Glasgow Caledonian University has secured a £192,000 Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) with global consumer health leader Haleon to drive groundbreaking research into the oral microbiome and advance next-generation oral care products.
Dr Mark Butcher, is working with Professor Gordon Ramage and Dr Will Johnson, from the School of Health and Life Sciences, as the Senior Microbiome Innovation Scientist with the Haleon team in Weybridge (Surrey).
The project, which is a collaboration between Professor Ramage and Dr Butcher in the Department of Nursing, Community and Public Health, and Dr Johnston in the Department of Biomedical and Biological Sciences, aims to understand the oral microbiome – the collection of different microorganisms in the mouth.
Understanding how bacteria interact in the mouth and respond to different oral hygiene products, such as Sensodyne and Aquafresh toothpastes and Corsodyl mouthwash, will allow Haleon to develop and improve existing formulations to specifically target harmful groups of bacteria.
Dr Butcher said: “Building on the success of my four-year Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)/Haleon funded PhD, I have the foundation, skills and expertise to tackle this exciting and important challenge in oral health.”
The team at Glasgow Caledonian are international leaders in oral microbiology and they will support Haleon by providing of state-of-the-art understanding and knowledge.
Professor of Infection Prevention and Control Gordon Ramage said: “This project represents the first major scientific contribution from the University to improving oral health, which aligns with our longstanding BSc programme in Oral Health Science that delivers Dental Hygiene therapists into the Scottish dental workforce.”
Dr Johnston added: “This project is an exciting step towards using our knowledge of the oral microbiome (the complex ecosystem of microbes that help maintain oral health) to create next-generation oral hygiene products that work with these natural communities instead of simply eliminating them.”
Professor Ramage co-leads the School’s Research Centre for Health (ReaCH) Safeguarding Health Through Infection Prevention (SHIP) Research Group, of which Dr Johnston and Dr Butcher are members.
The first photo shows Dr Mark Butcher in the bio labs and the second one was taken during a visit by the Haleon team to the University. Left-Right: Haleon Principal Microbiologist Dr Rob Howlin, Haleon Senior Microbiologist Dr Ricarda Hawkins, Professor Gordon Ramage, Haleon Principal Innovation Scientist Dr Dave Bradshaw and Dr Will Johnston.