Orthodontic and dental research grant applications open for 2018

Align Technology, Inc., creator of the Invisalign system, the most advanced clear aligner system in the world, and iTero intraoral scanners and services, has announced the opening of its 2018 Research Award Programme to support clinical and scientific dental research in universities across the globe. This year, up to $300,000 will be awarded to university faculty for scientific and technological research initiatives to advance patient care in the fields of orthodontics and dentistry.

Align Technology has funded over $1.7 million in research awards since its inception in 2010 providing insights which include 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. For example, treatment with Invisalign clear aligners finished five months faster on average than treatment with braces based on the awarded research.

Awards available for 2018 are four one-year awards of up to $25,000 each for dental research at universities in North America and eight one-year awards of up to $25,000 each for dental research at international universities.

Eligible applicants for the dental research award component include full- and part-time faculty involved in dental or scientific research at universities at which Invisalign treatment is available. All applications are reviewed by an independent academic committee that forwards its recommendations to Align Technology for final selection. Programme details, instructions, and application forms for prospective applicants can be found at https://learn.invisalign.com/internationalresearch for international applicants. Research proposals and completed applications must be received by 5:00 pm Pacific Standard Time on 2 March 2018. Award recipients will be notified by 1 June 2018.