The UI College of Dentistry and Dental Clinics is a global leader in oral science and dental and craniofacial research
Dental Research with a lasting impact
At the forefront of innovation, the College of Dentistry is advancing oral health research with a mission to address both foundational and emerging challenges in dental science. Our research spans a wide range of topics, from improving patient outcomes and developing new technologies to tackling the underlying causes of oral diseases. Each study, whether in the lab or clinic, reflects our commitment to enhancing the quality of life for individuals and communities around the world.
Over the last several years, the UI College of Dentistry has more than doubled its external research funding from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), vaulting from 24th in the nation and $2.2M to 13th overall and $4.8M in the latest rankings.
8
# 13
$ 26M +
40 %
Research News
Iowa Dentistry Well Represented at the 2026 National Oral Health Conference
Thursday, April 23, 2026
Faculty, students, residents, and alumni from the University of Iowa College of Dentistry and Dental Clinics had strong representation at this year’s National Oral Health Conference, which brings together leaders in dental public health from across the country.
Hongli Sun's research team has their work recognized as a top‑cited article
Tuesday, April 7, 2026
Research led by Hongli Sun has received national recognition for its impact in the field of biomaterials science. A paper published in the Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part B: Applied Biomaterials has been named one of the journal’s top 10 most‑cited articles published in 2024, according to the publisher Wiley.
How research at Iowa is rethinking the way cavities are treated
Wednesday, March 25, 2026
Dental caries are the most prevalent disease in the world and at the University of Iowa College of Dentistry and Dental Clinics, researchers are exploring novel ways to stop caries progression and promote repair.
Iowa student research group earns national recognition for most abstracts accepted at 2026 national meeting
Thursday, March 5, 2026
The University of Iowa College of Dentistry and Dental Clinics Student Research Group has been named the recipient of the AADOCR National Student Research Group (NSRG) contest for having the most student abstracts accepted for presentation at the 2026 IADR/AADOCR/CADR General Session & Exhibition in San Diego.
Iowa research group earns national recognition for most abstracts at Accepted at 2026 IADR/AADOCR/CADR
Friday, February 27, 2026
The University of Iowa College of Dentistry and Dental Clinics Student Research Group has been recognized for having the most student abstracts accepted for presentation at the 2026 IADR/AADOCR/CADR General Session & Exhibition.
A Tapestry of Support: Four Professionals Strengthening Iowa Dentistry’s Research Enterprise
Monday, February 23, 2026
The College of Dentistry’s research enterprise is strengthened by four dedicated professionals whose work supports faculty, students, and trainees. Sheila Britton, Sara Miller, Abby Thomas, and Michael Tilley each play vital roles that ensure Iowa Dentistry’s research remains collaborative, organized, well communicated, and poised for continued excellence.
Uncovering the Hidden World of Oral Viruses
Tuesday, February 17, 2026
Shareef Dabdoub is advancing understanding of the oral virome through an NIH R03 grant. His research uses advanced sequencing and computational tools to explore how viruses shape oral health. This work lays the foundation for future precision approaches that may more effectively support healthy microbial communities.
2026 AADOCR Iowa Section Meeting Highlights
Wednesday, February 11, 2026
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.
Building a Safer Dental Clinic: Jeremiah Poppen’s Research on Incident Reporting
Wednesday, February 11, 2026
Jeremiah Poppen, a dental student in the Student Research Program mentored by Kecia Leary, analyzed patient safety incident reports before and after a new reporting system at the College of Dentistry. His findings highlight changing patterns in safety events and support a stronger culture of prevention, documentation, and improved care for patients and providers.
2026 AADOCR Research Day Photo Gallery
Wednesday, February 11, 2026
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.