Align Technology offers up to $300K in research funds

Align Technology, Inc., the company behind the Invisalign clear aligner system, announced it is offering up to US$300,000 in international research funding in the fields of dentistry and orthodontics.

The company said it is now accepting grants for its 2023 Research Award Program that aims to support university-based clinical and scientific dental research.

Since the fundng initiative started in 2010, the company claims it has awarded university faculties approximately US$2.7 million for scientific and technological research.

Dental research grants by region

The university-based dental research grants are made 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

Grant eligibility and details

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 forwards its recommendations to Align for final selection. Consideration will be given to first-time applications from a university program.

Program details, instructions, and application forms for prospective applicants can be found at https://learn.invisalign.com/research-awards-landing-page (for Americas, EMEA and APAC applicants).

Research proposals and completed applications must be received by 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time on March 3, 2023.

Award recipients will be notified by June 5, 2023.

Press statements

“The further advancement of the field of dentistry and orthodontics is dependent on top quality university research, which improves our understanding of the science of dentistry and addresses issues that may be encountered during treatment,” said John Morton, Align vice president, product innovation and Technical Fellow.

“It is a privilege for Align to be a part of these advancements through funding to researchers all around the globe.”

“As we expand the capabilities of the Align Digital Platform™, our proprietary combination of software, systems and services designed to provide a seamless experience and workflows, we are enabling more clinical and scientific research opportunities through the continuous introduction of digital technologies such as further studies into Near-infrared imaging (“NIRI”) technology, treatment efficiencies related to treatment times and fewer in-person office visits, and insights into treatment effectiveness such as Class II treatment with mandibular advancement,” said Dr Mitra Derakhshan, Align vice president, global clinical.

“We will continue to leverage insights from research studies to enhance the treatment planning experience and further advance digital scanning and clear aligner therapy acceptance.”

About Align Technology, Inc.

Align Technology designs and manufactures the Invisalign system, iTero™ intraoral scanners and services, and exocad™ CAD/CAM software. Over the past 25 years, Align said it has helped doctors treat 14 million patients with the Invisalign system.

It also facilitates the use of digital dentistry through the Align Digital Platform™, an integrated suite of proprietary technologies and services delivered as an end-to-end solution for patients and consumers, orthodontists and GP dentists, and lab/partners.

Click here for more information on Align Technology.