This annual research competition aims to promote, recognise, celebrate, and reward excellence in research demonstrated by doctors and dentists in Ireland. Hosted in partnership with Medical Protection and Dental Protection, the competition focuses on research around the wellbeing of medical and dental professionals, patient safety and risk mitigation.
€6000 prizes to be won
The awards below will be given in both the medical and dental categories:
- Winners: €1,500 and a certificate
- Runners-up: €1,000 and a certificate
- Commended entries: €500 and a certificate
All awarded entrants will be invited by the MPS Foundation to publish their research for members and the wider healthcare community.
THE AIMS OF THIS COMPETITION ARE TO:
Recognise, celebrate, and reward excellence demonstrated by doctors and dentists in patient safety, risk reduction, and the wellbeing of healthcare professionals.
Provide an opportunity for doctors and dentists to develop their understanding and expertise in these areas.
Raise the profile of medical and dental research and build research capability and capacity for the future.
Provide career-advancing opportunities for doctors and dentists with a focus on research.
How to enter
This competition is open to all doctors and dentists in Ireland who are registered with the Medical Council and the Dental Council respectively. Participants can entry the as an individual or as part of a team made up of up to a maximum of three.
The deadline for submission is 27 February 2026.
How to submit your competition entry
Click to jump to section for full details:
1. Register your interest
Enter your details on our online competition portal – you need to do this before submitting your entry.
2. Preparing your competition entry
The competition themes
The areas of focus are patient safety, risk reduction, and the wellbeing of healthcare professionals.
The research categories
The organisers will consider three research categories for competition entries:
- A Quality Improvement Project (QIP) for patient safety, risk mitigation, and the wellbeing of healthcare professionals.
- A case presentation related to patient safety and risk mitigation.
- A practice-based research project relevant to patient safety, mitigating risk, or the wellbeing of healthcare professionals.
Read our guidelines and terms and conditions to find out more.
Guide to preparing a good competition entry
We’ve created a guide to help you prepare the best entry for submission.
3. How to submit your entry
The deadline for submission is 27 February 2026.
To enter the competition, you’ll need to include the following information with your entry:
- Your professional category: dental or medical
- Whether the project is by an individual or a team
- The research category under which your project falls
- The title of your project
- The rationale for the project
- How the project was undertaken
- The results of the project
- How the results could directly impact medical or dental practice
What is The MPS Foundation?
The MPS Foundation is a global, not-for-profit research initiative that aims to shape the future of patient safety by investing in research, analysis, education, and training.
The MPS Foundation is part of The Medical Protection Society Limited (MPS), the world’s leading protection organisation for doctors, dentists, and healthcare professionals with over 130 years of global healthcare experience and expertise.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to be a member of Medical Protection or Dental Protection to enter the competition?
No, we welcome competition entries from all medical professionals in Ireland registered with the Medical Council or Dental Council.
Who is eligible to participate in the competition?
The competition is open to all medical and dental professionals in Ireland registered with the Medical Council or Dental Council.
How can I register for the competition?
Enter your details on our online competition portal. Please note that you’ll have to register before submitting your entry. Find out more
Can I submit more than one competition entry at the same time?
No, you cannot enter multiple submissions in any one year.
When is the submission deadline?
The deadline for submission is 27 February 2026.
How do I submit my competition entry?
You can submit your entry through our online competition portal. We will not consider competition entries that are submitted any other way. Find out more
What are the prizes and awards for the winners?
The following prizes and awards will be given in both the medical and dental categories:
- Winners: €1,500 and a certificate
- Runners-up: €1,000 and a certificate
- Commended entries: €500 and a certificate
- All awarded entrants will be invited by the MPS Foundation to publish their research for members and the wider healthcare community.
What are the criteria for judging competition entries?
The competition entries will be assessed by a panel of judges. Learn more about the judging criteria and rubric.
How and when will the results be announced?
All winners will be notified by email at the end of June 2026.