Align Technology has extended its funding of the Align Research Award Program for a fourth consecutive year for universities in North America and a third year for international universities.
This year, Align is introducing a new scanner research award component in recognition of the rapid increase in utilization of intraoral scanning technology in the dental profession, the company announced.
Launched in 2009, the Align Research Award Program is an annually funded program designed to promote clinical and scientific research in clear-aligner therapy. With the addition of funding for intraoral scanning research, the awards for 2013 will include four one-year awards of $25,000 for clear-aligner therapy research at universities in North America, six one-year awards of $25,000 for clear aligner therapy research at international universities, and five one-year awards of $5,000 for intraoral scanner research worldwide, for a total award pool of $275,000. Included with each scanner research award is either an iTero scanner provided on loan for one year or a credit of $5,000 toward the purchase of an iTero scanner.
Eligible applicants for the clear aligner research award component include full- and part-time faculty involved in orthodontic or scientific research at universities where Invisalign is available. Eligible applicants to the scanner research award component include full- and part-time faculty involved in research in orthodontics or general dentistry, in countries where the iTero scanner is commercially available.
All applications are reviewed by an independent academic committee that forwards its recommendations to Align for final selection. The academic committee chair for 2013 is Sunil Wadhwa, DDS, PhD, director of the division of orthodontics at the Columbia University College of Dental Medicine. Program details, instructions, and application forms for prospective applicants can be found at www.aligntechinstitute.com/researchawards (for North American applicants) and www.aligntechinstitute.com/internationalresearch (for international applicants).
Research proposals and completed applications must be received by 5:00 p.m. Pacific time on March 1, 2013. Award recipients will be notified by May 10, 2013.
