The award provides full funding and stipend for a student from the UK or EU for three years, to pursue a research project conducted by Dr Barbour in partnership with Graham Mayoh, Sales Director of Kemdent, a leading dental materials manufacturer based in Swindon.

The project concerns the development of an innovative dental filling material that contains antimicrobial nanoparticles. In a recent nationwide study, it was found that 41 per cent of five-year-olds and 54 per cent of eight-year-olds showed clear signs of tooth decay. It is hoped that this new filling material could halt the development of decay in affected teeth, particularly in children and young adults, resulting in fewer, smaller fillings and less time in the dentist's chair.