The BBS were excited to announce the recent grant win to researchers at the University of Dundee School of Dentistry. The grant totalling £24,612.00 will help conduct an important first step in improving (Oral) healthcare for people who are born with the rare and challenging condition of Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI).
Winners of the charity award are from the School of Dentistry; University of Dundee and they were thrilled to pick up the grant award. Lead researchers, Dr Niall McGoldrick, clinical lecturer and honorary consultant in dental public health and Dr Heather Cassie, The project is a four phase multi-method project that aims to improve dental care pathways for people with OI.
Dr McGoldrick said “People with experience of brittle bone disease have expressed that more is needed to improve their access to dental services and to find better ways to treat and prevent dental disease. Our research will work with people with lived experience and with dentists to explore the barriers to accessing care and how best to improve it. Ultimately this research will improve dental care for people with brittle bone disease by making it more accessible and inclusive.”
Joining Dr McGoldrick in leading the project is Dr Heather Cassie, Dr Cassie cited a quote from the Charity’s literature – from young Lucy stating: ‘I hope access to dentists and other essential care gets easier for us all. I hope that things will be better as I grow up’. Dr Cassie continued: “Our research will bring together the existing international literature on clinical interventions and oral health promotion. Our research will listen to people with OI and to dental teams to find ways to practically improve dental care pathways using lived experience as a key driver.
Patricia Osborne, CEO of the Brittle Bone Society said “With this win going to the local University of Dundee, we’re very pleased and this will be the first Dental programme our Scientific Advisory Board has selected. The win caused smiles all around and was further endorsed by Trustee Yvonne Gant who said “The OI community definitely place oral care as a top priority “People with experience of brittle bone disease have expressed that more is needed to improve their access to dental services and to find better ways to treat and prevent dental disease”.
Pictured receiving the winning cheque at the BBS HQ, Dr McGoldrick and Dr Cassie were presented with the Research Grant award of £24,612.00 by Trustee Yvonne Grant, who is daughter of the founding member the Late Dr Margaret Grant MBE – alongside Patricia Osborne CEO.
