What are the opening hours?

Monday 9am - 5pm Tuesday 9am - 5pm Wednesday 9am - 6pm Thursday 9am - 6pm Friday 9am - 5pm

The ADA Forsyth Institute

Home
United States
Boston, MA
The ADA Forsyth Institute

Welcome to The ADA Forsyth Institute, the only independent research institute in the country specializing

Founded in 1910 as a dental infirmary for disadvantaged children, the Forsyth Institute has a proud history of not just meeting the oral health needs of kids – but exceeding the traditional limits of oral medicine. In the mid-1900s, researchers at Boston-based Forsyth revolutionized the oral health profession when they discovered the connections between dental decay and bacteria. Building on these

revelations, the Institute has become an independent research organization dedicated to advancing human health and well being through scientific discovery and education. Although our hallmark is the study of oral health, our focus has widened over time to include the investigation of such diverse areas as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and regenerative medicine. We have adopted this multidisciplinary research approach in order to analyze and prevent the severe systemic ramifications of oral infections. The world's most trusted authority in our field, we have a reputation for redefining convention – and we've made a century-long commitment to the community. Our work has inspired our profession to re-examine the scientific basis for oral disease. Today, the gifted scholars from around the globe who join our quest are dedicated to achieving a new generation of breakthroughs in oral health and disease prevention. Forsyth, an independent non-profit organization, is affiliated with Harvard School of Dental Medicine and Harvard Medical School and has collaborations with university and research organizations around the world.

07/24/2025

⛳️ Highlights from an incredible day at Renaissance Golf Club

This week’s Networking and Golf Fundraiser brought together leaders from oral health, life sciences, and beyond to support ADA Forsyth in improving oral health through cutting-edge research and impactful community programs.

🏆 Congratulations to our winning foursome, who won with a clutch eagle on the last hole: Alex Belanger and Trever Scanlon of TRITECH Communications, and James Mariano and Andrew Feibelman of JLL.

The biggest winners are our community programs like ForsythKids, which delivers free dental care to children, ForsythCares, which provides dental care to the elderly, and the Forsyth Student Scholars program, which gives high school students hands-on lab experience alongside top scientists.

Thank you to everyone who joined us in making a difference. We are especially grateful to Gold Sponsor JLL, Silver Sponsor OraBio, and all of our sponsors for helping drive real progress in oral health and innovation and making this event a reality:

Colgate, Universal Orthodontic Lab, Inc., Dr. Ben Wu, Young Innovations, North River Company, Gallagher, Capitol Center for Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, PLLC, Patterson Dental, Voyager Dental, Stemden

07/18/2025

We’re packing up player bags and getting ready for Monday’s Networking & Golf Fundraiser at Renaissance Golf Club 🏌️‍♂️🎉

We can’t wait for an amazing event for an even better cause: initiatives that are driving innovative research, creating healthier communities, and inspiring future leaders.

Stay tuned for event highlights!

Special thanks to Gold sponsor JLL Silver sponsor OraBio and Player Bag sponsor Gallagher.

07/09/2025

The human oral microbiome, a diverse community of microorganisms living in the oral cavity, performs key physiological functions that affect oral health. Many types of bacteria introduced into the body through the mouth impact overall health, too.

Scientists at ADA Forsyth, including Jessica Mark Welch, Ph.D., Tsute “George” Chen, Ph.D., Susan Weir, Ph.D., Susan Yost, and Tina Yaskell, along with external collaborators, have recently completed an expansion to an essential tool that benefits the worldwide scientific community: the Human Oral Microbiome Database (HOMD).

The updated HOMD opens new pathways for exploring microbial contributions to both oral and systemic health that were not previously accessible.

Learn more about this exciting update to the HOMD: https://forsyth.org/ada-forsyth-announces-version-4-update-to-human-oral-microbiome-database-including-expanded-whole-genome-sequence-information/

07/01/2025

Congratulations to ADA Forsyth Postdoctoral Fellow Nil Yakar, DDS, PhD, on receiving the International Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research/PHILIPS Oral Healthcare Young Investigator Research Grant!

Nil’s project will investigate how estrogen receptors in gum tissue may contribute to more severe periodontal disease in postmenopausal women—an important and often overlooked area of women’s oral health.

She’ll be working in collaboration with Dr. Hatice Hasturk at ADA Forsyth’s Center for Clinical and Translational Research, on this clinical study.

06/30/2025

Congratulations to ADA Forsyth adjunct faculty member Yun-Po Zhang, DDS, PhD, on receiving the 2025 International Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research Distinguished Scientist Award in Pharmacology, Therapeutics & Toxicology!

Dr. Zhang began his clinical research journey at the ADA Forsyth Institute in 1990, developing innovative models to study tooth decay and oral disease. Over his 30+ year career, he has advanced the scientific understanding of dental diseases and helped translate research into effective treatments used by millions worldwide.

Currently Senior Vice President and Distinguished Fellow at Colgate-Palmolive , Dr. Zhang continues to lead efforts in applying rigorous clinical research to improve oral health globally.

Learn more about the award here: https://forsyth.org/yun-po-zhang-iadr-distinguished-scientist/

06/26/2025

The ADA Forsyth Networking and Golf Fundraiser is happening July 21st at the stunning Renaissance Golf Club in Haverhill, MA. Spend the day enjoying golf and connecting with key leaders in oral health, all while supporting AFI’s groundbreaking research and community initiatives. ForsythKids brings free dental care directly to children and young adults in their own communities, helping remove barriers to treatment. Meanwhile, the Forsyth Student Scholars program offers high school students valuable hands-on experience working alongside top scientists. Together, these programs help create healthier communities and inspire future leaders.

Don’t wait! Register by July 11 to secure your spot at this can’t-miss event. You can also support us by becoming a sponsor. Special thanks to Gold sponsor JLL and Silver sponsor OraBio for their generous support.

Find out more and register here: https://trellis.org/afigolffundraiser

We look forward to seeing you there!

06/16/2025

ADA Forsyth scientists Dr. Pu-Ting D**g, Dr. Xuesong He, and Ms. Lujia Cen, along with their collaborators, have uncovered how host cells may naturally inhibit the growth of Fusobacterium nucleatum, a key bacterium linked to periodontitis, colorectal cancer, and other systemic diseases.

Their discovery of an RNA-based growth inhibition mechanism and the transporter protein that delivers it sheds new light on how human cells interact with this microbe.

🔬 Learn more about this exciting study: https://forsyth.org/fusobacterium-nucleatum-bacterial-growth-inhibition-mechanism/

06/05/2025

to the ADA Forsyth dentech 2024 Technology Showcase & Innovation Expo. From the energetic on-stage presentations to captivating discussion at our networking & poster session, it was a celebration of what’s next in oral health technology innovation.

Does your company have what it takes to be a top contender in this year’s competition?

Applications are OPEN for the ADA Forsyth dentech 2025 Technology Showcase & Innovation Expo: your chance to present in front of top investors, industry leaders, and academic pioneers of the oral health tech space.

In-person attendance at dentech 2025 is extremely limited, and general registration has closed. Inquire about our sponsorship opportunities for exclusive in-person ticket packages.

Don’t miss your chance to be part of the most influential oral health innovation event of the year.

Spots are limited, and the competition is fierce. Apply here: https://forsyth.org/events-courses/dentech/

dentech is sponsored in part by OraBio.

06/03/2025

Dr. Chengji Zhou’s research at the ADA Forsyth Institute uncovers how just a few hundred cells shape the early development of the human nervous system. His work reveals the cellular choreography behind tissue closure, and how neural tube defects can be more effectively treated or prevented.

Check out our latest research highlight on Dr. Zhou’s work: https://forsyth.org/afi-scientist-pursues-deeper-knowledge-of-neural-tube-defects-and-underlying-cellular-and-molecular-mechanisms/

05/30/2025

Join us at ADA Forsyth’s 2nd Annual Golf Tournament & Networking Fundraiser on July 21st for a unique day of fun, competition, and connection over a shared purpose: the advancement of oral health research and community outreach.

Play a round of golf at the stunning Renaissance Golf Club in Haverhill, MA.

Then, come together for an evening reception and networking event with ADA and AFI leadership, great food, and even better conversation.

Curious what to expect? Check out this highlight video from last year’s sold-out tournament!

Proceeds support the ADA Forsyth Institute’s impactful community and scientific programs. Your participation fuels innovation and access to oral health care.

Tickets and sponsorships are limited - register here: https://trellis.org/afigolffundraiser

05/27/2025

Last week, we were excited to host the AADOCR Boston Section Spring Meeting in our brand-new building in Somerville, MA!

Students and postdocs from across Boston’s dental research community gathered to share their work through poster presentations and connect over engaging scientific discussions. Huge thanks to all the trainees, mentors, and faculty who made the night such a success!

05/22/2025

We are honored that an AFI image was selected for The Journal of Dental Research Cover of the Year!

The image, captured by ADA Forsyth's very own Dr. Tabita Ramirez-Puebla and produced in collaboration with AFI scientists Drs. Jessica Mark Welch and Gary Borisy, shows a biofilm of microorganisms on the tongue dorsum. This work showcases novel imaging techniques that provide new insights into the complex microbial communities of the oral cavity, resulting in an image that is both innovative and visually striking. The image was originally featured in the December 2024 – Special Issue on Advanced Imaging issue of JDR.

Special thanks to The American Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research and the International Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research for selecting one of our images for this year’s award.

Learn more about this exciting award and image here: https://forsyth.org/ada-forsyth-image-chosen-as-journal-of-dental-researchs-2024-cover-of-the-year/

Address

Boston, MA

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 6pm
Thursday	9am - 6pm
Friday	9am - 5pm

Website

https://forsyth.org/join-our-mailing-list/, https://www.forsyth.org/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when The ADA Forsyth Institute posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.