Oral infectious and inflammatory diseases are the most common human diseases worldwide and cause significant morbidity, impacting upon general health, wellbeing, and mortality rates. Their impact on the economy is substantial and more years of life are lost to disability from oral diseases than any other human condition. Our research is making significant inroads into understanding their pathobiology and translating this into novel treatment approaches.
Our interdisciplinary research excellence in the field of tissue regeneration and rehabilitation draws upon multi-disciplinary expertise in the biological, physical, and clinical sciences to improve current, and develop future, therapeutic solutions. Our expertise also extends beyond dentistry to the wider biomedical fields including innovative research and development of novel medical devices for biomaterials application and traumatic brain injury.
The growing strength and impact of the Dental School’s collaborative interdisciplinary research was recently highlighted in our excellent REF2021 scores. As the substantial part of Unit of Assessment 3, Dentistry, alongside Pharmacy and Nursing ranked in the 1st quartile for % 4* outputs; an increase of 25 places to 11th out of 90 higher education institutions compared with REF2014. Overall, 94% of our REF2021 return was deemed internationally excellent or world leading.
Our state-of-the-art Dental School and Hospital opened in 2016 as the first integrated, stand-alone facility of its kind in the UK for almost 40 years. The building offers 650m2 of on-site high technology laboratory space, including cell culture suites, confocal, micro-CT and scanning electron microscopy facilities, microbiology, immunology, photobiology, histology, flow cytometry, analytical chemistry, biomaterials science and molecular biology laboratories as well as a large liquid nitrogen facility for our two HTA approved tissue banks. We have two associated clinical trials suites to enable us to translate our discovery science into novel healthcare solutions.
Our clinician-basic science partnerships provide broad expertise and enable us to exploit our findings through clinical research and trials of novel diagnostics and therapeutics in collaboration with our NHS partners.
Our research is strategically organised into two overarching theme areas of ‘Clinical and Experimental Sciences’ and ‘Regeneration and Rehabilitation Sciences’, within which are seven research groups (Figure). The groups comprise expert and cognate interdisciplinary teams that operate broadly within and across theme areas. The strengths of our world-renowned teams centre upon a detailed and sound understanding of disease mechanisms, which help us develop novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for periodontal, pulpal and periradicular diseases, caries, skin and mucosal diseases, including oral cancer and are enhanced by strong local, national and international (Europe, North/South America, Far-East, Asia) collaborations.
Our focus on the scientific basis of oral and dental disease and its translation to clinical care is providing innovative solutions to important problems, significantly impacting the population and helping us to deliver our vision of “improving oral and general health for a better life”.
Our academic staff also join forces with leading global industry partners such as Unilever, Philips, GSK, Haleon, Mars, 3M and Ivoclar-Vivadent to develop and trial new products that will have health impacts far beyond dental issues, including in diabetes, heart and lung disease, rheumatoid arthritis, chronic kidney diseases, inflammatory bowel disease and also brain injury.
Research within ‘ Clinical and Experimental Sciences’ encompasses programmes of activity within which we have critical mass in-house or via collaborations within and outside the College of Medical and Dental Sciences. Programmes aim to identify and develop new and improved predictive technologies, early diagnostics and preventative therapies for patient benefit. Our research is underpinned by patient engagement and our PPIE activities span the full study design to delivery pipeline. We are making significant advances in our understanding of complex oral as well as systemic non-communicable diseases, that are being translated to impact on whole body well-being as well as oral health. Examples include:
- Periodontal Research Group – where a major strand of research is focussed on unravelling the complex stress response pathways which are active during periodontal inflammation at the molecular, cellular and clinical levels. These are also embedded into a stratified medicine approach to exploring systemic disease co-morbidity, collaboratively with medical teams and utilising the world leading clinical research infrastructure of the Inflammation Research Facility at the new Queen Elizabeth Hospital and the £25M Institute for Translational Medicine, where dental surgeries are embedded into the infrastructure. For example, we have an active collaborative programme with Dermatology funded by 3 national grants, characterising the skin microbiome, immunological and healing responses in the condition ‘epidermolysis bullosa’. We also lead an oral and intestinal health theme within Birmingham’s successful £31M NIHR Biomedical Research Centre (2022), focussing on novel diagnostics, prognostics and therapeutics in oral and inflammatory bowel diseases, employing multi-omics approaches and novel strategies for human microbiome manipulation.
- Photobiology – combining unique clinical, biological and photophysical expertise driving forward our understanding on how light regulates biological systems for patient benefit. Our studies are demonstrating how light therapy not only beneficially drives cellular and tissue repair processes as well as modulating inflammation, but also can be harnessed for its antibacterial properties. Our work currently spans several of the oral and dental disease areas within the School and wider biomedical applications such as diabetic ulceration, wound repair and traumatic brain injury. The group has received significant financial support from national funding bodies as well as industry and published patents related to the development of novel medical technologies.
Our ‘Regeneration and Rehabilitation Sciences’ research utilises cutting-edge, multidisciplinary approaches to develop new therapies for repairing, regenerating and rebuilding the human body, following damage due to disease or trauma. Driven by our world class collaborative research with the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences, we bring together biological, physical and clinical scientists to develop and translate novel therapeutic technologies. Examples include:
- Dental and Craniofacial Stem Cell Biology – Our long-standing programme on dental tissue regeneration is exploring the dentinogenic potentiality of stem/progenitor cells, their recruitment, tissue niches and matrix-mediated cell signalling. This focus is complemented by our pioneering work on engineering of a physiological-like vital pulp tissue and is based on our mechanistic studies in pulp regeneration, identification of novel signalling pathways, matrix biology, and inflammation-regeneration interaction, which is central to clinical translation. Our pioneering work using pulp stem cell secretomes in in vivo animal models for nerve regeneration is showing significant promise for future translational benefit.
- Dental and Biomaterial Sciences – The area of materials-cell/-tissue interactions and tissue engineering, which spans a range of activities aimed at clinical translation. Some examples include exploiting innovative optoengineering techniques to optimise polymerisation reactions, including 3D printing, for specific dental and biomedical applications, the development of light curable and bioactive resorbable materials and environmentally triggered “smart” materials for dental disease modulation. Biomaterials research for wider medical application includes platform technologies for hard and soft tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Work includes the development of bioactive glasses and hydrogels that have the potential to be used for stimulating bone formation and healing chronic wounds.
Our knowledge transfer and enterprise, ranging from patents to licensing technologies to spinout companies are well supported by Birmingham Enterprise, and our brand new £14 million Health Innovation Campus, which includes the Precision Health Technologies Accelerator.
Role summary
The successful candidate will demonstrate a clear vision for the direction of their future academic work and the leadership qualities required to establish, build, and sustain an internationally competitive focus in Oral Biology and related subject areas. An important factor will be the ability of the applicant to enhance the Institute, College and University’s research and teaching profile by establishing collaborations that will exploit the excellent environment for interdisciplinary research that exists in Birmingham, by:
- Delivering high-quality research outputs that contribute to innovation and impact through the growth of existing and establishment of new research programmes.
- Demonstrating strategic and operational academic leadership and a clear vision for the direction of their future academic work and the leadership qualities required to establish, build, and sustain an internationally competitive focus in oral biology and wider medical fields, as appropriate.
- Supporting and developing undergraduate and postgraduate teaching related to oral biology and incorporating their own research experience and expertise.
- Contributing to the School’s key management and administrative responsibilities, supporting the development and delivery of our academic endeavour and broader citizenship within the Institute of Clinical Sciences and wider College of Medical and Dental Sciences
Main Duties
Research
To pursue sustained research activity through original research and scholarship, including other research-related contributions through conference papers and presentations and/or consultancy projects and advice. Where appropriate for the discipline, this may include some but not all of the responsibilities listed below:
- Make a major contribution to the management of research activities
- Lead successful funding bids which develop and sustain research support for the specialist area (in disciplines where this is possible)
- Publish leading research that results in a sustained, highly respected reputation of international quality in the subject area and/or designing and developing innovative underpinning technologies
- Provide expert advice internally and externally
- Provide leadership of research that contributes to the progression of the discipline (in disciplines where this is possible)
- Referee and peer review articles for peer reviewed academic journals and grant applications by research councils and/or other major funding bodies
- Lead sustained high value impact activity in knowledge transfer and enterprise (including business engagement, public engagement) that is of manifest benefit to the College and University, and: a) makes a significant contribution to policy development at a national and international level; and/or b) involves development of industrial links and comparable networks and initiatives.
In addition, research responsibilities will include some but not necessarily all the indicative responsibilities from grade 8 listed below:
- Supervise and examine PhD students, both within the institution and externally
- Manage research activities and/or supervise other research staff
- Develop novel methodologies and techniques appropriate to the type of research being pursued
Learning and Teaching
- To support the existing Reader in Oral Biology in the design and delivery of range of teaching, assessment and feedback activities and promote all aspects of teaching of undergraduate BDS and postgraduate programmes within Oral Biology.
- To support Oral Biology colleagues in developing creative and innovative approaches to teaching and learning, ensuring that the quality of educational opportunities available to undergraduate and postgraduate taught students is continually enhanced.
- Providing support and guidance to students, acting as a personal tutor, resolving and/or referring to specialist parties where appropriate.
- To contribute at a senior level on a sustained basis in learning and teaching. Where appropriate for the discipline, this may include some but not all of the responsibilities listed below:
- Contribute to the development of new and appropriate approaches to learning and teaching. This may be underpinned by research and evaluation of teaching methods and systems.
- Act as adviser for teaching and learning methods through excellent practice and mentoring other colleagues.
- Contribute to the design and/or co-ordination of programmes or equivalent activities across the School or Department.
- Contribute to the development of teaching and learning policy, methods and standards, more widely than the School.
- Contribute to debate nationally about policy, methods and practices through publications, conference activity and roles that advance quality in the discipline.
- Contribute to the development and management of assessment strategies within the School/Department.
- Lead substantial and sustained high value impact activity in knowledge transfer and enterprise (including business engagement, public engagement) that enhances the student experience and/or employability and is of manifest benefit to learning and teaching in the College and the University. This may include the development of industrial links and comparable networks and initiatives.
Management/Administration/ Professional
To chair and/or lead activities in the Department/ School and representation on University committees or working groups. Where appropriate to the discipline, this is likely to include some but not all of the responsibilities listed below.
- Make an important contribution to the development and running of the Department or School, for example, leading activity on teaching assessment and/or on research
- Develop and manage staff and resources in support of major research and/or teaching activities
- Make important contributions to the development of the School’s research strategy and/or learning and teaching strategy
- Contribute significantly to the development and delivery of knowledge transfer, enterprise, business engagement and public engagement activities with a sustained high value impact of manifest benefit to the College and the University
- Develops and implements a culture (including policies and procedures) that promotes Equality and values diversity and inclusion.
Person Specification
Research
- A Ph.D
- An excellent national reputation and a developing international profile through significant original research work and a clear record of impact. Evidence of success under the following headings, as appropriate to the discipline:
- High level peer esteem as evidenced by
- Excellent reputation in the UK and often internationally, reflected in sustained high quality output, level of innovation, impact on subject and recognition
- An excellent and sustained record of peer reviewed research publications
- Successful and sustained supervision of doctoral students to completion
- Substantial and sustained research income generation, e.g. through research grants, contracts, research consultancy or other external funding
- Sustained high value impact knowledge transfer and enterprise that is of manifest benefit to the College and University.
Teaching
- Experience of undertaking the full range of responsibilities in relation to supervision, marking and examining to ensure students’ progress is being monitored and reported.
- Evidence of being able to teach courses at all levels (i.e. undergraduate, postgraduate) through lectures, seminars and person supervision.
- Provide academic leadership and to contribute to teaching, learning and assessment in undergraduate programmes.
Management/Administration
- Ability to become involved with the management of the School of Dentistry and to carry out other specific College and University roles and functions as may be reasonably required
- Ability to assess and organise resources effectively
- Evidence of teamworking skills
- Engage in personal training programmes in the University, which are consistent with the needs and aspirations of the individual and the College
Communication Skills
- Possess excellent interpersonal and communication skills in order to collaborate effectively in research and teaching activities
- The appointee will be a diplomatic individual who is able to converse and present their written ideas clearly. They will also possess tact and diplomacy
- Awareness of Equality & Diversity
- Ability to adapt to changing circumstances & cope well with pressure
- Honesty, integrity, appreciation of ethical issuesBe responsible for the design content of areas of teaching material.
Informal enquires to Kirsty Hill, email: k.b.hill@bham.ac.uk
Valuing excellence, sustaining investment
We value diversity and inclusion at the University of Birmingham and welcome applications from all sections of the community and are open to discussions around all forms of flexible working .