Last week the results of the 2021 Research Excellence Framework were published. REF is the system for assessing the quality and impact of research in UK Higher Education institutions and is undertaken by the four UK Higher Education funding bodies. We are pleased to share that our ACFF partner King’s College London was the top-rated university in the UoA3 category which includes Allied Health Professions, Dentistry, Nursing and Pharmacy.
The work done by the ACFF supported one of the two Impact case studies King’s College London submitted to REF 2021 from the Faculty of Dentistry, Oral and Craniofacial Sciences. This case study was the ‘Global Collaboratory for Caries Management’ which launched in 2013 as a global oral health initiative, intended to drive policy, health systems and dental practice towards a more modern preventive approach to caries management. Over the last 9 years the initiative has evolved into an international umbrella group made up of faculty researchers at King’s as well as partner organisations including ACFF, ICDAS, ICCMS™ and CariesCare International. The case study showcased the success of the initiative in creating a global shift towards preventative dental medicine and oral healthcare. This can be seen in the major changes in prevention, education and treatment of cavities and tooth decay worldwide. The impact from the ‘Global Collaboratory for Caries Management’ initiative was evident across several themes including operationalisation of international guidance; integration of clinical and public health strategies for caries control; facilitating shifts in policy and payment systems; and shaping and delivering Corporate Social Responsibility activity with industry. ACFF Chairman, Professor Nigel Pitts was “delighted” with the outcome of REF 2021 in general and for UoA3 in particular. “I am so pleased to see the international impact of the work of ACFF being validated in this way” he continued.
The REF 2021 results also showed that King’s College London has increased its percentage of world leading research to 55.1% and maintained its sixth position for ‘research power’. King’s has also been rated third in the UK amongst multidisciplinary institutions for impact, with 67.8% of its research impact rated outstanding. This achievement highlights the quality and impact of KCL research and collaborations for global society. The ACFF continues to be a proud partner of King’s and is grateful that its ongoing work has helped to support the success of the ‘Global Collaboratory for Caries Management’ initiative.