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

Rhea-AI Summary

Align Technology announced the award of $300,000 in research grants to universities worldwide as part of their Annual Research Awards Program. Twelve research grants were awarded to institutions in the Americas, Europe, and Asia Pacific. The recipients include prestigious universities like the University of Washington, University of Florida, and Sichuan University. The research covers various topics, including molar distalization, oral microbiome analysis, and the efficacy of probiotics on biofilm around aligners. Dr. Mitra Derakhshan emphasized the importance of these grants in advancing dental research. John Morton noted the high number of applications and the global impact of the research.

Positive

• Align Technology awarded $300,000 in research grants, supporting global dental and orthodontic research.
• Twelve universities received grants, indicating a broad and diverse research focus.
• Research topics include advanced areas like oral microbiome analysis and efficacy of probiotics, which can lead to significant advancements.
• The high number of applications reflects the program's credibility and Align's commitment to innovation.
• Supporting global research aligns with expanding market opportunities and enhancing the company's technological leadership.

Negative

• The amount of $300,000, while significant, may be seen as relatively modest in the context of global research funding.
• No detailed financial impact analysis provided on how these grants will affect Align's overall financial health.
• Potential for research findings to not immediately translate into marketable products or revenue.

$300,000 in Research Grants Awarded as Part of its Ongoing Annual Research Awards Program

TEMPE, Ariz.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Align Technology, Inc. (“Align”) (Nasdaq: ALGN) a leading global medical device company that designs, manufactures, and sells the Invisalign® system of clear aligners, iTero™ intraoral scanners, and exocad™ CAD/CAM software for digital orthodontics and restorative dentistry, today 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. Visit www.aligntech.com for more information.

For additional information about the Invisalign system or to find an Invisalign doctor in your area, please visit www.invisalign.com. For additional information about the iTero digital scanning system, please visit www.itero.com. For additional information about exocad dental CAD/CAM offerings and a list of exocad reseller partners, please visit www.exocad.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240603171260/en/

Align Technology

Madelyn Valente

Align Technology, Inc.

(909) 833-5839

mvalente@aligntech.com

Press Contact

Zeno Group

Sarah Johnson

(828) 551-4201

sarah.johnson@zenogroup.com

Source: Align Technology, Inc.

FAQ

What is the value of the research grants awarded by Align Technology?

Align Technology awarded a total of $300,000 in research grants.

Which universities received Align Technology's research grants in 2024?

Recipients include the University of Washington, University of Florida, University of California San Francisco, and several others globally.

What research topics are covered by the Align Technology grants?

Research topics include molar distalization, oral microbiome, mixed dentition treatment, and efficacy of probiotics on biofilm around aligners.

Who is the primary investigator from the University of Washington receiving the Align Technology grant?

Dr. Sanghee Lee is the primary investigator from the University of Washington.

How many years has Align Technology been running the Annual Research Awards Program?

Align Technology has been running the Annual Research Awards Program for fourteen years.