A summer program to improve oral health education for underrepresented minorities.
Official title: Howard University Summer Research Education Experience Program in Oral Health
Funded at Howard University · NIH-11043230 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This program at Howard University is designed to help African American students learn more about oral health and gain hands-on experience in research, so they can pursue careers in dentistry and help improve dental care for everyone.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Howard University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Washington, United States) |
| Project start | January 1, 2023 |
| Project end | December 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $131,800 |
| NIH project number | 5R25DE032527-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11043230 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this program are undergraduate students from underrepresented minority backgrounds interested in pursuing careers in oral health or related fields.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not undergraduate students or do not belong to underrepresented minority groups may not benefit from this program.
What this research studies
This program at Howard University focuses on enhancing oral health education and research opportunities for underrepresented minority students, particularly African Americans. It aims to increase diversity in the oral health workforce to address significant racial disparities in oral health care. Participants will engage in hands-on research experiences, mentorship, and professional development activities that prepare them for careers in dentistry and related health fields. The program has successfully guided previous participants into advanced health science training.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this program could lead to a more diverse oral health workforce, ultimately improving oral health outcomes for underserved communities.
How similar studies have gone: Previous iterations of similar programs have shown success in increasing the number of underrepresented minorities pursuing careers in health sciences.
Where this research is happening
-
Howard University
Washington, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gu, Xinbin — Howard University
- Study coordinator: Gu, Xinbin
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Coordinated Oral Health Promotion for Chicago Kids
A long-running study in Chicago is following children and their caregivers to find ways to reduce tooth decay and improve daily life for families.
-
Digital adolescent dental health program to reduce tooth decay in at-risk youth
A digital program designed for lower-income 7th and 8th graders to help them avoid tobacco use and sugary drinks to lower the risk of tooth decay.
-
Improving how schools deliver tooth care for kids using existing data
This project analyzes past school-based dental care data to help more underserved children get effective, affordable preventive treatment.
-
Host genetics and oral microbiome: big-data clues to oral health
A large study will combine human genetics, saliva bacteria, and health records to understand why oral diseases like cavities and gum disease occur in different people.
-
Understanding dry mouth in adults using AI to read electronic records
A new project uses AI to find adults with xerostomia in medical records and predict who will have worse oral health outcomes.
-
Oral health effects of buprenorphine and methadone in people with opioid use disorder
This project will explore how common MOUD medicines like buprenorphine (including dissolvable forms) and methadone may affect oral health in people with opioid use disorder.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.