The Company, whose Colgate brand is in more homes than any other, is to fund a £2 million extension to its long-standing research partnership with dental researchers at The University of Manchester.
Colgate-Palmolive, a caring, innovative growth company that is reimagining a healthier future for all people, their pets and our planet, will continue to fund the renowned Dental Health Unit (DHU) at the University.
Selling its health and hygiene products in more than 200 countries and territories, Colgate-Palmolive is the global leader in toothpaste and manual toothbrushes. With historic links to Manchester, the company's former Colgate-Palmolive factory in Salford Quays, built in 1938, was redeveloped in 2005 into the famous landmark now known as Soapworks.
The global leader in oral health has been working with The University of Manchester since 1968, amounting to the University's longest ever business partnership. The DHU has been a leading centre for oral health research for almost 60 years.
Initially carrying out clinical trials to evaluate the efficacy of Colgate products in collaboration with Colgate's Research & Development team, the DHU has quickly evolved into a public health-focused program working collaboratively to mentor PhD candidates and to develop leaders in dentistry throughout the UK and beyond.
The extension of the funding will support high-quality clinical and behavioural research to generate real-world evidence for policy and practice. It will also allow the DHU to run a Fellowship Program - training the next generation of oral health researchers. The first awards to train future leaders have been announced with funding available for early career researchers in Europe and North America. Care Program
Anne-Marie Glenny, Professor of Health Sciences and Associate Dean for Research and Innovation at the School of Medical Sciences, said: "For over 50 years, the Dental Health Unit and our proud, historic association with Colgate Palmolive has reaped real health impacts, carrying out world -leading oral health research and supporting the development of research and policy leaders.
"The next chapter for the Dental Health Unit aims to enhance our impact in areas such as dental public health, behavioural science and clinical study management by building a robust network of collaborations with leading academic institutions.
"We will strategically expand our PhD program across renowned universities throughout the UK, Europe and North America.
"By fostering alliances with leading researchers, we are committed to advancing innovation and shaping thought leadership in oral health and behavioural insights."
Professor Jan Clarkson, Academic Director at the DHU said: "This collaboration between the University and Colgate-Palmolive aims to establish the DHU as a strategic hub for advancing oral health behaviour change, leveraging behavioural insights, and innovative oral health research to deliver impactful, scalable outcomes that improve public health policies and oral health globally.
"This long standing private-public collaboration endeavours to advance global oral health research and education, leveraging industry and academic expertise to drive international excellence in scientific innovation, improve patient outcomes, and shape public health policies."
Maria Ryan, DDS, PhD, Executive Vice President Chief Clinical Officer, Colgate Palmolive, said: "Colgate-Palmolive's purpose is to reimagine a healthier future for all. We are proud of the accomplishments of our longstanding partnership with the University of Manchester through this Dental Health Unit. The pioneer DHU at the University of Manchester has advanced oral health through innovative, multidisciplinary research streams for more than half a century, breaking down silos between academia, clinicians, industry, policy makers and the communities that we all serve. And our collaboration has served as a model for others globally, with our more recent DHUs based in Latin America and India."
