TEMPE, Ariz.— Align Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ: ALGN), a global leader in medical devices for orthodontics and dentistry, has opened its 2026 Annual Research Award Program. The program supports clinical and scientific research at universities worldwide. This year, Align will award up to $300,000 to faculty pursuing projects that aim to improve patient care in orthodontics and dentistry. Since its launch in 2010, the program has funded approximately $3.96 million in research.
“Every year, we are inspired by the innovative proposals from university faculty around the world,” said Dr. Mitra Derakhshan, Align’s executive vice president and chief clinical officer. “The projects supported through our Research Award Program help generate insights that directly improve treatment outcomes and raise the standard of care in orthodontics and dentistry.”
John Morton, Align’s vice president of product innovation, added, “Supporting the academic community is critical to advancing knowledge in dentistry. This program helps faculty worldwide conduct research that can improve clinical results for more patients.”
Award Details by Region
Americas (U.S., Canada, Mexico, Central and South America): Four one-year awards, up to $25,000 each
EMEA: Four one-year awards, up to $25,000 each
APAC: Four one-year awards, up to $25,000 each
Eligible applicants include full-time and part-time university faculty involved in dental or scientific research at institutions where Invisalign® treatment or the iTero™ scanner is available. Applications are reviewed by an independent academic committee, which makes recommendations to Align for final selection. First-time applications from university programs are encouraged.