Dr. Michael Chavez, first-year resident in the Department of Orthodontics, has received a 2026 American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) Foundation Research Award.

The College of Dentistry hosted the 73rd Annual meeting of the Iowa Section of the American Assocation for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research on Tuesday, February 10. The day featured faculty presentations and student oral and poster presentations around the Dental Science Building, followed by a reception for the awards ceremony later that evening.

Aline Petrin, assistant professor of orthodontics, received a CRISP grant to complete genetic screening of patients with Van der Woude syndrome. Her study will help clarify how genetic mutations influence disease severity and support future research into epigenetic factors that shape cleft phenotypes and guide individualized treatment strategies.

The University of Iowa College of Dentistry is proud to highlight Dr. Maura Vroman, whose journey in orthodontics has had a profoundly positive impact on both her patients and her students in the classroom. With a career dedicated to continuous learning and putting the patient first, Dr. Vroman has become a valuable resource within our adjunct faculty.

The University of Iowa College of Dentistry and Dental Clinics made a strong impression at the 2025 International Association for Dental Research (IADR) General Session, held June 25–28 in Barcelona, Spain.

Brad Amendt’s lab received an NIH R56 grant with total costs $480,840 for 1 year to investigate the role of the IRX1 gene in the regulation of oral tissue repair and maintenance.

Dr. Waheed Awotoye was awarded the prestigious Harry Sicher Research Award at the AAO annual meeting.