Enabling research and innovation

In 2010, Align Technology began the Research Award Program with the goal to support clinical and scientific orthodontic and dental research in universities across the globe. Since its inception in 2010, we have funded over $3 million in research awards. Research has provided insights into various areas including tooth movement efficacy with clear aligner therapy, oral hygiene and microbial bacteria presence or absence with clear aligners, and comparisons in quality of life with aligners as compared to fixed appliances.

Align recently announced the opening of its 2025 Annual Research Award Program to support clinical and scientific dental research in universities across the globe. This year, up to $300,000 will be awarded to university faculty for scientific and technological research initiatives to advance patient care in the fields of orthodontics and dentistry. Align Technology’s Research Award Program has funded approximately $3.75 million in research since the program’s inception in 2010.

Awards available for dental research at universities are available in the following regions:

• Americas (US, Canada, Mexico, Central and South America): Four one-year awards of up to US$25,000 each
• EMEA: Four one-year awards of up to US$25,000 each
• APAC: Four one-year awards of up to US$25,000 each

Eligible applicants for dental research awards include full-time and part-time faculty involved in dental or scientific research at universities where Invisalign® treatment or the iTero™ scanner is available. All applications are reviewed by an independent academic committee that then forwards its recommendations to Align for final selection. Program details, instructions, and application forms for prospective applicants can be found athttps://learn.aligntech.com/pages/61/resources(for Americas, EMEA, and APAC applicants).

Research proposals and completed applications must be received by 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time on March 7, 2025. Award recipients will be notified by June 2, 2025.