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

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 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.

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.

Public Policy Center and 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 1991, the Public Policy Center has investigated a broad range of dental topics in collaboration with investigators at the University of Iowa College of Dentistry and Dental Clinics focusing on conducting research that informs oral health policy at local, state, and national levels.