The Colgate Award for Research Excellence (CARE) program is a multinational funding initiative sponsored by Colgate-Palmolive Company. Administration of the CARE grant is now managed by the Dental Health Unit (DHU), a private-public partnership between Colgate-Palmolive Company and the University of Manchester, in collaboration with the University of Pennsylvania. The program offers 1-year research grants to early-career researchers at academic institutions throughout the USA, Canada, and Europe, specifically targeting advancements in global oral health.
CARE - A Multi-National Research Award
Program Identity Summary:
Program Purpose and Aims
The CARE program supports the development of innovative, early-stage oral health research that advances oral healthcare therapies in basic science, behavioural science, and clinical care. The program is also designed to create a network of future leaders in the dental research community.
Awards:
Up to $30,000 USD per project
paid directly to awardee’s institution of employment (total of 6 innovative projects will be selected).
Funding Covers:
Direct and indirect costs are permitted, and no extra payment will be provided to cover any additional costs.
Scope:
All submitted projects must address a research gap in oral health.
Requirements:
Please review the application criteria below to see if you qualify:
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Global Academic Standing: You must hold a primary, faculty appointment at an accredited dental school within the USA, Canada, or Europe.
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Rising Researchers: This opportunity is specifically designed for those within the first five years of their initial academic career.
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Collaborative Funding: For proposals involving external partners, applicants should secure the necessary third-party support before submission and include official letters of support where appropriate.
Ready to take the next step? Please consult the Eligibility and Application Tab for a comprehensive view of all requirements and to ensure your project qualifies.
Focused on groundbreaking technologies, basic science and/or behavioral interventions with the potential to disrupt traditional oral healthcare.
- Technology Innovations:
Focused on groundbreaking technologies and/or behavioral interventions with the potential to disrupt traditional oral healthcare. This includes projects that can deliver superior oral health outcomes, improve clinical measurements/methods, or fundamentally change how people manage their oral hygiene. - Understanding Oral Health Behaviors:
Research into factors influencing oral health practices in children and adults. - Real-World Oral Health Data Analysis:
Utilizing existing data to generate insights and improve oral health outcomes.
Applicant Eligibility
- Early-career investigators (0–5 years of academic appointment)
- Applicants must have a primary appointment as a faculty member at an accredited dental school in the UK, EU, USA or Canada.
- A senior investigator (mentor) from the applicant’s Institution must support the application.
- Projects submitted must not have had previous funding support.
- The award will not cover the salaries of the applicant.
- Applications must be submitted by an individual (the lead applicant) but may encompass a wider team or consortium.
- Proposals should generally articulate ambitions for research beyond this application.
- Should the study proposal budget exceed the total grant amount, applicants must demonstrate that the study has additional financial support from other source(s). The source(s) of the additional funding must come from a non-competitor of Colgate.
- For proposals involving external partners, applicants are advised to secure the necessary third-party support prior to submission and to include official letters of support where appropriate.
Scientific Expert Review Panel
- A multinational Scientific Expert Review Panel, led by Professors Jan Clarkson (Dental Health Unit / University of Manchester) and Mark Wolff (University of Pennsylvania), will evaluate the applications and ensure the scientific integrity and projected impact of the research initiatives. The panel comprises dental researchers from Colgate-Palmolive Co. and academic faculty members from Institutions in the USA and Europe.
- The funding will be allocated following a standard, one-stage, single-blind peer-review process.
General Terms
- Applications must be submitted in English and are subject to a competitive assessment process; the Scientific Expert Review Panel reviews all projects.
- Successful applicants are required to furnish a concise final report 2 months after project completion and grant permission for its potential use as a case study.
- The research findings must also be presented to the Colgate scientific community.
Application Cycle:
Opening March 2026 – Closing May 15th 2026
Award Announcement:
June 2026
* to be confirmed
Project Completion Deadline:
Within 12 months of receiving financial support
Final Report Submission:
Within 2 months of project completion.
Please ensure you download and complete these documents before starting your application
To view our Program Guidelines, please click here. To view our FAQ, please click here.
Application Form
Please ensure you have downloaded and completed all of the documents from the ‘Application Downloads’ section before proceeding.