Caries resistance in Indigenous children: what protects their teeth
Official title: Caries resistance mechanisms in high-risk Indigenous children
Funded at Ada Forsyth Institute, INC. · NIH-11520758 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at why some high-risk Indigenous children have fewer cavities and how oral bacteria and tooth biology might work together to prevent decay.
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) | $74,437 |
| NIH project number | 3R01DE032834-04S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11520758 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Children aged 0-11 years, especially Indigenous children, with high risk for early childhood caries
✕Less likely to help
Children without high caries risk or not accessible to the study protocols may see no direct benefit
What this research studies
If this research confirms what protects some children's teeth, it could lead to protective strategies that help prevent early childhood caries in Indigenous communities and possibly others. Researchers will combine observations from real patients with basic laboratory studies to understand how certain oral bacteria and tooth properties interact to resist decay. The work focuses on how Rothia bacteria and tooth enamel/dentin traits influence acid production and caries risk in children with high levels of S. mutans. Findings could inform new preventive approaches, such as targeted oral care or materials that strengthen teeth.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: A better understanding of natural protection against tooth decay could lead to new preventive approaches for children at high risk of ECC.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work shows that microbial interactions and tooth properties can influence caries risk, supporting the potential for protective strategies
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
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.