Advancing oral health in New Zealand
Oral health is essential for wellbeing. We lead the advancement of oral health research, and practice in New Zealand by combining the strengths of biological, clinical and public health expertise.
2023 Research Report (PDF)
The SJWRI is uniquely placed within the Faculty of Dentistry at the University of Otago, the only dental school in New Zealand. This enables researchers and clinicians to work together to solve specific oral health problems and to rapidly translate findings into improved clinical practice.
Faculty of Dentistry website
Institute named after advocate for research
The Institute is named after Sir John Walsh KBE, an advocate for advancing research and the dental profession. He was Dean of the Faculty of Dentistry from 1947-1972.
Sir John Walsh KBE
Oral health care challenges are significant in New Zealand
The societal and financial costs of poor oral health care are huge. Poor oral health may also directly affect general health.
The oral health needs of our ageing population and access to care for disadvantaged groups are featured in our research programmes.
SJWRI research programmes
Maximising the public benefit of oral health research
We work to maximise the public benefit from oral health research advances by actively engaging with national policy makers.
Our unique placement at the centre of dental student training in New Zealand enables engagement with the next wave of clinical practitioners, and encourages life-long learning.
Our Institute also interacts with health professional bodies, consumers and industry to ensure the benefits of new discoveries are widely disseminated.
SJWRI mission and values
Professor Warwick Duncan, who was appointed as Director of the SJWRI in May 2021.
Walsh building sculptures
To the medical sciences.
To the physical sciences.
To the art of dentistry.
To the biological sciences.