The University of Iowa College of Dentistry and Dental Clinics is a global leader in oral science and dental and craniofacial research.
A $61 million renovation of the Dental Science Building—completed in 2016—modernized dental clinics and enhanced research facilities at the college. In 2017, the college also began sustained investments in research infrastructure to make full use of its facilities, including multiple grant support specialists, a director of science writing and editing, and the Division of Biostatistics and Computational Biology. These renovations, and investments in infrastructure, along with a focus on recruiting, hiring, and supporting new researchers has resulted in a record number of external grant funds, largely from the National Institutes of Health, and a record number of grant applications.
Top 10 in NIDCR Research Funding
In 2020, the University of Iowa was ranked 10th in the country, and 2nd in the Big Ten, for the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) funding with just over $6.4M,
Research Faculty
Faculty who are affiliated with the Iowa Institute for Oral Health Research make a difference in basic science, translational, and clinical research.
Graduate Studies
Programs in eleven dental specialties and in oral science.
Iowa Section of the AADOCR
Promoting oral, dental, and craniofacial research.
Dental Student Research
Bringing research and education together.
Seed Grant Program
CRISP Pilot Grants
Research Support
Research News
Dentistry professor explores post removal strategies for generalists
Supporting Excellence: Iowa Dentistry’s Research Support Team
Iowa Periodontist examines the function of PGRPs in periodontal disease
Photo Gallery: 2024 Research Day
Student Research Profile: Improving Dry Mouth and Oral Health in Older Populations with Dentures
Preventive Oral Health Care for Toddlers and Infants
Spearheading an International Network of Cleft Lip and Palate Research for African Populations
Iowa Dentistry Announces 2024 Seed Grant Awards
NIH Awards Fitzjerrells Training Grant to Investigate Relationship Between Oral Microbiome and Multiple Sclerosis
Research grant awarded to orthodontics faculty extending research on the epigenetic causes of orofacial clefting
NIH awards supplemental grant to dental faculty member
Iowa dental faculty receive grant to investigate genetic factors associated with periodontitis
T90/R90 Oral Health Research Training Grant renewed
Iowa Dentistry researchers receive NIH grant to investigate genetic causes of tooth development
Iowa dental researchers selected for OVPR Award
NIH awards subcontract to Iowa Dentistry researchers
NIH Awards Nguyen Training Grant to Investigate Midface Development
Pilot study: Options for custom tray and record base design for complete dentures
Hongli Sun selected for Iowa Mid-Career Award
Iowa Dentistry faculty receives grants from the Academy of Osseointegration
New Frontiers in Teledentistry
Postdoctoral researcher awarded National Dental Association Foundation scholarship
2023 National Oral Health Conference
Iowa takes the AADOCR by storm
Industry-University partnership to evaluate healing of apical periodontitis
Twins and the causes of orofacial clefting
Pilot study investigating intra-oral scanners for post and crown placement receives clinical research grant
Dental student researcher studies craniofacial biology at Iowa
Iowa’s Groundbreaking Oral Cancer Program
Dental faculty named AAAS Fellow
The College of Dentistry Announces 2023 Seed Grant Awards
Iowa Dental Faculty awarded major National Institutes of Health R01 grant
Iowa represents at the 2022 American Academy of Periodontology
Periodontics faculty awarded Young Researcher Grant
Iowa dental researcher receives supplemental NIH award
Dentistry faculty receives Nakao Foundation grant to compare restoration outcomes for older adults
Pilot study investigating jaw disorders among college students receives clinical research grant
NIH awards grant to Iowa dental faculty
Dentistry faculty receives industry-sponsored grant to evaluate a new 2-step universal adhesive
NIH R01 grant awarded to orthodontics faculty
Project evaluating photography in shade matching receives clinical research grant
Dentistry faculty receives industry-sponsored grant to improve ceramic veneers outcomes
Dry mouth project receives clinical research grant
Iowa graduate student receives inaugural IADR Smile Train Cleft Research Award
NIH awards Semprini Training Grant for Oral Cancer Project
Butali recognized for his efforts as a mentor
Iowa at the 2022 National Oral Health Conference
Iowa Pediatric Dentist Making a Difference for Low-Income Cavity Prevention
Ingleshwar Earns Leverett Graduate Student Merit Award
Iowa Dentistry Faculty Receive Industry Grant for Restorative Dental Materials Research
Two Iowa Dental Students Earn NIH Student Research Awards
Levy Awarded Grant to Develop and Implement New Specialized Statistical Analyses of Iowa Fluoride Study Data
Iowa Operative Dentist Receives Industry Grant to Investigate Restorative Dental Materials
Developing a Comprehensive Understanding the Oral Microbiome and Its Impact on Overall Health
The Genetics of Cleft Lip and Palate for the Zulu Population in South Africa
Improving Dental Outcomes for Underserved Populations
Incorporating Dental Care into Palliative Care
Patient-Centered Dental Home, Dental Quality Indicators Clearinghouse Release
UI Oral Cancer Researcher Receives Grant to Improve Machine Learning for Cancer Evaluation
Iowa Computational Biology Researcher Receives USDA Grant to Study Drought Resistance in Plants
The College of Dentistry Announces 2021 Seed Grant Awards
Biomedical Engineering Graduate Student Awarded NIH Grant for Dissertation Project
Leonardo Marchini Receives Grant to Support Final Development of Ageism Evaluation Tool
NIH Awards Cristina Vidal $700K+ Grant
Augment Your Research with the BigMouth Dental Data Repository
College of Dentistry Ranks in Top 10 in NIDCR Research Funding
Ganesan and Team Receive $75K Carver Trust COVID-19 Pilot Collaborative Award
Bone Regeneration: Making a Fantasy a Reality
Personalizing Implant Therapy to Improve Outcomes
The Genetics of Bone Formation
College of Dentistry Awarded $600K+ in P3 Funds to Begin Developing a New Oral Cancer Center of Excellence
NIH Awards Huojun Cao a 2-year Grant for Over $400K
Research Events
Annual IPHPRP Global Health Case Competition
Research Areas
Biostatistics and Computational Biology
The University of Iowa College of Dentistry Division of Biostatistics and Computational Biology provides state-of-the-art and cost-effective biostatistics and bioinformatics support for all the research projects conducted at the college
Bioengineering, Tissue Engineering, Stem Cells, Biomaterials and Materials Research
The University of Iowa College of Dentistry is a worldwide leader in the use of bio- and tissue-engineering of stem cells, biomaterials, and other materials to produce new and exciting therapies.
Clinical, Translational, and Big Data Research
Dental researchers at the college have a strong history of pursuing clinical and translational research in a collaborative and supportive environment with the goal of improving patient care. These efforts are now being augmented by big data resources.
Craniofacial, Oral Biology, Genetics, and Dental Development
The University of Iowa College of Dentistry is a worldwide leader in the genetics of craniofacial and dental development with the aim of identifying genetic and environmental causes of craniofacial and dental anomalies.
Immunology, Inflammation, Microbiology, Caries, and Microbiome Research
The University of Iowa College of Dentistry is a worldwide leader in studies of microbiology and the microbiome and their effects on caries progression, periodontal disease and on oral cancer.
Oral Cancer
With expertise in several related fields, the University of Iowa College of Dentistry is becoming a worldwide leader in oral cancer research. These research efforts can improve early detection, diagnosis, and treatment of oral cancer and significantly improve survival rates and reduce morbidity.
Oral Health Policy Research
Oral health is a vital component of our physical, social, and emotional well-being. Evidence increasingly links dental disease with poor health outcomes, including preterm birth and low birth weight, as well as heart disease. Since the 1990s, Iowa's oral health policy researchers have investigated a broad range of dental topics, focusing on conducting research that informs oral health policy at local, state, and national levels.
Public Health, Epidemiology, and Behavior Science
The University of Iowa College of Dentistry is a worldwide and national leader in dental public health with specific attention on support for underserved populations and environmental influences on oral health.