Canada's First National Oral Health Research Strategy (2024-2030)

Area of Science:

• Oral health research and policy development in Canada.

Background:

• Recent advancements in Canadian oral health policy and data collection.
• Growing international momentum for oral health research.
• The World Health Organization's call for national oral health research strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the process of developing Canada's first National Oral Health Research Strategy (NOHRS).
• To present the guiding principles, research priorities, and framework of the NOHRS.
• To encourage engagement and implementation of the NOHRS.

Main Methods:

• Extensive and broad consultative process.
• Development of a national strategy framework with 6 strategic priorities.
• Priorities grouped into Leading Issues, Emerging Methods, and Overarching Approaches.

Main Results:

• Publication of Canada's first National Oral Health Research Strategy (NOHRS).
• Identified 6 strategic priorities: access to care, inequities/identities, artificial intelligence, omics, environmental sustainability, and knowledge mobilization.
• Established a framework with proposed goals and a timeline.

Conclusions:

• The NOHRS provides a tailored, community-driven roadmap for Canadian oral health research.
• The strategy aims to mobilize action and address identified oral health priorities.
• It builds upon existing initiatives and seeks to inspire international collaboration.