The current strategic plan aims to encourage research through establishment and support of programmes to promote oral health research. Regions with less developed research programmes are being identified for specific support, and it is intended to focus resources on fellowships to enhance professional development. In addition it seeks to ensure presentation of current knowledge on oral health research and application of research findings through, inter alia , regional scientific meetings and conferences, and increase dissemination of the Journal of Dental Research . They are scientific journals published in English. Meeting and congress proceedings on major new scientific issues.
Collaboration takes the form of technical exchanges and cooperation in each other's activities.
An important element of the exchanges relate to WHO efforts to encourage international collaboration to ensure consensus a global oral health research agenda. Examples of recent and ongoing collaboration are as follows. WHO is a participant in the International Dental Leadership Forum, initiated by the Association, which seeks to promote cooperation and communication between organizations representing dental research, education, practice and industry. The Forum has met biannually since 1993. Since 1993, the general sessions of the Association's congresses have included symposia related to the development and promotion of a clear research agenda.