Unilever partners with IADR to create SEA Change Research Award to improve oral health

The International Association for Dental Research (IADR), with Unilever, today announced the creation of the "IADR Unilever Social Entrepreneur Approach to Change Oral Health Behavior Research Award." This is an IADR award with funding provided exclusively by Unilever.

The purpose of the IADR Unilever Social Entrepreneur Approach to Change Oral Health Behavior Research Award (IADR Unilever SEA Change Research Award) is to stimulate scientific research in social entrepreneur approaches to affect real behavioral change at the individual or community level that improve oral health, with a particular emphasis on interventions targeted to disadvantaged and vulnerable populations. One IADR Unilever SEA Change Research Award will be granted up to $75,000.

"IADR is excited to partner with Unilever on this new research award," said IADR President Helen Whelton. "Given the global burden of oral diseases and the worldwide oral health inequalities, new, innovative research approaches are sorely needed and IADR is very grateful for Unilever's generous support in an area that is often overlooked by traditional funding agencies."

"Unilever is committed to improving oral health of populations and articulates five levers of encouraging behavioral change: make it understood, make it easy, make it desirable, make it rewarding and make it a habit," said Alexis Roberts-McIntosh, VP Global Oral Care Category R&D for Unilever. "We are delighted to be partnering with IADR to stimulate behavioral research to improve oral health."

The IADR Unilever SEA Change Research Award will be provided in the form of an unrestricted research grant.

Examples of research areas of interest could include, but are not be limited to:

• Demonstrating the effectiveness of social entrepreneurial approaches to improving individual health decisions.
• Expanding on current behavioral change models.
• Demonstrating the effectiveness of positive, relevant oral health messaging incorporated into a complex social milieu.
• Understanding the underlying social determinants of health, including oral health.

Source: International & American Associations for Dental Research