Working Group for Stimulation and Promotion of Research into Caries
Formerly known as the Working Group for Stimulation of Caries Research, this Committee was set up in January 2005. The Committee, which is chaired by the Vice President, aims to stimulate and facilitate research related to the aims of ORCA by a variety of methods:
Through periodic summer schools and saturday afternoon symposia held in association with the ORCA congresses By helping organise summer schools or symposia in countries where cariology is developing or where ORCA is not yet present By funding and advising young researchers from countries where cariology is developing or where ORCA is not yet present Announcements relating to these activities will be made each year in Issue 5 of Caries Research as well as by other methods. Proposals for summer schools should be addressed to the Vice-President:
Prof. Dr. C. van Loveren
Academic Centre of Dentistry Amsterdam (ACTA)
Louwesweg 1
1066EA Amsterdam
The Netherlands
Fax + 31 20 6692881
Email: c.van.loveren (AT) acta.nlORCA Conference Travel Fellowships
These Fellowships will be available in 2008, to assist attendance at an ORCA Congress. Researchers in the field of caries or related subjects will be eligible, and preference will be given to workers from underprivileged countries. Each fellowship will have a value up to
€ 1,200 as a contribution to costs of attending the Congress.The applicant should prepare either:
- An abstract of research results, prepared according to the ‘Instructions for Authors of Abstracts’ (see above), or
- A proposal for a research project to be carried out by the applicant. The proposal should have a clear aim and should describe the methods to be used. The project should be original work, to be executed in their own institute by the applicant and young co-workers. The research should potentially lead to a publication in an indexed journal.
Finally, the applicant should have an adequate mastery of English because, if successful, they will discuss their proposal with experts at the congress.The application should include: (1) the abstract of research results or the research proposal, whichever is applicable; (2) a curriculum vitae; (3) a letter of recommendation from a senior staff member at the home institution; (4) a description of the applicant’s present position and current research work. It is strongly recommended that those who wish to apply ask advice as early as possible from the Committee for Stimulation and Promotion of Research into Caries:
Prof. Dr. C. van Loveren
Academic Centre of Dentistry Amsterdam (ACTA)
Louwesweg 1
1066EA Amsterdam
The Netherlands
Fax + 31 20 6692881
Email: c.van.loveren AT acta.nlApplicants should submit their application by 7 January 2008 to the Secretary General:
Dr J. J. de Soet
Dept of Oral Microbiology
Academic Centre for Dentistry
van der Boechortstraat 7
1081 BT Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Fax +31 20 4448318
Email jj.desoet AT vumc.nlApplicants who wish to present an abstract should also submit it to the Editor, following the ‘Instructions to Authors of Abstracts’ (see above).
The ORCA Consultancy Service
This service is available for research projects to be carried out in a country where cariology is still developing. The aims of the service are to provide help in the actual execution of research at an international level and, in doing so, to provide experience and contacts that will be useful for further research in their home country by the recipients of the consultancy.
The ORCA Consultancy Service will pay the following costs: (1) economy air fare for two or more trips by the consultant to the institute where the consultation will take place and a per diem for reasonable costs during the trips; (2) when appropriate, economy air fare for the recipient of the consultation to the institute of the consultant for a stay of the order of a few weeks related to the research project. A per diem for simple meals and lodging and small costs in the consultant’s city will then be included. The reimbursement will include neither direct research costs nor a salary for either the consultant or the recipient.
An application for an ORCA Consultancy should be submitted to the Secretary General
by 7 January 2008:Dr J. J. de Soet
Dept of Oral Microbiology
Academic Centre for Dentistry
van der Boechortstraat 7
1081 BT Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Fax +31 20 4448318
Email jj.desoet AT vumc.nlThe application should include: (1) an outline of the proposed research; (2) the consultancy support required; (3) a budget for this support; (4) if desired, a suggestion for a consultant. Help in formulating this request can be obtained from the Committee for Stimulation and Promotion of Research into Cariess (contact details under ‘ORCA Conference Travel Fellowships’ above).
Having obtained advice from the Committee for Stimulation and Promotion of Research into Caries, the Secretary General and the Vice-President will appoint an ad hoc committee of two expert members to assess: (1) the rationale of the research objective, its scientific value and its value for the recipient’s institute; (2) the proposed methodology; (3) the feasibility of publishing the results in an international journal; (4) the appropriateness and feasibility of the support requested; (5) the appropriateness of the budget; (6) the suitability of the proposed consultant, if any is proposed.
A discussion with the potential recipient of the consultation and with an eventually named consultant may form part of the procedure when possible at no extra cost, e.g. at an ORCA congress. However, such discussion is not a condition. The committee will then forward the (amended) proposal to the Board for approval.