Led by UCL in partnership with Hainan University in China, the £11,900 award will fund research visits and encourage close collaboration between the two institutions. The project aims to develop minimally invasive, injectable biomaterials that promote bone regeneration and address the growing need for sustainable and ethically sourced alternatives to current dental bone grafts.
Periodontal disease affects nearly half of adults worldwide and is a leading cause of tooth loss due to progressive destruction of the bone supporting teeth. Many existing grafting materials rely on animal-derived products, which can be costly and raise concerns regarding ethics, safety, and sustainability.
This collaboration will combine expertise at UCL Eastman and Hainan University to explore mineral-based, injectable biomaterials derived from sustainable natural resources, with the long-term goal of translation into clinical dental practice.
Dr Nguyen is an Associate Professor within the Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering department. She joined UCL Eastman Dental Institute in 2019 and leads a research group focused on the design of smart and injectable biomaterials for regenerative dentistry and healthcare applications.
Her day-to-day work involves lab-based biomaterials development, supervision of PhD and postgraduate researchers, and supporting translational research. She also contributes to teaching within Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering and is involved in mentoring early-career researchers.
The Royal Society International Exchanges programme is available to scientists based in the UK who are looking to stimulate new research collaborations with leading scientists overseas. Grants can cover either a one-off short visit to explore opportunities for building lasting networks or bilateral visits to strengthen emerging collaborations.
I am very grateful for this Royal Society award, which will allow us to strengthen international collaboration with Hainan University and accelerate translational research in sustainable injectable biomaterials. This funding will support vital knowledge exchange and help advance regenerative solutions for dental bone repair that are both clinically effective and environmentally responsible.
Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering
Developing materials for hard and soft tissue reconstruction; seeking to understand the processes involved with cellular interaction with a material's surface.
Eastman Dental Institute
We're a world-leading, academic centre for postgraduate dentistry and translational research based in London, UK.
