Ratilal Lalloo

Ratilal has been conducting dental public health research for more than 20 years, mainly in South Africa and more recently in Australia. Prior to 2009 his research was essentially located in South Africa, and parts of east and southern Africa (Uganda, Tanzania and Uganda). He was a team member of a group convened by WHO Africa Region oral health directorate to critically review oral health policy across sub-Saharan Africa with the aim of proposing a revised policy. His research during this time extended across many areas of dental public health, including oral health promotion and prevention at the population level, oral health systems and services, oral health policy and dental education.

Since his arrival in January 2009 in Australia he has developed a research profile locally. He has published a number of papers based on student clinical placement experiences in rural remote Indigenous Australia, in mental health, in oral cancer with colleagues in Sri Lanka; and more recently on issues related to public dental services in Queensland and antibiotic prescriptions patterns in South Africa. His research on student clinical placements informs policies across all dental schools in Australia. His work in the mental health area should lead to changes in health policy in improving the oral health of mentally ill people in our community and ultimately to better oral health and improved quality of life for our mentally ill people. From his work with Australian and Sri Lankan colleagues oral cancer screening is now an integral component of the National Cancer Control Program in Sir Lanka. A national social marketing campaign has been implemented to reduce oral cancer incidence and utilisation of substances linked to oral cancer. His analysis of the dental public service wait list in Queensland has enjoyed significant media interest. The recent work on antibiotic prescribing, mainly related to dentistry, with colleagues in South Africa, is important in the global debate on antibiotic resistance. This work will inform guidelines on appropriate antibiotic prescription for various dental conditions and procedures. More recently, and since commencing at The University of Queensland in 2016, he has been involved in research in partnership with Multiple Sclerosis Research Australia and Alzheimer’s Australia. Both areas are of significance importance in oral health. This work has the potential to inform oral health policy and practices for people suffering these debilitating conditions. While at an early stage he is involved in developing research networks and collaboration with the Oral Health Alliance (this a joint venture between the School of Dentistry at UQ and Oral Health Directorate of the Metro North Health and Hospital Service [HHS]); and with the West Moreton (Ipswich area) Oral Health Directorate and more recently with the Office of the Chief Dental Officer in Queensland. These collaborations offer opportunities for health services and translational research that directly impact communities requiring these services. He is a leading member of a new (for now informal) forum of oral health academics and researchers to build collaborations with all stakeholders in the oral health arena, including State and Local goverments, the private and public dental services sectors, professional associations and industry.

He is a member of the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study and specifically the global oral health expert group. This study, funded by the Gate Foundation, is a massive undertaking to annually monitor the health of the global population. He has published extensively on the Global Burden of Disease study; with significant translation to global, regional and country-specific health policy and practice.