The role of oral health in onset and persistence of multiple long-term conditions

One fully funded Frederick E Hopper full-time PhD scholarship is available in the School of Dentistry for a start in October 2025. The scholarship will cover UK tuition fees and attract a stipend matching the UKRI rate (£19,237 for 2024/25), subject to satisfactory progress. <br /> The award is open to full-time or part-time candidates (UK only) who meet the eligibility for a place on a PhD degree at the School of Dentistry. This project would suit a student with a background in epidemiology with an interest in biological systems / multi-morbidity, or in data science with an interest in analysis of longitudinal health data.

<p>The candidate will have access to Masters level courses in Data Science and AI and funding for an external course in Causal Inference. They will be an associate of AI Medical in the School of Computer Science with access to their journal club, the AI2 talks and activities and a large network of PhD data science and AI researchers <a href="https://ai-medical.leeds.ac.uk/">https://ai-medical.leeds.ac.uk/</a> and in the Leeds Institute of Data Analytics - <a href="https://lida.leeds.ac.uk/">https://lida.leeds.ac.uk/</a></p> <h5>Does poor oral health lead to long-term health issues in later life?</h5> <p>We have previously shown that periodontal disease is associated with systemic multi-morbidity. However, the true causal relationship of this association remains unclear due to shared risk factors such as smoking, stress and obesity. In addition, periodontal disease is a late stage marker for poor oral health as it presents in adulthood. Therefore, whether poor oral health leads to the onset and persistence of multiple long-term conditions remains unclear.</p> <p>MLTCs (also known as multimorbidity) is the co-existence of two or more long-term conditions (LTCs), where each is either: a non-communicable disease of long duration; a mental health condition of long duration; or an infectious disease of long duration. Whilst increases in life expectancy mean that people are living with MLTCs for longer, they also have high treatment burden, poor quality of life (QoL) and are more likely to die prematurely. They are a growing public health concern, with an estimated 14 million people in England living with MLTCs by 2035, it is projected that two-thirds of adults aged over 65 will be affected. Because of this, the NIHR promote life-course approaches that focus on early prevention as well as treatment. </p> <p>We have identified population datasets that will allow us to explore the role of oral health in onset of Multiple Long Term Conditions (MLTCs). Our multi-disciplinary supervisory team of clinicians, epidemiologists and data scientists located in dentistry (VA), Leeds Institute of Data Analytics (JB), and School of Computing (OJ) builds on the strengths of inter-disciplinary working to address the research question. The proposal aligns with the NIHR key strategic research priorities and themed call on MLTCs which VA and JB attended as part of the recent NIHR Team Science camp on MLTCs.</p> <h5>Aims & Objectives</h5> <p>The overall aim of the project will be to investigate, using secondary data analysis of population studies, the role of oral health in the onset and persistence of MLTCs. <br />  <br /> Specific objectives will be to: </p> <ol> <li>Investigate whether poor oral health in childhood is a predictor for MLTCs in adulthood </li> <li>Identify modifiable risk factors for poor oral health which can be targeted to prevent onset of MLTCs </li> <li>Identify the role of oral health in persistence of MLTCs</li> </ol> <h5>References</h5> <ol type="1"> <li class="paragraph" style="margin-left: 32px;">Head, A., et al., Inequalities in incident and prevalent multimorbidity in England, 2004&2013;19: a population-based, descriptive study. The Lancet Healthy Longevity, 2021. 2(8): p. e489-e497. </li> <li class="paragraph" style="margin-left: 32px;">Academy of Medical Sciences, Multimorbidity: a priority for global health research. https://acmedsci.ac.uk/file-download/99630838, 2018. </li> <li class="paragraph" style="margin-left: 32px;">Kingston, A., et al., Projections of multi-morbidity in the older population in England to 2035: estimates from the Population Ageing and Care Simulation (PACSim) model. Age and Ageing, 2018. 47(3): p. 374-380. </li> <li class="paragraph" style="margin-left: 32px;">Larvin H, Kang J, Aggarwal VR, Pavitt S, Wu J. Systemic Multimorbidity Clusters in People with Periodontitis. Journal of Dental Research. 2022;101(11):1335-1342.</li> <li class="paragraph" style="margin-left: 32px;">Larvin, H, Kang, J, Aggarwal, VR, Pavitt, S, Wu, J. Periodontitis and risk of immune-mediated systemic conditions: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol. 2023; 51: 705-717.</li> <li class="paragraph" style="margin-left: 32px;">NIHR, NIHR Strategic Framework for Multiple Long-Term Conditions (Multimorbidity) MLTC-M Research. https://www.nihr.ac.uk/documents/nihr-strategic-framework-for-multiple-long-term-conditions-multimorbidity-mltc-m-research/24639, 2020.</li> </ol> <h5>Other Conditions</h5> <ul> <li>Applicants must not have already been awarded or be currently studying for a doctoral degree.</li> <li>Awards must be taken up by 1st October 2025.</li> <li>Applicants must live within a reasonable distance of the University of Leeds whilst in receipt of this scholarship.</li> </ul>

<p>To apply for this scholarship opportunity applicants should complete an <a href="https://medicinehealth.leeds.ac.uk/faculty-graduate-school/doc/apply-2">online application form</a> and attach the following documentation to support their application. </p> <ul> <li>A full academic CV</li> <li>Degree certificate and transcripts of marks</li> <li>Evidence that you meet the University's minimum English language requirements (if applicable)</li> </ul> <p>To help us identify that you are applying for this scholarship project please ensure you provide the following information on your application form;</p> <ul> <li>Select PhD in Dentistry as your programme of study</li> <li>Give the full project title and name the supervisors listed in this advert</li> <li>For source of funding please state you are applying for a Frederick E Hopper Scholarship</li> </ul> <p>If English is not your first language, you must provide evidence that you meet the University's minimum English language requirements (below).</p> <p><em>As an international research-intensive university, we welcome students from all walks of life and from across the world. We foster an inclusive environment where all can flourish and prosper, and we are proud of our strong commitment to student education. Across all Faculties we are dedicated to diversifying our community and we welcome the unique contributions that individuals can bring, and particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to Black, Asian, people who belong to a minority ethnic community, people who identify as LGBT+ and people with disabilities. Applicants will always be selected based on merit and ability.</em></p>

Applicants to this scholarship in the School of Dentistry should normally have an Undergraduate degree of 2:1 or above (or international equivalent) in a relevant subject area. A Master’s degree is desirable, but not essential.

The minimum English language entry requirement for postgraduate research study in the School of Dentistry is an IELTS of 6.5 overall with at least 6.0 in each component (reading, writing, listening and speaking) or equivalent. The test must be dated within two years of the start date of the course in order to be valid.

<p style="margin-bottom:11px">We are offering 1 full-time PhD scholarship in the School of Dentistry for one UK candidate, covering a maintenance grant matching the UKRI stipend rate (£19,237 for 2024/25) and UK tuition fees for three years, subject to satisfactory progress. The award will be made for one year in the first instance and renewable for a further period of up to two years, subject to satisfactory academic progress. This is one of seven available projects being advertised for the one successful candidate for this scholarship. </p>

<p>For further information please contact the Faculty PGR Admissions Team<br /> e: <a href="mailto:fmhpgradmissions@leeds.ac.uk">fmhpgradmissions@leeds.ac.uk</a>.</p>