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 award of twelve research grants to universities under the company’s fourteenth Annual Research Award Program.

The Americas research award recipients for 2024 are

• University of Washington (Seattle, WA) - Primary Investigator, Dr. Sanghee Lee
• University of Florida (Gainesville, FL) - Primary Investigator, Dr. Sarah Hisham Abu Arqub
• University of California San Francisco (San Francisco, CA) - Primary Investigator, Dr. Christine Hong
• University of Kentucky (Lexington, KY) - Primary Investigator, Dr. Mohamed Bazina

The European research award recipients for 2024 are:

• UniCamillus International Medical University (Rome, Italy) - Primary Investigator, Dr. Chiara Pavoni
• University of Insubria (Varese and Como, Italy) - Primary Investigator, Dr. Luca Levrini
• UniCamillus International Medical University (Rome, Italy) - Primary Investigator, Dr. Roberta Lione
• University of L’Aquila (L’Aquila, Italy) - Primary Investigator, Dr. Silvia Caruso

The Asia Pacific research award recipients for 2024 are:

• Sichuan University (Chengdu, China) - Primary Investigator, Dr. Hu Long
• Institute of Dental Studies and Technologies (Kadrabad, Ghaziabad, India) - Primary Investigator, Dr. Vikas Thakur
• Chulalongkorn University (Bangkok, Thailand) - Primary Investigator, Dr. Sirichom Satrawaha
• Ragas Dental College and Hospital (Uthandi, Tamil Nadu, India) - Primary Investigator, Dr. N.R. Krishnaswamy

The funded research studies cover a wide range of topics including: maxillary molar distalization in adult aligner patients, comparing the oral microbiome between fixed orthodontic treatment and compared it to individuals undergoing orthodontic interventions utilizing removable clear aligners, evaluating early mixed dentition treatment, evaluating the effects of different interproximal reduction (IPR) systems on enamel surfaces, comparing the smile esthetics including both objectives (smile arc, buccal corridor and incisor exposure), and evaluating the efficacy of different types of probiotics on biofilm formed around clear aligners.

All award applications received were first reviewed and prioritized in a blind evaluation by an independent academic committee. The final recipients were then determined by Align Technology.