One of the seven priority areas for action in oral health is to improve the research, monitoring and evaluation of oral health, and oral health services. While many of the challenges for oral health in New Zealand are similar to those in other western countries, it is important to understand our context for the issues, and to monitor and evaluate efforts to reduce inequalities in oral health, improve the workforce, and deliver appropriate oral health services and oral health promotion programmes.

For this purpose, in 2007, the Ministry of Health established a funding programme of $100,000 per annum for initial three years. This funding is now extended for another three years. This funding is managed by the NZDA and its Research Foundation. Priority is given to oral health research that targets children and adolescents; people of all ages with physical, intellectual, behavioural, or cognitive disabilities, or who are medically compromised; people experiencing inequalities of outcome (e.g. Maori, Pacific and low-income populations); and older adults. Research could also focus on promoting oral health, building links with primary care and building the oral health workforce. Research may also focus on Maternal Oral Health as identified in the Ministry of Health's report Maternal and Child Oral Health  - Systematic Review and Analysis.

Closing date for applications is 30 April 2012.

If you are interested in applying for the 2012 grant round, please view the links below.