The ADA Forsyth Institute

03/10/2026

MassEcon has named The ADA Forsyth Institute the Gold Awardee of the 22nd Annual Team Massachusetts Economic Impact Awards, Greater Boston Region, its highest honor recognizing organizations making significant contributions to the Commonwealth’s economy and communities. Only 13 organizations across the Commonwealth were honored as finalists, with a Gold, Silver, and Bronze awardee named in each of 5 regions.

ADA Forsyth officially completed its move to Somerville in May 2025, bringing over $100 million in research grant funding and a vibrant, growing workforce. The state-of-the-art City of Somerville facility significantly expands ADA Forsyth’s clinical and research capacity.

Besides serving as the authoritative testing site for American Dental Association's trusted ADA Seal of Acceptance, ADA Forsyth also performs rigorous clinical evaluation and pre-clinical testing of products — strengthening quality and maintaining the highest standards.

ADA Forsyth also offers incubator space and outstanding core equipment facilities that help local companies access specialized infrastructure, reduce barriers to innovation, and scale more quickly.

Taken together, our science, public service, technology development, standardized testing, and clinical care represent meaningful contributions to the Massachusetts and national economy, backed by our 116-year legacy of pioneering the dental profession. Thank you, MassEcon, for recognizing us with this honor!

Get the full story: https://ow.ly/xwUA50YrWEt

03/09/2026

We're proud to see a beautiful cover image and exciting new study from the Hsu Lab here at ADA Forsyth!

Premature disorders often involve .

This Issue’s cover features work by Wei Hsu & team ADA Forsyth Institute, reporting on nuclear and cytoskeletal defects that mediate stem cell-associated osteogenic deformities in a mouse model of a premature aging disorder caused by mutation in prelamin A. https://doi.org/10.1172/jci.insight.196932

The cover image shows filamentous actin (red) outlining the cellular architecture of calvarial osteoprogenitor cells, with nuclei (blue).

02/26/2026

How do you measure hundreds of biomarkers from just a small sample? Take a look inside the Multiplex Core to see how it works.

In this video, Michele Patel explains how the ADA Forsyth Institute team uses a bead-based, laser-detection multiplex immunoassay system to study inflammation, immune responses, and disease signals. The Multiplex Core can work with a wide range of samples, such as saliva, gingival crevicular fluid, plasma, urine, culture media, etc. from human and non-human sources.

While oral health is the focus of our resident investigators, our research capability can support a wide range of research, helping scientists explore connections between oral and whole-body health: quantifying host response to therapy, monitoring disease progression, and studying pharmacodynamics and toxicology.

By measuring up to 500 analytes in a single well, researchers can generate rich, high-resolution data while saving time and sample volume.

Interested in how the Multiplex Core can support your next product or study? Connect with us to learn how our services can accelerate your research.

https://forsyth.org/core-services/

02/24/2026

Exciting news! ADA Forsyth Institute has been named a finalist for the distinguished Team Massachusetts Economic Impact Award, one of the Commonwealth's highest honors recognizing organizations making significant contributions to Massachusetts' economy and communities.

This week, AFI representatives attended the Finalists Reception in Lexington, MA, showcasing the transformative impact of our work: our legacy of pioneering oral health research, our new state-of-the-art Somerville facility, our power to convene the global scientific ecosystem, and our legendary commitment to local community engagement. Being recognized alongside Massachusetts' top economic drivers is an incredible honor and a testament to how ADA Forsyth’s scientific innovation can fuel regional growth.

Left to right: Dr. Wenyuan Shi, CEO; Jessica Weinstein, Manager of Enterprise Projects & Operations; Michael Mazzaferro, Director of External Affairs & Development.

We look forward to attending the awards ceremony later this spring at Gillette Stadium. Stay tuned to find out if AFI takes home the gold!

02/13/2026

Massachusetts high school students: Thinking about a career in science?

Forsyth Student Scholars provides a comprehensive lab experience, including mentorship from expert researchers and hands-on experiments. Our prestigious high-school internship will run this summer from June 29 to August 21. Forsyth Student Scholars prepares students for STEM careers as they learn alongside world-renowned scientists in ADA Forsyth’s state-of-the-art labs.

Apply by April 1: https://recruiting.paylocity.com/recruiting/jobs/Details/3834202/Forsyth-Dental-Infirmary-for-Children/AFI-Summer-Institute---2026-Programs-Student-Scholars-Internship-SSI

02/06/2026

ADA Forsyth scientists uncovered previously unknown survival mechanisms of TM7x, a periodontitis-associated strain of the bacterial class Saccharibacteria.

In a new paper published in The ISME Journal, the team reports new insight into how the episymbiont Saccharibacteria survives without a host during crucial stages of its life. Research on the characteristics of this microbe’s behavior with and without its host allows scientists to further understand the human oral microbiome and factors that can contribute to periodontitis.

Congratulations to the paper’s lead author, ADA Forsyth postdoctoral researcher Nusrat Nahar, Ph.D., on the publishing of an exciting new study and on receiving the 2026 AADOCR Bloc Travel Grant for her excellence in research.

Other contributors to the study include - based at ADA Forsyth unless otherwise noted - Pu-Ting D**g, Ph.D., Jing Tian, Ph.D. (Peking University), Alex Grossman, Ph.D., Erik L. Hendrickson (University of Washington), Kristopher Kerns (University of Washington), Prof. Mary Ellen Davey, Ph.D., Jeffrey McLean (University of Washington), and Dr. Xuesong He.

Get the full story here: https://forsyth.org/saccharibacteria-metabolically-active-during-host-free-stage-he-lab/

02/04/2026

A first-in-human clinical trial established the safety and efficacy of Sensi-IP, a novel bioactive glass technology developed by IR Scientific. Scientists at the renowned ADA Forsyth Institute conducted the clinical study and found statistically significant reductions in tooth sensitivity scores in the test group compared to a control group using a common sodium fluoride (NaF) toothpaste.

Learn more: https://forsyth.org/novel-bioactive-glass-incorporated-in-toothpaste-shows-reduction-in-tooth-sensitivity-in-first-in-human-clinical-trial/

02/03/2026

ADA Forsyth is proud to support the ADA Seal of Acceptance program with our extensive testing capabilities and scientific expertise, ensuring your oral health products meet the highest standards.

This New Year, reset your oral health routine with products you can trust. Whether you’re caring for patients or your own family, choose products with the ADA Seal of Acceptance®. Visit ADA.org/seal to choose the right products for your new routine! Learn more, here: https://bit.ly/3Nq8fqs

01/29/2026

Watch as an interdental brush, a floss pick, and a toothbrush head are put to the test in our Instron universal testing machine — will they pass?

In this video, Kyle Bredin from ADA Forsyth Core Laboratory Services demonstrates how we use standardized testing protocols and calibrated instruments to evaluate dental products to ensure they meet ADA and ISO performance standards in strength and durability.

Visit our website to explore how our core services provide innovators with access to advanced testing, expert guidance, and state-of-the-art facilities that help bring dental products to market: https://forsyth.org/core-services/

01/20/2026

It was amazing hosting Mayor Jake Wilson today at our new home in Somerville, MA!

01/16/2026

Tickets are on sale for ADA Forsyth’s 2026 Networking and Golf Fundraiser!

Join us Monday, June 29, 2026, to play, connect, and support ADA Forsyth’s impactful community and research initiatives.

Early-bird pricing ends Jan. 31, so secure your spot now! Whether you’re hitting the course or networking in the clubhouse, your participation helps advance oral health innovation and access to care.

Register here: https://trellis.org/afi-2026-networking-and-golf-fundraiser

01/06/2026

We recently spoke with Holger Willems of Relu about the continued digitization of dentistry and how digital workflows, data, and imaging can enable more personalized, consistent, and scientifically validated care at a greater scale. Holger offers a perspective shaped by how these technologies come together to expand access, consistency, and impact across oral health care.

At ADA Forsyth, we value perspectives that connect technology, research, and access to care, helping us think more holistically about the exciting ways that oral health can evolve in the years ahead.