Veranstaltungen im IWH Kick-off Meeting SMILE-Bridge

SMILE-Bridge – Kick-off Meeting Launches Heidelberg–Harvard Collaboration to Advance Oral Health Equity
A two-day kick-off meeting marks the start of SMILE-Bridge (Strategic Multinational Initiative for Leading Equity in Oral Health), a newly funded international research collaboration between Heidelberg University and the Harvard School of Dental Medicine. The initiative aims to improve oral health and access to care for poor and vulnerable populations through participatory, community-based research, drawing from case studies across Chile, the United States, and Germany. 

Oral diseases are among the most common health conditions worldwide and disproportionately affect disadvantaged populations. Despite growing recognition of oral health as a fundamental component of overall health and well-being, many people continue to face significant barriers to accessing essential dental care. Effective, scalable, and context-sensitive solutions remain limited, particularly for populations with complex social, structural, and healthcare needs. 

SMILE-Bridge brings together researchers, patients, caregivers, healthcare professionals, policymakers, and community organizations to co-develop and test innovative approaches for improving oral health. Through a unique multi-country approach, the project will generate practical and sustainable solutions that can be adapted across diverse settings. 

The kick-off meeting brings together all project partners to align strategic objectives, establish collaborative work packages, and define a shared methodological framework for the project. Beyond launching the research programme, the meeting lays the foundation for a long-term partnership between Heidelberg University and Harvard School of Dental Medicine, with the goal of generating evidence-based, policy-relevant solutions that reduce oral health inequities and improve the lives of vulnerable populations worldwide.