The ADA Forsyth Institute

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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.

In a challenging environment, creative approaches to education, investment, and innovation are important as ever. The se...
04/09/2025

In a challenging environment, creative approaches to education, investment, and innovation are important as ever.

The second day of dentech 2025 features an international group of academics who are setting new standards in dental education. These academic leaders prepare students for the real world of dentistry and focus on global interaction in research and innovation.

On Day 2 of dentech 2025, ADA Forsyth invites these innovative leaders to share their nontraditional approach to dental education in a panel discussion on Clinical Innovation & Global Interaction:

Dr. Xuliang Deng - Dean, Peking University School of Stomatology

Dr. Young Seok Park - Dean, Seoul National University School of Dentistry

Dr. Thomas Flemmig - Emeritus Professor, The University of Hong Kong

Dr. Mert Aksu - Dean, University of Detroit Mercy School of Dentistry

Dr. Manal Al Halabi - Dubai Health; Dean, Hamdan Bin Mohammed College of Dental Medicine

Dr. Ali Saleh Al-Jhani - General Director, Ministry of Health, Saudi Arabia

Dr. Muhammad Ali Shazib - Dean, Workman School of Dental Medicine, High Point University

In-person registration is completely SOLD OUT for dentech 2025! Join us virtually: https://forsyth.org/events-courses/dentech/

New at dentech 2025, two oral health “outsiders” take the stage to discuss opportunities in oral health investment and i...
29/08/2025

New at dentech 2025, two oral health “outsiders” take the stage to discuss opportunities in oral health investment and innovation in “M&M: A Conversation Between Investor and Inventor.”

Michael Greeley, Co-Founder and General Partner at Flare Capital, and Michael Cima, Ph.d., Professor of Materials Science and Engineering at MIT, will headline a special panel to talk collaboration between innovation and capital, opportunities in the oral health space, and how technology could open opportunities for medical-dental integration.

Though they have invested and innovated, respectively, in many other areas, each has a unique perspective on oral health. The pair have worked together over the past three decades in creating four biotech companies.

This panel will be moderated by ADA Forsyth’s CSO and COO, Dr. Ben Wu on day 2 of the conference.

Learn more from these oral health “outsiders” in our latest blog post: https://forsyth.org/dentech-2025-michael-greeley-michael-cima-investor-inventor/

29/08/2025

We are thrilled to announce Colgate as a Gold sponsor of dentech 2025!

Colgate-Palmolive, a caring, innovative growth company that is reimagining a healthier future for all people, their pets and our planet, is an oral health leader, with their Colgate brand found in more homes than any other.

In-person registration is sold out, but you can still join us virtually! Explore sponsorship opportunities and register for dentech here: https://forsyth.org/events-courses/dentech/

28/08/2025

We are thrilled to announce OraBio as a Platinum sponsor of dentech 2025!

OraBio specializes in developing and commercializing advanced oral health solutions, with a strong focus on oral systemic health. OraBio provides high-quality products that enhance patient outcomes and empowers both dental and medical professionals to focus on exceptional care. With OraBio, providers are equipped with cutting-edge treatments that enhance comfort, oral health, and overall quality of life for their patients.

In-person registration is sold out, but you can still join us virtually! Explore sponsorship opportunities and register for dentech here: https://forsyth.org/events-courses/dentech/

Meet the Finalists! The Technology Showcase & Innovation Expo returns at dentech 2025, spotlighting eight startups sele...
19/08/2025

Meet the Finalists!

The Technology Showcase & Innovation Expo returns at dentech 2025, spotlighting eight startups selected as finalists in the Pitch Competition, each bringing bold, new ideas to transform oral health:

– Abrux
– Greenmark Biomedical Inc.
– HysensBio
– Innotech Precision Medicine
– Intelibly
– PerioTrap Pharmaceuticals GmbH
– Practice By Numbers
– STEMDEN

In addition to the Pitch Competition, attendees will enjoy:
– Flash Talks (with an exciting new twist!)
– Success stories from companies that have already made their mark in the oral health innovation ecosystem.

Finalists will present on day 1 of dentech 2025, with the winner revealed at the close of day 2 by our Judges’ Panel of business leaders and venture capitalists.

Learn more about these companies here: https://forsyth.org/dentech-2025-technology-showcase-innovation-expo-finalists/

In-person registration is SOLD OUT—register to join us virtually via our website!

Thank you to Platinum Sponsor OraBio

15/08/2025

Over the past decade, scientists in the Bor Lab at ADA Forsyth have been inspired by polymicrobial interactions as a new frontier in the study of the oral microbiome. Saccharibacteria, a unique ultrasmall class of bacteria, creates a direct, completely dependent interaction when they attach to the surface of a host microbe – a lifestyle known as episymbiosis.

For the first time, scientists have performed targeted mutations on an episymbiosis-determining pathway. Combining advanced, precise techniques like cryo-electron tomography with molecular analysis, scientists at ADA Forsyth observed that Saccharibacteria use two specific hair-like appendages called pili to drive motility, host bacteria attachment, and potentially DNA uptake.

The researchers continue to pursue a full genetic and mechanistic understanding of Saccharibacteria. This species has been found to play a role in periodontitis, and its further exploration could significantly expand the study of human biology and oral diseases.

This study was conducted by Alex Grossman, Batbileg Bor, Lei Lei, Jett Liu, Nusrat Nahar, and Xuesong He from ADA Forsyth, as well as Jun Liu (Yale University), Jack Botting (Yale University), and Jeffrey S. McLean (University of Washington).

Learn more about the new study and its implications for further exploration: https://forsyth.org/saccharibacteria-episymbiotic-microbial-interactions-parasitic-bacteria/

SOLD OUT! Virtual registration for dentech 2025 available for a limited time on our website! We hope that you will join ...
12/08/2025

SOLD OUT! Virtual registration for dentech 2025 available for a limited time on our website! We hope that you will join us on October 9th + 10th!

Get ready for an inspiring kickoff with leaders shaping the future of oral health, thought-provoking panels on global innovation, oral-medical integration, and clinical breakthroughs, plus dynamic conversations bridging the gap between innovators and investors. dentech 2025 will also feature our Technology Showcase and Innovation Expo, where companies big and small are creating the next wave of solutions for oral health.

Learn more: https://forsyth.org/welcome-to-dentech-2025/

This is just the beginning. Stay tuned as we announce panelists, presenting companies, and our keynote speakers.

Thank you to for being our Platinum Sponsor of dentech 2025.

31/07/2025

We’re excited to bring you Episode 5 of Ambush Science, our ongoing ADA Forsyth series where we surprise scientists with a quick Q&A to give you an exclusive look at their research.

Today we visited Dr. Xuesong He, whose lab is focused on the ecology of the oral microbiome and how these microorganisms interact with each other and the human host to ultimately influence health and disease. Dr. He shares some fascinating insights into Streptococcus mutans, a key contributor to dental caries, and how other naturally occurring bacteria in the mouth may help inhibit its activity. This work has the potential to pave the way for developing probiotic-based approaches to prevent or treat tooth decay.

Visit our website to learn more about ADA Forsyth’s innovative oral health research, and stay tuned for more episodes of Ambush Science!

https://forsyth.org/

⛳️ Highlights from an incredible day at Renaissance Golf Club This week’s Networking and Golf Fundraiser brought togethe...
24/07/2025

⛳️ 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

18/07/2025

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.

The human oral microbiome, a diverse community of microorganisms living in the oral cavity, performs key physiological f...
09/07/2025

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/

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Opening Hours

Monday 09:00 - 17:00
Tuesday 09:00 - 17:00
Wednesday 09:00 - 18:00
Thursday 09:00 - 18:00
Friday 09:00 - 17:00

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https://www.forsyth.org/

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