Align Technology Awards $300,000 in Research Grants to Universities Worldwide to Advance Orthodontic and Dental Innovation
Align Technology, Inc. a global leader in digital orthodontics and restorative dentistry, has announced the recipients of its fifteenth Annual Research Award Program, awarding a total of $300,000 in research grants to universities across North America, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific region. The initiative underscores the company’s ongoing commitment to supporting scientific research that advances clinical knowledge, drives innovation, and improves patient outcomes in orthodontics and dentistry.
The annual program recognizes academic institutions and investigators conducting research that has the potential to shape the future of oral healthcare. This year, twelve university-based research projects were selected from a highly competitive pool of submissions and will receive funding to pursue studies focused on a broad range of orthodontic and dental topics.
Align Technology is widely recognized for developing and manufacturing the Invisalign System of clear aligners, iTero intraoral scanners, and exocad CAD/CAM software, technologies that have helped transform digital treatment planning and patient care in orthodontics and restorative dentistry. Through its research award program, the company seeks to foster scientific inquiry and encourage the development of evidence-based approaches that can further enhance clinical practice.
According to Dr. Mitra Derakhshan, Executive Vice President, Chief Clinical Officer, Global Treatment Planning and Clinical Services at Align Technology, scientific research remains essential to advancing the profession and supporting innovation.
Research and clinical evidence continue to be at the core of advancing science, which furthers innovation and clinical treatments,” said Derakhshan. “We remain committed to supporting university research worldwide and the meaningful impact it drives in shaping the future of the orthodontic and dental profession.”
Supporting Global Research Excellence
The 2026 research awards were distributed across three major geographic regions: the Americas, Europe, and Asia-Pacific. The selected institutions represent some of the leading academic centers conducting cutting-edge investigations in orthodontics, craniofacial biology, dental materials, and digital dentistry.
Americas Research Award Recipients
Four grants were awarded to institutions in the United States, supporting projects led by experienced researchers and emerging academic leaders.
The recipients include:
- University of Florida (Gainesville, Florida) – Principal Investigator: Dr. Isil Aras
- University of Florida (Gainesville, Florida) – Principal Investigator: Dr. Sarah Hisham Abu Arqub
- Southern Illinois University (Edwardsville, Illinois) – Principal Investigator: Dr. Feras Al Khatib
- University of Alabama (Birmingham, Alabama) – Principal Investigator: Dr. Navdeep Bhusri
These research teams will explore clinical and biological questions relevant to orthodontic treatment effectiveness, patient outcomes, and long-term treatment stability.
European Research Award Recipients
Four grants were also awarded to universities across Europe, reflecting the region’s strong tradition of academic excellence in dental and orthodontic research.
The European award recipients include:
- Francisco de Vitoria University (Madrid, Spain) – Principal Investigator: Dr. Iván Nieto Sánchez
- Johann Wolfgang Goethe University (Frankfurt, Germany) – Principal Investigator: Dr. Babak Sayahpour
- University of Insubria (Varese and Como, Italy) – Principal Investigator: Dr. Luca Levrini
- Vita-Salute San Raffaele University (Milan, Italy) – Principal Investigator: Dr. Andrea Boggio
The funded studies are expected to contribute new insights into treatment mechanics, patient care protocols, and emerging technologies that can enhance orthodontic outcomes.
Asia-Pacific Research Award Recipients
The Asia-Pacific region also received four research grants, highlighting the growing influence of dental and orthodontic research institutions throughout the region.
The selected universities include:
- Wuhan University (Wuhan, China) – Principal Investigator: Dr. Sanjie Yeweng
- Sichuan University (Chengdu, China) – Principal Investigator: Dr. Juan Li
- Taipei Medical University (Taipei City, Taiwan) – Principal Investigator: Dr. Daniel De-Shing Chen
- Shandong University (Jinan, China) – Principal Investigator: Dr. Hui Chen
These institutions are recognized for their contributions to clinical dentistry and orthodontics and will investigate research questions aimed at improving treatment precision, patient experiences, and long-term oral health outcomes.
Diverse Research Topics Addressing Clinical Challenges
The projects selected for funding span a wide range of scientific and clinical topics that reflect current challenges and opportunities in orthodontic treatment.
Among the key areas of investigation are studies examining apical root resorption during anterior tooth retraction, a condition that can affect tooth roots during orthodontic movement and remains an important area of clinical research. Other projects will focus on the timing of restoration for maxillary lateral incisors during aligner therapy, helping clinicians better understand treatment sequencing and aesthetic outcomes.
Researchers will also evaluate the performance of the Invisalign Palatal Expander compared with traditional expansion devices in patients with mixed dentition. Such studies could provide valuable evidence regarding treatment effectiveness, patient comfort, and long-term outcomes in growing patients.
Additional investigations will compare the occurrence and progression of white spot lesions in patients treated with fixed orthodontic appliances versus clear aligners. White spot lesions, which represent early enamel demineralization, are a common concern during orthodontic treatment and can affect both aesthetics and oral health.
Another important research area involves the stability of orthodontic alignment during retention, examining how different retention protocols influence long-term treatment success. Understanding the factors that contribute to maintaining tooth alignment remains a critical challenge for orthodontists worldwide.
Researchers will also study anterior tooth movement using lingual versus buccal attachments, providing insights into the biomechanics of aligner therapy and helping clinicians optimize treatment planning.
In addition, several projects will investigate enamel characteristics during aligner treatment using advanced imaging technologies such as scanning electron microscopy and optical microscopy. These studies aim to improve understanding of how orthodontic treatment affects tooth surfaces at the microscopic level and may help guide future preventive care strategies.
Strengthening Evidence-Based Dentistry
John Morton, Vice President and Technical Fellow at Align Technology, emphasized that scientific inquiry remains a cornerstone of progress in modern dentistry.
The scope of research supported through this program highlights the important role of scientific inquiry in advancing dentistry,” Morton said. “We are proud to support investigators whose work can deepen clinical understanding, inform treatment approaches, and ultimately improve patient care worldwide.”
As orthodontics continues to evolve through digital technologies, artificial intelligence, advanced imaging, and personalized treatment planning, research plays a vital role in validating new approaches and ensuring that innovations deliver meaningful benefits for patients and clinicians alike.
Programs such as Align Technology’s Annual Research Award initiative provide academic investigators with resources to pursue studies that may otherwise face funding limitations. The resulting findings often contribute to peer-reviewed publications, clinical guidelines, and educational programs that influence dental practice around the world.
Rigorous Selection Process
To ensure fairness and scientific integrity, all applications submitted to the 2026 program underwent a rigorous review process. Research proposals were first evaluated anonymously by an independent academic committee, which assessed the scientific merit, relevance, methodology, and potential impact of each study.
The committee prioritized projects through a blind-review process before final funding decisions were made by Align Technology. This approach helps ensure that award recipients are selected based on the quality and potential significance of their research rather than institutional reputation alone.
Advancing the Future of Orthodontics
Now in its fifteenth year, Align Technology’s Annual Research Award Program has become an important source of support for academic research in orthodontics and dentistry. By investing in university-led studies around the world, the company continues to promote evidence-based care, encourage innovation, and foster collaboration between researchers and clinicians.
As the newly funded projects move forward, their findings are expected to contribute valuable knowledge that can enhance treatment planning, improve patient outcomes, and advance the science of digital orthodontics and restorative dentistry for years to come.
About Align Technology, Inc.
Align Technology designs and manufactures the Invisalign® System, the most advanced clear aligner system in the world, iTero™ intraoral scanners and services, and exocad™ CAD/CAM software. These technology building blocks enable enhanced digital orthodontic and restorative workflows to improve patient outcomes and practice efficiencies for approximately 299.5 thousand doctor customers and are key to accessing Align’s 600 million consumer market opportunity worldwide. Over the past 29 years, Align has helped doctors treat approximately 22.8 million patients with the Invisalign System and is driving the evolution in digital dentistry through the Align™ Digital Platform, our integrated suite of unique, proprietary technologies and services delivered as a seamless, end-to-end solution for patients and consumers, orthodontists and GP dentists, and lab/partners.
