The Borrow Foundation was delighted to support the BASCD–Borrow Foundation Early Career Poster Awards at the British Association for the Study of Community Dentistry (BASCD) Summer Scientific Meeting, held in Chester on 18–19 June 2026.
The awards recognise and encourage the next generation of researchers and practitioners working to improve oral health and reduce inequalities. This year’s competition attracted a high standard of submissions, showcasing innovative research spanning prevention, service delivery and public health policy.
Margaret Woodward, Programme Coordinator at The Borrow Foundation, presented the awards on behalf of the Foundation.
First Prize was awarded to Ryan Grocock (University College London) for his poster, The Acceptability of Silver Diamine Fluoride in Care Homes in England. The study explored the acceptability of silver diamine fluoride (SDF) for managing dental caries among older adults living in care homes, highlighting its potential as a practical and accessible preventive intervention for vulnerable populations.
Second Prize was awarded to Najat Al-Katheeri (King’s College London) for her systematic review, Effectiveness of Skill Mix in Oral Health Service Delivery. The review examined how different models of skill mix within dental teams and the wider healthcare workforce can improve access to care, service capacity and efficiency, helping to strengthen oral health services and improve patient outcomes.
Third Prize was awarded to Ahmed Al Rasheed (University of Dundee) for his poster, The Economic Case for Water Fluoridation in Scotland: A National Modelling Study. The research modelled the potential health and economic impact of introducing community water fluoridation in Scotland, finding that it could prevent dental caries, generate treatment cost savings and contribute to reducing oral health inequalities.
Together, the three prize-winning posters reflected the breadth of contemporary dental public health research, addressing care for older adults, workforce and service delivery, and population-level prevention policy.
The Borrow Foundation congratulates all three prize winners and thanks everyone who submitted a poster. The quality of work presented was exceptionally high and reflects the talent, enthusiasm and commitment of early-career colleagues working to improve oral health outcomes and reduce inequalities.
We are proud to continue our partnership with BASCD in supporting the development of future leaders in dental public health.