Align Technology, Inc. has announced the opening of its 2026 Annual Research Award Program, which provides funding for clinical and scientific research in orthodontics and restorative dentistry conducted within academic institutions worldwide. For 2026, up to $300,000 will be allocated to university faculty pursuing projects aimed at advancing patient care and innovation in digital orthodontics and dentistry.
“Each year, we’re inspired by the innovative research proposals submitted by university faculty around the world to advance digital orthodontics and dentistry through science-backed innovation that improves patient care,” said Dr. Mitra Derakhshan, Align executive vice president, chief clinical officer, global treatment planning and clinical services. “The awarded research projects that are supported through our Align Research Award Program help uncover insights that directly impact treatment outcomes and elevate the standard of care in orthodontics and dentistry.”
Since its launch in 2010, the Annual Research Award Program has provided approximately $3.96 million in research funding.
“We believe that empowering the academic community through this funding program is essential to advance knowledge that will drive progress in dentistry to help more doctors achieve better clinical outcomes for their patients,” said John Morton, Align vice president, product innovation and technical fellow. “Through this program, we continue to support the vision and research efforts of the expert faculty members around the globe.”
For 2026, awards will be available to faculty based in the following regions:
- Americas (United States, Canada, Mexico, Central and South America): Four 1-year awards of up to US$25,000 each
- EMEA: Four 1-year awards of up to US$25,000 each
- APAC: Four 1-year awards of up to US$25,000 each
Eligible applicants include full-time or 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 Technology for final selection. Preference may be given to first-time applicants from a university program.
Detailed program information, application instructions, and submission materials are available at https://learn.aligntech.com/pages/61/resources (for applicants in the Americas, EMEA, and APAC). Completed proposals must be received by 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time on March 6, 2026, and award recipients will be notified by June 1, 2026.
