New oral health research funding opportunity

Foundation Nakao announces applications are now open for it's fourth funding round and invites dental academics and clinicians to apply

06 October, 2022 / infocus

Mr and Mrs Nakao photographed in a modern corridor

Dental academics and clinicians have been invited to apply for a Foundation Nakao Grant – the fourth round of funding made available by the foundation since its launch in 2018. The organisation supports clinical trials and research in topics such as minimum intervention dentistry and oral health of the elderly.

Successful applications will receive fully funded projects of 50,000.00 francs (Swiss)/per year. This is in addition to broad exposure among dental professionals, the dental industry and the general public of each study’s outcomes and achievements. The maximum grant goes up to two years and 100,0000 francs (£90,552.66). If the project budget is more than 50,000 fr (£45,276.33) in two years, then applicants will need to submit applications for the second year.

Advancing oral health research

The foundation’s fourth round of grant applications took place in September 2022 and from a huge number of submissions, six studies were awarded the honour of being accepted. Applicants represent the following categories: government organisation, non-government organisation, university, research institution or other.

My husband and I believe that dentistry has a fundamental role to play in the health and longevity of people worldwide."

Makiko Nakao, President of Foundation Nakao for Worldwide Oral Health

Foundation Nakao supports academic research and clinical studies contributing to its founding goal, which is the improvement of oral health and subsequently raising the quality of life of all people in the world. Key oral health research areas that address Minimum Intervention Dentistry, Oral Health in Ageing Populations and the 8020 movement, Tooth Function, the prevention of Oral Frailty and Dental IQ.

“The inspiration for the Foundation came from a topic that is very close to our hearts: the impact of oral health on quality of life. My husband and I believe that dentistry has a fundamental role to play in the health and longevity of people worldwide. We look forward to seeing this becoming a reality through the activities of the Foundation,” said Makiko Nakao, President of Foundation Nakao for Worldwide Oral Health at its official launch in 2018.

About the foundation

Foundation Nakao for Worldwide Oral Health was established in Luzern, Switzerland on 21 September 2018. The foundation was made possible by Mr Makoto Nakao, former Chairman of GC Corporation who, after 42 years at the helm of the company, donated his privately-owned company shares to support the initiative.

The management board of Foundation Nakao boasts a team of distinguished dental professionals from four continents: Europe, America, Australia, and Asia. They are Professor Reinhart Hickel, Professor Clark Stanford, Professor Marco Ferrari, Professor Eric Reynolds, Professor Keiichi Sasaki, and Dr Kiyotaka Nakao.

Applications for the grant are open until 4 December 2022 on the Nakao Foundation website.