Supervisor Database Search
Guidance for ICAT Supervisors
The ICAT Supervisor list is reviewed annually by the partner universities and updated online in March/April each year.
You can read about the ICAT supervisor selection process and eligibility criteria below:
Terms of reference/guide to supervising ICAT Fellows.
You can read the terms of reference for supervisors actively supervising ICAT Fellows below:
Supervisor Database
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Full NameDr Isabel C Olegário
School of Dentistry
Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland
Webpage:rcsi.com
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- epidemiology/population health research
- global health/inclusion health
- preventive medicine/behavioural change interventions
- clinical trials
- Paediatrics
- Dentistry
Paediatric Dentistry
My research group is based within a newly established School of Dentistry, providing a unique opportunity to integrate research, education, and patient care from the outset. Our work spans paediatric dentistry, primary care, and dental public health, with a strong focus on prevention, workforce training, and the implementation of oral health policy in clinical and community settings.
In addition to clinical research on dental caries, dental trauma, and enamel defects in children, the group has a strong educational research component. This includes curriculum design, evaluation of teaching and assessment approaches, and the development of training models for undergraduate students and primary care dental teams, particularly within community and primary care settings.
We are actively structuring robust data collection systems to support prospective clinical and educational studies using patient and service-level data, ensuring methodological rigour and long-term research sustainability. Research is closely aligned with patient care delivery, allowing evaluation of real-world outcomes and service innovations.
The research team has extensive experience in both qualitative and quantitative methodologies and works within a strong network of international collaborators. PhD students joining the group will benefit from a supportive, interdisciplinary environment with opportunities to contribute to impactful research across clinical care, education, and health systems, with clear relevance to policy and practice.
My research interests are centred on paediatric dentistry and maternal/child oral health, with a strong focus on prevention, early intervention, and equity of access to care. Potential PhD projects would explore innovative, evidence-based approaches to preventing and managing early childhood caries (ECC) and dental developmental defects, particularly in vulnerable and underserved child populations.
One core research theme is the evaluation of preventive and minimally invasive strategies for dental caries management, including non-invasive and micro-invasive interventions such as fluoride varnishes, silver diamine fluoride, sealants, and behaviourally informed preventive programmes. Projects may involve randomised clinical trials, pragmatic trials in community or primary care settings, or implementation research examining how evidence-based preventive strategies can be effectively embedded into routine dental services.
A second theme relates to child-centred care pathways, educational research and access to oral healthcare. This includes investigating barriers and facilitators to accessing timely dental care for children, the role of parental and caregiver engagement, and the impact of health system organisation on preventive service delivery. PhD candidates may work with epidemiological methods, mixed-methods research, or health services research to inform policy and service design.
A further area of interest is the early detection and risk-based management of dental caries in children, integrating clinical, behavioural, and social determinants of health. Projects may explore caries risk assessment tools, diagnostic pathways, and decision-making frameworks that support preventive, child-friendly, and minimally invasive care.
Across all projects, there is a strong emphasis on methodological rigour, patient and public involvement, and translational impact, with opportunities for international collaboration and high-quality publications.