Align Technology, Inc. (“Align”) (NASDAQ: ALGN), a leading global medical device company that designs, manufactures and markets the Invisalign clear aligner system, iTero intraoral scanners and exocad CAD/CAM software for digital orthodontic and restorative dentistry, recently announced the awarding of twelve research grants to universities under the company’s fifteenth annual Research Awards Program.
“Align is honored to recognize the following research awards that will generate insights and evidence to advance the science and applicability of treatments for patients of all ages,” said Dr. Mitra Derakhshan, Executive Vice President and Chief Clinical Officer, Global Head of Therapeutic Programs and Clinical Services at Align.
We are excited to support university research around the world and will continue to learn about the outcomes of the winning research and its publications.”
The 2025 Americas Research Award winners are:
University of Alberta (Edmonton, Canada) – Principal Investigator – Dr. Carlos Flores-Mir
University of Florida (Gainesville, Florida) – Principal Investigator – Dr. Sarah Hisham Abu Arqub
University of Rochester (Monroe County, New York) – Principal Investigator – Dr. Dimitrios Michelogiannakis
State University of Rio de Janeiro (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) – Principal Investigator – Dr. Jonas Capelli Junior
The 2025 Europe Research Award winners are:
University of Liège (Wallonia, Belgium) – Principal Investigator – Dr. Baurin Basil
Link Campus University (Rome, Italy) — Principal Investigator — Dr. Giuseppina Laganà
Camillos International Medical University (Rome, Italy) — Principal Investigator — Dr. Roberta Lione
Link Campus University (Rome, Italy) — Principal Investigator — Dr. Giuseppina Laganà
The 2025 Asia Pacific Research Award winners are:
Sichuan University (Chengdu, China) — Principal Investigator — Dr. Wenli Lai
Sydney Dental Hospital (Surry Hills, Australia) — Principal Investigator — Dr. Narayan H. Gandedkar
Sichuan University (Chengdu, China) — Principal Investigator — Dr. Yating Yi
Sichuan University (Chengdu, China) — Principal Investigator — Dr. Long Hu
“This year, we had the most applications for the program since it started fifteen years ago,” said John Morton, Vice President and Technical Fellow at Align.
“This competitive program will fund research projects that have the potential to advance dental science and improve dental care worldwide. We are honored to provide this opportunity to outstanding university researchers from around the world.”
The funded research covers a wide range of areas, including:
Predicting compliance with clear aligner treatment in adolescents
The impact of clinical consultation style on Invisalign treatment acceptance
Evaluation of bonding accuracy immediately after bonding of clear aligner composite attachments
Evaluation of the behavior of orthodontic movement biomarkers during clear aligner treatment
The impact of 3D imaging visualization tools in orthodontic treatment planning to reduce periodontal recession
Comparison of the control of lower incisors during treatment with clear aligners, fixed appliances, and Class II elastics
A study of clear aligner blockade treatment of displaced maxillary canines
Analysis of maxillary and mandibular 3D expansion in two mixed dentition plans
Prediction of molar intrusion and incisor extrusion in open-bite patients treated with Invisalign clear aligners
Invisalign Comparison of periodontal health outcomes between clear and fixed braces
Study on in vivo reconstruction of orthodontic alveolar bone and possible methods for evaluating bone reconstruction from a three-dimensional perspective
Evaluation of the clinical aesthetic effects of clear braces on occlusal and mandibular plane rotation in patients with skeletal Class II high angles
All award applications received will first be blindly reviewed by an independent academic committee and the priority will be determined. The final winner will be determined by Align Technology.