Caries resistance in high-risk Indigenous children
Official title: Caries resistance mechanisms in high-risk Indigenous children
Funded at Ada Forsyth Institute, INC. · NIH-11299038 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at why some Indigenous children stay less likely to get cavities, by studying mouth bacteria, saliva, and tooth material to find natural protective factors.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Ada Forsyth Institute, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Somerville, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | April 4, 2023 |
| Project end | March 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $689,125 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DE032834-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11299038 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal participants are high-risk Indigenous children aged 0-11 years with elevated oral bacteria profiles.
✕Less likely to help
Children without high caries risk or without related oral microbiome data may not experience direct benefits from this study.
What this research studies
The research will combine observational data from children with basic science experiments to understand how certain oral bacteria and tooth properties may protect against tooth decay. It will explore whether Rothia and other bacteria reduce acid production by cariogenic bacteria like Streptococcus mutans and whether enamel and dentin composition influence caries risk. The team plans three aims that connect real-world observations with lab tests to uncover natural caries-protective mechanisms in children who have high levels of S. mutans.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new strategies to prevent early childhood caries in Indigenous children and potentially benefit broader populations.
How similar studies have gone: Previous evidence suggests certain oral bacteria can influence acid production and tooth mineral properties, but this precise protective mechanism in high-risk Indigenous children is novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Ada Forsyth Institute, INC.
Somerville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bidlack, Felicitas B — Ada Forsyth Institute, INC.
- Study coordinator: Bidlack, Felicitas B
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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.