Biological causes of early childhood tooth decay in infants' mouths
Understand biological factors underlying early childhood caries disparity from the oral microbiome in early infancy
This work follows babies from birth in low-income, primarily Black/African American communities to learn how mouth bacteria, fungi, and other factors lead to early childhood tooth decay.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Rochester NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Rochester, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11285382 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From the patient's perspective, researchers are using an existing group of 160 low-income, mostly Black infants and about 1,760 saliva and tooth-surface samples collected from birth through early childhood. They will combine lab tests of oral bacteria and fungi with medical and dental records plus information about the home environment and host factors. The team will look for patterns in how the oral microbiome develops and which biological or environmental exposures are linked to cavities. The goal is to explain why disadvantaged children get more early cavities so future prevention can be timed and targeted better.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: The focus is on infants and preschool-aged children from low-income, racial/ethnic minority families (primarily Black/African American) and their caregivers.
Not a fit: Children who are older than the early childhood window or who do not share the study's risk factors may not receive direct benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could reveal early warning signs and prevention targets to reduce cavities and oral health disparities in high-risk young children.
How similar studies have performed: Previous research has linked oral microbes to cavities, but comprehensive, long-term studies in underserved infants are limited, so this approach is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
Rochester, United States
- University of Rochester — Rochester, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Xiao, Jin — University of Rochester
- Study coordinator: Xiao, Jin
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 below.