10 June 2024

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Align Technology Awards Funding to Universities Worldwide for Advancing Orthodontic and Dental Research

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

“Align is delighted to announce the awards for research that leads to insights and evidence that advance the applicability of treatment for patients of all ages. We are pleased to support university research around the world in the orthodontic and dental fields,” said Dr. Mitra Derakhshan, Align executive vice president, chief clinical officer, global treatment planning and clinical services. “We are excited to learn about the findings from all of the awarded research and any future publications.”

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

“This year the number of applications to the program is one of the largest since its initiation fourteen years ago,” said John Morton, Align vice president, technical fellow. “The publications and lectures resulting from these research endeavors advance the science of dentistry and aim to improve the dental care of the global community. We are proud to provide this opportunity to these excellent university researchers throughout the world.”

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.

About Align Technology, Inc.

Align Technology designs and manufactures the Invisalign system, the most advanced clear aligner system in the world, iTero intraoral scanners and services, and exocad CAD/CAM software. These technology building blocks enable enhanced digital orthodontic and restorative workflows to improve patient outcomes and practice efficiencies for over 261 thousand doctor customers and is key to accessing Align’s 600 million consumer market opportunity worldwide.

Align has helped doctors treat over 17.6 million patients with the Invisalign system and is driving the evolution in digital dentistry through the Align Digital Platform, our integrated suite of unique, proprietary technologies and services delivered as a seamless, end-to-end solution for patients and consumers, orthodontists and GP dentists, and lab/partners.

Source: www.aligntech.com