TEMPE, Ariz.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Align Technology, Inc. (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 opening of its 2026 Annual Research Award Program 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’s Research Award Program has funded approximately $3.96 million in research since the program’s inception in 2010.
“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.”