Professor Damien Walmsley PhD, MSc, BDS, FDSRCPS

Damien Walmsley

School of Dentistry
Director of Internationalisation
Head of Teaching Unit of Prosthetic Dentistry

Contact details

Telephone
+44 (0) 121 466 5493 (Secretary)
Email
a.d.walmsley@bham.ac.uk
Address
The School of Dentistry
5 Mill Pool Way
Edgbaston
Birmingham
B5 7EG
United Kingdom

International work

  • My new role is Director of Internationalisation for the College of Medical and Dental Sciences.  The objectives for this role is to improve the standing of the College in International league tables, improve our international student recruitment and increase our grant income from non-EU sources.  I am also tasked with increasing our student mobility with international partners.

Research

  • I am world leader in dental ultrasonics as evidenced by my substantial research collaborations both home and overseas. The translational impact of my research influences the education of dentists and therapists worldwide. International manufacturers design their clinical ultrasonic instruments according to my research standards.
  • I thrive in interdisciplinary projects, which includes my recent involvement representing the College of Medicine and Dental Sciences within the Institute of Advanced Studies.  My publications demonstrate my interdisciplinary network across the University and externally involving Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Computer Science and Mathematics. 
  • In my role as Director of Internationalisation, I actively encourage my colleagues on the recruitment of PGR students. I receive high levels of positive feedback on my supervision and in 2016 received a lifetime achievement award for my supervision of PG students 

Education

  • My educational research centres on the use of technology in dental education.  Recipient of a Marie Curie fellowship award (C2Learn) to research “Short Videos to Increase Learners uptake on Online Content” (2017-2019)
  • Team member that won the Times Higher Education Supplement (THES) Outstanding ICT Initiative of the Year, sponsored by the Joint Information Systems Committee – JISC (2007)
  • Through my Presidency of the Association of Dental Education in Europe (ADEE) from 2014 to 2016, I established a global network of partnerships with America, Chile, Brazil, South East Asia, China, Japan and Korea.  I have active knowledge of dentistry and allied health professions at the EU level where I have met and argued the case for dentistry recognition with EU commissioners.
  • My collaborative paper “Profile & Competencies for a European dentist” is embedded into the educational standards of International dentistry. 
  • I lead on teaching and learning of Prosthodontics at undergraduate and postgraduate level and receive high student feedback levels for inspired learning, communication and approachability.

Influence

  • As Scientific Advisor to the British Dental Association, I deliver, via national and regional newspapers, radio and television, key public health and scientific messages to improve oral health. I inform and reassure the public on all aspects of dentistry. I influence the well being of people in the region.
  • My influence extends nationally where I have led in dental politics on major issues such as Fluoridation, Antimicrobial resistance and the recent Sugar Tax.
  • I have raised the public presence and influence of the University by promoting the research findings of the school in the local and national press.  My research students have won University and National awards on public engagement. 
  • As Universitas 21 – Vice Chair of the Health Sciences Group I am brought the Annual Conference to Birmingham in September 2016

Clinical Activity

  • I lead and manage a specialist service in prosthodontics in the West Midlands and provide enhanced quality of life to patients through provision of fixed and removable prosthodontics.  My unit is an exemplar for training clinicians and receives positive patient feedback.  I am a trainer of young clinicians who are embarking on both a clinical academic or hospital career. 

 

 

Qualifications

  • B.D.S. Victoria University of Manchester 1981.
  • M.Sc. Victoria University of Manchester 1983.
  • Ph.D. Victoria University of Manchester 1985.
  • F.D.S. Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow 1987.
  • Certificate of Accreditation Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow 1992.
  • Certificate of specialisation General Dental Council 1999.

Biography

  • Lecturer 1985, Senior Lecturer 1991, Consultant 1993, Full Professor 2000 at School of Dentistry　
  • MSc and PhD on "The uses and potential biological effects of ultrasound in dentistry".　
  • Doctoral Research sponsored by MRC studentship.
  • House Officer at Guys hospital and St Barts Hospital
  • Undergraduate at Manchester Dental School of Dentistry

Teaching

  • Dental Surgery BDS
  • Head of Teaching Unit of Prosthetic Dentistry
  • Contributes to teaching in Modules
  • Year 1 (Healthcare Ethics and Law, Introduction to Clinical Dentistry)
  • Year 2 (Practical Dental Skills, Clinical Skills, Introduction to Simulated Clinical Procedures,
  • Year 3 (Simulated Clinical Procedures, Introduction to Clinical Practice and Speciality Teaching
  • Year 4 (Advanced Simulated Clinical Procedures and Speciality Teaching)
  • Year 5 (Preparation for General Dental Practice and Student Selected Module Clinical Studies)
  • MSc in Advanced General Dental Practice.

Postgraduate supervision

 Supervising doctoral research students in the following areas:

  • The use of Ultrasound in Dentistry.　Its role in treating periodontal disease, endodontics and oral surgery. This involves applied research on the use of ultrasound including knowledge of Physics and clinical application.
  • Imaging of teeth and dental plaque with novel technologies.
  • The effectiveness of elearning in dentistry.
  • Supervised 16 postgraduate doctoral students (12 as lead supervisor) and 6 research masters
  • All completed within time period and published on average 3.5 papers per thesis

 If you are interesting in studying any of these subject areas please contact Damien on the contact details above, or for any general doctoral research enquiries, please email: dr@contacts.bham.ac.uk or call +44 (0)121 414 5005.

For a full list of available Doctoral Research opportunities, please visit our Doctoral Research programme listings.　　　

Research

Research themes are Ultrasound in Dentistry,

Ultrasound in dentistry

  • destructive effects of ultrasound at frequencies in the kilohertz range (20-45 kHz)
  • ultrasonic scalers to remove attached deposits from the teeth.　
  • endodontics (endosonics) where an ultrasonic file is used to clean and prepare the root canals of teeth.　
  • Electric (powered) toothbrushes.
  • Imaging of cavitational activity and acoustic microstreaming.　
  • Biological effects of the interaction of the dental ultrasound with both soft and hard dental tissues
  • Grants from Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC). Charitable funding has come from the Wellcome Trust Foundation for the purchase of a Micro CT.　Funding streams have also been obtained from industry including Proctor and Gamble, Oral B, Philips Sonicare, Colgate, Dentsply USA and EMS, Switzerland.

Nationally and international contacts　

  • Departments of Engineering, Cardiff University (Wolfson Unit),
  • Chemistry, University of Bath  
  • Jewellery Industry Innovation Centre, Birmingham City
  • Internationally links with Holland - Amsterdam, Twente, Hong Kong and USA

Clinical Research

  • Use of implants in providing intra-bony implants into the jaws of patients attending the School of Dentistry at Birmingham Dental hospital. This work has led to several publications on the experiences of implants and prosthesis retained by magnets.　 International recognition and invited to present work at International Conference on Magnetic Applications in Dentistry.　Links have been established with Aichi Steel, Nagoya, Japan and funding is under negotiation.

Gold Medal academic award

  • In 2004 he was awarded the Gold Medal by the International Research Project on Magnetic Dentistry for work on dental magnets

E-learning and Use of the Internet

  • Current educational research is focussed on the attitudes of staff and students to the use of mobile learning and social networking. The learning and teaching strategies to employ using elearning.

Other activities

Positions of Responsibility

  • Member of School Executive
  • Graduate School Director for Dentistry  
  • Head of the teaching unit of Prosthetic Dentistry
  • Member of International Engagement Committee
  • Vice Chair for Universitas 21 Health Sciences
  • Trustee of St Mary’s Hospice, Birmingham.

External Appointments

  • Scientific Advisor to British Dental Association
  • Peer review council of EPSRC
  • Immediate past President of Association for Dental Education in Europe

Research

  • Ultrasonics in Dentistry covering ultrasonic scalers, endosonics and ultrasonic bone surgery
  • Co-author on Cochrane publications on Powered toothbrushes.　
  • Published over 280 papers
  • Presented numerous keynote lectures at national and international level
  • Steering committee of PSIBS (Physical Sciences of imaging in the Biological Sciences)
  • Researching novel imaging techniques for biological applications.

Educational highlights

  • Interest in all things IT, and at the cutting edge of teaching and learning in dentistry.　
  • Editor of http://brumdentists.com
  • Photography http://www.flickr.com/photos/damienwalmsley/
  • Passion for uptake of social networking and eLearning
  • Team member that won the Times Higher Education Supplement (THES) Outstanding ICT Initiative of the Year, sponsored by the Joint Information Systems Committee (JISC).　

Influence 

  • Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Dentistry 2002 -2011
  • Emeritus Editor-in-Chief, Journal of Dentistry
  • Editorial board of the British Dental Journal and European Journal of Dental Education, European Journal of Restorative Dentistry and Journal of Dental Education. 
  • President of the British Society for the Study of Prosthetic Dentistry 2010-2011
  • Chairman of the PanDental Society organising committee 2010-2011
  • Regularly speaks on research and innovation
  • Queen's Anniversary Prize Judge (2015) 

Publications

  • Vyas N, Pecheva E, Dehghani H, Sammons RL, Wang QX, Leppinen DM, Walmsley AD. (2016) High Speed Imaging of Cavitation around Dental Ultrasonic Scaler Tips. PLoS ONE 11(3): e0149804. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0149804

 Interdisciplinary research with Physical Sciences for Imaging in the Biological Sciences Doctoral training centre (PSIBS) including Computer Sciences and Mathematics.  The paper was featured on the University News Site and Science Daily.  This work is the basis of an active submission to EPSRC for future funding.  The material has won several public engagement pries both at the University and nationally from EPSRC and the Royal Microscopy Society

  • Claire S, Walmsley AD, Glinton S, Floyd H, Sammons R & Pikramenou Z. (2015) The deposition and imaging of silica sub-micron particles in dentine. Journal of Dentistry. 43:1242-8.

 Interdisciplinary research with PSIBS including Chemistry.  The work is novel on using nanoparticles to enter into the dentinal tubules of teeth.  The research was featured on the University News site and Science Daily.

  • Macedo RG, Robinson JP, Verhaagen B, Walmsley AD, Versluis M, Cooper PR, Van der Sluis LWM. (2014) A novel methodology providing new insights into the ultrasonic removal of a biofilm-mimicking hydrogel from lateral morphological features of the root canal. Internal Endodontic Journal; 47c: 1040-51. doi: 10.1111/iej.12246

 International interdisciplinary research with PSIBS and researchers from Amsterdam (ACTA) and Twente, the Netherlands. This research was presented in International Ultrasonic conferences

  • Walmsley AD, Lea SC, Felver B, King DC, Price GJ. Mapping Cavitation activity around dental ultrasonic tips. Clinical Oral Investigations 2013 17:1227–1234

 Interdisciplinary research with the Chemistry Department at the University of Bath.  This article has been the subject of an international debate and an evidence based literature review on the use of Ultrasonic Scalers.

  •  Gao Q, Walmsley AD, Cooper PR, Scheven, BA Ultrasound Stimulation of Different Dental Stem Cell Populations: Role of Mitogen-activated Protein Kinase Signalling.   Journal of Endodontics 2016;-:1–7 doi: 10.1016/j.joen.2015.12.019

 Novel  biomedical regenerative research with colleagues from the School of Dentistry (led by Dr Ben Scheven).  This article has been highlighted in the national press and is generating new avenues in this area of research.

Further publications can found at the link below: 

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=walmsley+ad%5bauthor

Expertise

As Scientific Advisor to the British Dental Association, I comment on many high profile scientific topis related to dentistry. These include Flouridation, Oral Health, growing new teeth, use of mouth washes and new technologicies in dentistry. I am happy to advise or discuss any research used in dentistry.

Alternative contact number available for this expert: contact the press office