Shils Fund Highlights Industry-Driven Innovation at IADR 2026

Shils Fund Highlights Industry-Driven Innovation at IADR 2026

Representatives of the Shils Fund played a key role at the recent International Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research (IADR) General Session, reinforcing the importance of industry-led innovation and public-private partnerships in advancing oral health.

Arthur Mateen of Bien-Air Dental represented the Shils Fund in a session focused on innovation, highlighting how collaboration between academia and industry can accelerate product development. In a separate session, Shils Vice President Dr. Margaret Scarlett addressed the global burden of dental caries and emphasized the urgent need to scale science-based solutions more rapidly.

These discussions come at a pivotal time. Since October 2025, funding from the National Institutes of Health—including the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research—has declined significantly, prompting universities to increasingly partner with industry and develop innovation incubators.

“Innovations in the future will depend even more on investments from industry for research and development,” Dr. Scarlett noted. “New models are emerging that can accelerate the path from concept to chairside—especially in rapidly evolving fields.”

The Shils Fund remains committed to supporting entrepreneurship and fostering collaborations that bring impactful oral health innovations to market faster.