patient speakers at IADR meetings, public involvement in dental school initiatives, and organizations emerging to support the health of marginalized people were cited as illustrations of how public voices can be actively integrated into oral health research.

Participants noted that representation of gender diversity and women’s leadership in oral health advocacy, particularly among patient public contributors, should be intentionally strengthened with any consortium governance structure.

Supporting WHO GSAPOH and Advancing Global Oral Health Research Capacity

Participants collectively called for the creation of a globally informed framework to support the WHO and partners’ efforts and support countries in developing national research strategies. The proposed plan would include a glossary of shared terminology, a template for adaptable research agendas, and a repository of national NOHRS case studies.

Short-term recommendations included circulating the workshop summary for feedback, convening a follow-up meeting, and preparing a scoping review, potentially supported by Cochrane Oral Health, to map the global landscape of oral health research strategies. Mid-term goals included developing regional support groups, hosting webinars through IADR and WHO regional networks, and embedding NOHRS training within graduate curricula to cultivate the next generation of research leaders (D’Souza and Lipton 2025).

In the long term, participants envisioned an internationally coordinated mechanism to sustain funding, training, and infrastructure in LMICs; define and report shared indicators of progress; and ensure that oral health research contributes meaningfully to broader global health policy. Participants emphasized the importance of metrics to assess the impact of research on population health. While process measures such as bibliometric citations and patents serve as useful proxies for research productivity and innovation, there remains a critical gap in tools that capture translation into products, services, or policies to improve population health.

Aligning with Existing Organizations

Finally, participants highlighted the necessity of aligning NOHRS activities with existing international entities to avoid duplication, leverage resources, and enhance impact (Gallagher et al 2025). Collaboration among the IADR, Cochrane, FDI, and WHO was identified as critical for harmonizing definitions, mobilizing expertise, and coordinating advocacy efforts. The Figure provides a draft framework to illustrate the thinking of workshop participants on steps to move this initiative forward.

Figure.

Thematic progression from local national oral health research strategy experiences to global coordination and integration.

These organizations were viewed as natural conveners capable of bridging academic, clinical, policy, and community sectors. Participants also noted that such alliances could facilitate joint webinars, shared repositories of evidence syntheses, and coordinated representation in WHO and United Nations policy forums. This alignment would ensure that NOHRS implementation efforts contribute to the overarching vision of “oral health for all” articulated by the WHO (2024).

Next Steps and Strategic Recommendations

To translate workshop outcomes into sustainable international progress, participants discussed a series of coordinated short-, medium-, and long-term actions (Appendix Table 1). These recommendations aim to maintain postworkshop momentum, support participating countries at varying stages of NOHRS development, and foster global alignment in oral health research planning. Immediate actions emphasize coordination and foundational work to ensure shared terminology and evidence synthesis. Medium-term goals focus on capacity-building and integration within educational and professional structures. The long-term vision advances toward an enduring, collaborative framework that embeds oral health research within global health agendas and ensures equitable participation of LMICs. All suggestions were made in the absence of formally committed funding or dedicated resources. Nonetheless, there was commitment to continue discussions through IADR meetings and for Cochrane to explore supporting literature reviews aligned with NOHRS processes, recognizing that many priorities overlap across countries and regions.

Conclusion

While it is important to acknowledge the methodological and analytical limitations of our approach, this NOHRS workshop was an important pragmatic step in advancing global dialogue around NOHRS development. Participants articulated a commitment to advancing a collaborative, inclusive, and evidence-informed global framework. The establishment of an international consortium and sustained engagement with the WHO and IADR represent critical next steps toward translating shared vision into an operational platform capable of strengthening global oral health research capacity and equity.

Author Contributions

L.D. Rock, contributed to conception and design, data acquisition, and interpretation, drafted and critically revised the manuscript; S.M. Balaji, H. Benzian, L. Cohen, E. Collado-González, D.S. Cruz, R.N. D’Souza, A. Echevarria-Goche, L. Giner-Tarrida, E. Figuero, M.O. Foláyan, J.E. Gallagher, A.M. Glenny, N.S. Jakubovics, M.R. Khami, P. Leggett, M.C. Manzanares, C. Paganelli, S. Pavitt, M.A. Peres, J.A. Platt, S. Sharma, D.E. Slot, S. Tubert-Jeannin, B. Varenne, P.C. Yelick, contributed to acquisition and interpretation, critically revised the manuscript; C.H. Fox, D. Kavanagh, H. Mulhall, contributed to conception and design, data acquisition and interpretation, critically revised the manuscript; F. Schwendicke, P.J. Allison, contributed to conception and design, data acquisition and interpretation, drafted and critically revised the manuscript. All authors gave final approval and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Supplemental Material

sj-docx-1-jdr-10.1177_00220345261453872 – Supplemental material for Advancing a Global Oral Health Research Agenda

Supplemental material, sj-docx-1-jdr-10.1177_00220345261453872 for Advancing a Global Oral Health Research Agenda by L.D. Rock, S.M. Balaji, H. Benzian, L. Cohen, E. Collado-González, D.S. Cruz, R.N. D’Souza, A. Echevarria-Goche, L. Giner-Tarrida, E. Figuero, M.O. Foláyan, C.H. Fox, J.E. Gallagher, A.M. Glenny, N.S. Jakubovics, D. Kavanagh, M.R. Khami, P. Leggett, M.C. Manzanares, H. Mulhall, C. Paganelli, S. Pavitt, M.A. Peres, J.A. Platt, S. Sharma, D.E. Slot, F. Schwendicke, S. Tubert-Jeannin, B. Varenne, P.C. Yelick and P.J. Allison in Journal of Dental Research