Align Technology, Inc. announced the recipients of its 15th Annual Research Award Program, which provides research funding to university-based investigators in orthodontics and dentistry.
“Research and clinical evidence continue to be at the core of advancing science, which furthers innovation and clinical treatments,” said Dr. Mitra Derakhshan, Align executive vice president, chief clinical officer, global treatment planning and clinical services. “We remain committed to supporting university research worldwide and the meaningful impact it drives in shaping the future of the orthodontic and dental profession.”
The 2026 research award recipients in the Americas are:
- University of Florida (Gainesville, Florida) — Primary Investigator: Dr. Isil Aras
- University of Florida (Gainesville, Florida) — Primary Investigator: Dr. Sarah Hisham Abu Arqub
- Southern Illinois University (Edwardsville, Illinois) — Primary Investigator: Dr. Feras Al Khatib
- University of Alabama (Birmingham, Alabama) — Primary Investigator: Dr. Navdeep Bhusri
The 2026 research award recipients in Europe are:
- Francisco de Vitoria University (Madrid, Spain) — Primary Investigator: Dr. Iván Nieto Sánchez
- Johann Wolfgang Goethe University (Frankfurt, Germany) — Primary Investigator: Dr. Babak Sayahpour
- University of Insubria (Varese and Como, Italy) — Primary Investigator: Dr. Luca Levrini
- Vita-Salute San Raffaele University (Milan, Italy) — Primary Investigator: Dr. Andrea Boggio
The 2026 research award recipients in the Asia-Pacific region are:
- Wuhan University (Wuhan, China) — Primary Investigator: Dr. Sanjie Yeweng
- Sichuan University (Chengdu, China) — Primary Investigator: Dr. Juan Li
- Taipei Medical University (Taipei City, Taiwan) — Primary Investigator: Dr. Daniel De-Shing Chen
- Shandong University (Jinan, China) — Primary Investigator: Dr. Hui Chen
“The scope of research supported through this program highlights the important role of scientific inquiry in advancing dentistry,” said John Morton, Align vice president, technical fellow. “We are proud to support investigators whose work can deepen clinical understanding, inform treatment approaches, and ultimately improve patient care worldwide.”
The funded studies address a range of orthodontic and dental research topics, including apical root resorption during anterior retraction; timing of maxillary lateral incisor restoration during aligner treatment; comparative evaluation of the Invisalign Palatal Expander and conventional expanders in mixed dentition; white spot lesion activity associated with fixed appliances and aligners; retention protocols and post-treatment alignment stability; anterior tooth movement with lingual versus buccal attachments; and enamel characteristics during aligner treatment assessed through scanning electron microscopy and optical microscopy.
Applications were initially reviewed through a blinded evaluation process conducted by an independent academic committee. Final funding decisions were subsequently made by Align Technology.
