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

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

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 fifteenth Annual Research Award Program.

“Align is pleased to grant the following research awards that will lead to insights and evidence that advance the science and applicability of treatment for patients of all ages,” said Dr. Mitra Derakhshan, Align executive vice president, chief clinical officer, global treatment planning and clinical services. “We are excited to support university research around the world, and we continue to learn about the findings from the awarded research and their publications.”

The Americas research award recipients for 2025 are:

• University of Alberta (Edmonton, Canada) Primary Investigator - Dr. Carlos Flores-Mir
• University of Florida (Gainesville, FL) Primary Investigator - Dr. Sarah Hisham Abu Arqub
• University of Rochester (Monroe County, NY) Primary Investigator - Dr. Dimitrios Michelogiannakis
• State University of Rio de Janeiro (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) Primary Investigator - Dr. Jonas Capelli Junior

The European research award recipients for 2025 are:

• University of Liège (Wallonia, Belgium) Primary Investigator - Dr. Baurin Basil
• Link Campus University (Rome, Italy) Primary Investigator - Dr. Giuseppina Laganà
• UniCamillus International Medical University (Rome, Italy) Primary Investigator - Dr. Roberta Lione
• Link Campus University (Rome, Italy) Primary Investigator - Dr. Giuseppina Laganà

The Asia Pacific research award recipients for 2025 are:

• Sichuan University (Chengdu, China) Primary Investigator - Dr. Wenli Lai
• Sydney Dental Hospital (Surry Hills, Australia) Primary Investigator - Dr. Narayan H. Gandedkar
• Sichuan University (Chengdu, China) Primary Investigator - Dr. Yating Yi
• Sichuan University (Chengdu, China) Primary Investigator - Dr. Hu Long

“This year the number of applications to the program is the largest since its initiation fifteen years ago,” said John Morton, Align vice president, technical fellow. “The research endeavors funded by this highly competitive program may 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:

• Prediction of adolescent adherence to clear aligner treatment
• Effects of clinical consultation methods on the acceptance of the Invisalign treatment plan
• Evaluation of the precision of clear aligner composite attachment bonding immediately after bonding
• Evaluation of the behavior of biological markers of orthodontic movement in clear aligner treatment
• Impact of 3D imaging visualization tool during orthodontic treatment planning with aligners to reduce periodontal recession occurrence
• Comparison of lower incisors control during treatment with clear aligners versus fixed appliance and class II elastics
• Study of displaced maxillary canines with interceptive treatment by means of clear aligners
• Analysis of tri-dimensional upper and lower arch expansion comparing two protocols for mixed dentition
• Analysis of the predictability of molar intrusion and incisor extrusion with different treatment protocols among open-bite patients treated with Invisalign clear aligners
• Comparison of periodontal health outcomes between Invisalign clear aligners and fixed appliances
• Study orthodontic alveolar bone remodeling in vivo, and investigate possible ways to assess bone remodeling from a 3D perspective
• Evaluation of the clinical efficacy of clear aligners in rotating the occlusal plane and mandibular plane for functional esthetics among skeletal class II high-angle patients

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 281.4 thousand doctor customers and are key to accessing Align’s 600 million consumer market opportunity worldwide. Over the past 28 years, Align has helped doctors treat over 20.1 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.

Invisalign, iTero, exocad, Align, Align Digital Platform and iTero Lumina are trademarks of Align Technology, Inc.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250602024927/en/

"Align is pleased to grant the following research awards that will lead to insights and evidence that advance the science and applicability of treatment for patients of all ages,” said Dr. Mitra Derakhshan, Align EVP, chief clinical officer.