Biofilm structure and its role in the start of gum disease
Official title: Biofilm Spatial Structure in the Transition from Health to Periodontal Disease
Funded at State University of New York at Albany · NIH-11597609 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A researchers team will study how tiny communities of bacteria at the gumline interact with the mouth’s tissues to spark inflammation that leads from healthy gums to periodontal disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | State University of New York at Albany NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Albany, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2022 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $45,112 |
| NIH project number | 3R01DE031213-05S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11597609 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults 21 or older with or at risk for periodontal disease, including patients with chronic periodontitis.
✕Less likely to help
People without gum disease or those not participating in dental sample collection may not benefit.
What this research studies
Researchers will examine how biofilms at the gum margin organize themselves and connect with the gum tissue to trigger inflammation. They will image intact dental biofilms on extracted teeth to see how the bacteria arrange themselves, including how long, filamentous cells contact the epithelium. The project also compares human gingivitis/periodontitis biofilms with canine models to find shared structural patterns. They will map where genes are active within these filamentous cells when they’re near partner species. Overall, the work aims to link the physical arrangement of bacteria to the inflammatory process that starts periodontal disease.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Understanding how specific bacterial structures contribute to gum disease could lead to better prevention and treatment strategies.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work supports the idea that biofilm structure influences inflammation, with new imaging in this study potentially extending those findings.
Where this research is happening
-
State University of New York at Albany
Albany, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Valm, Alex M — State University of New York at Albany
- Study coordinator: Valm, Alex M
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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.