The Faculty of General Dental Practice (UK) (FGDP(UK)) has set up a network of research contacts to provide primary care dentists and their teams with sources of advice on oral healthcare research.

A network of 21 research contacts has been established throughout the UK. They are known as Divisional Research Contacts (DRCs) and are available to advise dentists and dental care professionals on all aspects of research in primary dental care.

The Faculty says that infrastructure and resource barriers can sometimes exist to prevent dental practitioners from carrying out research within their own practices and it is working to support research in primary dental care centres, including dental practices.

It has focused on identifying research priorities in primary care, establishing a database of academic collaborators, assessing GDPs' needs for research training, identifying training opportunities and funding for researchers. It is also developing research networks at primary care level to foster a research culture within general dental practice.