Discover IOF
The International Orthodontics Foundation (IOF) is a not-for-profit organization that serves as a platform for international collaborative innovation.
Academy
Serve as a centralized platform for all online courses, offering a range of educational resources for orthodontic professionals.
Symposium & Events
As a platform for international collaborative innovation, IOF is dedicated to breaking down geographical barriers to make orthodontic advancements accessible to everyone, everywhere.
Research Grants
The Foundation provides researchers with annual Research Grants and Scholarships to support their careers in the fields related to Orthodontics.
The IOF Research Grants Program, supports innovative, evidence-based research that connects scientific discoveries with clinical applications in orthodontics. The program provides financial support, promotes interdisciplinary collaboration, and addresses key challenges in orthodontics and related healthcare fields. Through mentorship and access to a global network of experts and institutions, IOF accelerates research development, enhancing education, patient care, and the advancement of orthodontic practices worldwide.
56
awards
13
awardee countries/regions
35
peer-reviewed publications
246
applications
32
applicant countries/regions
$1M+
funding
What's New in 2026
Since launching the IOF Research Grants Program in 2022 with the Young, Elite, and Clinical categories, IOF has continued to refine its funding structure in response to the evolving needs of orthodontic research. In 2026, the program has been reorganized into three focused tracks: Emerging Innovation Grants (EIG), Advanced Innovation Grants (AIG), and Aligner Clinical Excellence (ACE). Each track supports a specific type and stage of research, from early exploratory ideas to mature translational projects and clinically relevant aligner evidence. This structure allows IOF to apply more appropriate evaluation criteria and provide targeted support for each project. Together, EIG, AIG, and ACE form a comprehensive platform that advances innovation, clinical translation, and evidence-based orthodontic care.
Emerging Innovation Grants
The Emerging Innovation Grants (EIG) offer two categories of one-year seed funding: Early-Stage and Mid-Level grants. These grants prioritize innovation and real-world impact over academic credentials and are open to researchers, engineers, and medical professionals beyond the field of orthodontics. Non-dental applicants must collaborate with an orthodontist, and all projects must be clinically relevant to orthodontics.
Advanced Innovation Grants
The Advanced Innovation Grants (AIG) supports projects beyond early stages, enabling larger-scale applications and multicenter research. It funds research with strong potential for implementation and real-world impact.
Aligner Clinical Excellence
The Aligner Clinical Evidence Grants supports clinically relevant studies focused on clear aligner therapy and digital orthodontics. These grants prioritize meaningful clinical questions, publication-oriented outcomes, and research topics aligned with annual priorities in the aligner field.
