IDREF was established in 1993 in order to substantially advance the science and quality of practice of implant dentistry and to foster high standards of research and education for all dental professionals. Through IDREF the ICOI raises needed funds to support these goals.

What We Have Done

To date, IDREF has contributed over one million dollars to implant research and education worldwide.

Our Mission

The mission of IDREF is to encourage, to support and to acknowledge innovations in the field of implant dentistry through the sponsorship of research and educational programs.

Our Vision

Through our members, the ICOI, continues to serve thousands of dental implant patients. The advances made possible through our society's research grants, education awards, student awards and consensus conferences continually "raise the bar," so that oral implantology/implant dentistry is perceived as, and is in fact, a mature area of our profession.

Your Support

IDREF needs your continued support! It is essential to fund our existing research grants, student awards and education programs. Donations to IDREF are fully tax deductible and 100% of your donation will go directly to where it is allocated, since the overhead of IDREF is fully absorbed by ICOI general funds.

Annually, many ICOI members, dental corporations and grateful patients generously make and/or pledge contributions to IDREF. We applaud their donations and acknowledge them annually.

IDREF's Board of Trustees

A Board of Trustees separate from the ICOI's Board of Directors governs IDREF. ICOI's Executive Committee functions to oversee the administrative activities of IDREF.

The Scientific Advisory Board (SAB)

The Scientific Advisory Board is made up of world-renowned and respected university researchers who have made significant contributions in basic science and\or applied research. The SAB, under the leadership of Dr. Jon Susuki, is responsible for formally reviewing all grant proposals submitted to IDREF for both extramural and intramural research funding. All formal grants go through a blind primary and secondary critique process with copies of the reviews returned to the investigator. After the reviews are completed, the SAB presents the choices for grant funding to IDREF's Board. IDREF's grant review procedures mirror those used by the NIH. Members of the Scientific Advisory Board are:

IDREF Scientific Advisory Board Chair Dr. Jon Suzuki Associate Dean Temple University 3223 N. Broad St. Philadelphia, PA 19140 Dr. Thomas Rams Professor and Senior Associate Dean Temple University 3223 N. Broad St. Philadelphia, PA 19140 Dr. Ady Palti Associate Professor New York University, Department of Implant Dentistry Associate Professor Boston University, School of Dental Medicine Kapuzinerstr. 1a 76530 Baden-Baden Germany

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IDREF Research Grant Program:

Objective:
The objective of IDREF grants is to encourage new investigators by providing "seed" or start-up funding for promising research projects. Subject to funds available, grants of $20,000 to $25,000 per application are awarded for one year of support. A second renewal year of support may be requested through our competitive review process.

Eligibility:
The principal investigator or co-principal investigator must hold an appropriate terminal degree. A dental resident or Ph.D. candidate may apply if the appropriate department chair or advisor provides a letter confirming that the investigator is coming on staff the year a project is funded.

Deadline for Applications:
January 1st.
See the following links for research grant guidelines and the application form:

        Research Grant Guidelines            Application
  

Period of Grant:
One full year: April 1 - March 31 or July 1 - June 30

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IDREF Education Awards:
In addition to research funding, the ICOI funds programs dedicated to supporting implant education. Recent recipients have been:

Dr. Dr. Karl Donath
University of Hamburg, Germany
Award Date: 1996
Amount: $10,000*
{*An Additional $10,000 was provided by the Deutsche Gesellschaft fuer Zahnaerztliche Implantologie (DGZI), our component society in Germany.}

American Board of Oral Implantology/Implant Dentistry (ABOI)
Promotion of a United States "Ad Hoc" Board for Specialty
Recognition and Credentialing
Award Date: 1998
Amount: $10,000

Pre-doctoral Practice Awards
Educational travel grants were made to faculty from 33 dental schools
Award date: 2000
Amount:

$15,000 from ICOI/IDREF

$15,000 from the Academy of Osseointegration (AO)

{Note: This project was initiated by the ICOI and the AO to remove a perceived monetary impediment to pre-doctoral implant placement and restoration. Nobel Biocare USA Inc., The Straumann Co. and Sulzer Calcitek, Inc. agreed to support this program for (5) five years by providing (2) two implants and restorative parts per student. Surgical instrumentation and devices were also donated to each participating school.}

University of Alabama at Birmingham
Department of Biomedical Engineering
Unrestricted grant honoring Mr. Kenzo Morita
Award Date: October 2000
Amount: $20,000

NYU College of Dentistry
Bluestone Center
Award Date: February 2004
Amount: $5,000

American Association of Dental Deans Pre-doctoral Overdenture Meeting
Award Date:  August 2004
Amount: $10,000

University of Michigan
Dr. Hom-Lay Wang Collegiate Professorship
Award Date: December 2004
Amount:  $10,000

University of Michigan
Dr. Hom-Lay Wang Collegiate Professorship
Award Date: November 2005
Amount:  $10,000

People Helping People
Azama Dental Clinic

Ecuador
Award Date:  November 2005
Amount:  $5,000

Richard E. Stallard Memorial Scholarship
Boston University
Award Date:  November 2005
Amount:  $1,000

Louisiana State University/Katrina Relief
Award Date:  November 2005
Amount: $6,000

ICOI/IDREF Consensus Conferences:
ICOI\IDREF has also been instrumental in bringing together experts on implant education. The ICOI with substantial contributions from industry has held five consensus conferences for the development of curriculum guidelines for oral implantology:

Osseointegration in Oral Implantology (1988)

Pre-Doctoral Dental Implant Education (1990)

Implant Education in General Practice Residency/Advanced Education in General Dentistry Programs (1991)

Oral Implantology\Implant Dentistry for Dental Hygiene Education and Continuing Education for Practicing Dental Hygienists (1995)

Vertical Dimension of Occlusion Relating to Implants (2002)

IDREF Student Awards:
Since 1992, the ICOI has awarded over $100,000 in pre-doctoral student awards to those individuals who have demonstrated the most interest in and enthusiasm for dental implantology. Not only is there a financial commitment to these students but they also become ICOI members and attend an ICOI symposium at no charge. Beginning in 2002 fifty percent of the funding for these student awards has been contributed by Sullivan-Schein Dental, a division of Henry Schein, Inc.

The following dental schools have been active participants in this program:

Baylor College of Dentistry

Boston University

Case Western Reserve University

Columbia University

Creighton University

Havard School of Dental Medicine

Howard University

Indiana University

Loma Linda University

Louisiana State University

Marquette University

Medical College of Georgia

Medical University of South Carolina

Meharry Medical College

New York University

Northwestern University

Ohio State University

Oregon Health Sciences University

Southern Illinois University

State University of New York @ Buffalo

State University of New York @ Stony Brook

Temple University

Tufts University

University of Alabama at Birmingham

University of California - Los Angeles

University of California - San Francisco

University of Colorado

University of Connecticut

University of Detroit Mercy

University of Florida

University of Illinois at Chicago

University of Iowa

University of Kentucky

University of Louisville

University of Maryland

University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ)

University of Minnesota

University of Mississippi

University of Missouri - Kansas City

University of Nebraska Medical Center

University of Oklahoma

University of Pennsylvania

University of Pittsburgh

University of Southern California

University of Texas Houston

University of Texas San Antonio

University of the Pacific

University of Washington

Virginia Commonwealth University

West Virginia University

An Open Door

ICOI is known for being inclusive, proactive and creative. If any member has an idea to advance the goals of IDREF or increase donations, please call our Executive Director, R. Craig Johnson at (800) 442-0525 or (973) 783-6300 or email us at icoi@dentalimplants.com.