ADA Foundation Award Programs

The Oral-B Promising Researcher Award (Award period currently closed and the 2025-2026 recipient will be announced November 2025): Expected RPF to Open: Spring 2026

The Crest and Oral-B Promising Researcher Award
The ADA Foundation Crest and Oral-B Promising Researcher Award promotes and recognizes excellence in oral health research. This annual award provides $5,000 to a promising researcher focused on preventive dentistry. Eligible candidates may be involved in basic, translational or clinical research. Award funds will enable the winning candidate to attend one or more scientific conferences to further their knowledge or skills or to present findings. Award funds can be used for expenses such as conference registration fees, travel expenses, meals and lodging. Degree candidates must conduct oral health research in preventive dentistry while enrolled in one of the following degree programs at an eligible institution:

• D.D.S. or D.M.D.
• D.D.S./D.M.D. and Ph.D. dual degree
• Advanced Dental Education
• Ph.D. or equivalent
• M.P.H., M.S. or equivalent
• Foreign equivalent

The Dr. David Whiston Leadership Award: Expected RFP to Open: Spring 2026

The Dr. David Whiston Leadership Award provides $5,000 to a deserving individual to cover the costs associated with attending a leadership program offered by the American Management Association or a course approved by the ADAF. The award funds can be used to pay for:

• Tuition and fees for the course selected;
• Travel expenses;
• Meals, and
• Lodging, if necessary.

The individual selected for this award will be eligible to attend a number of programs offered by the American Management Association (AMA). AMA programs are offered in most major cities in the U.S., making travel easy.  AMA courses can be viewed here: www.amanet.org.

Alternatively, the award recipient may propose a course with comparable content by a different provider for advance written approval by the ADAF. 

The 2025 Dr. David Whiston Leadership Award Recipient