CATCH Healthy Smiles: An Oral Health Program for Elementary School Children
Official title: CATCH Healthy Smiles: A cluster-RCT of an elementary school oral health intervention
Funded at University of Texas Hlth Sci Ctr Houston · NIH-11144582 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This program helps kindergarten through second-grade children learn healthy habits to prevent cavities in school.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Texas Hlth Sci Ctr Houston NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project start | June 1, 2020 |
| Project end | June 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $1,077,357 |
| NIH project number | 5UH3DE029213-06 |
| Project ID | NIH-11144582 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Children in kindergarten, first, or second grade attending participating elementary schools would be ideal candidates for this program.
✕Less likely to help
This program is specifically designed for young elementary school children, so older children or adults would not directly benefit from participating.
What this research studies
We are working with elementary schools to bring a special oral health program called CATCH Healthy Smiles to children in kindergarten through second grade. This program builds on a successful school health initiative that has already helped children with eating and physical activity. Our goal is to teach children about good dental care through fun lessons and activities, aiming to reduce their risk of getting cavities. We previously tested this program in Houston schools and found it was well-received by young students.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this program could significantly reduce the number of cavities in young children, leading to healthier smiles and better overall well-being.
How similar studies have gone: The CATCH program, on which this oral health initiative is based, has a strong track record of success in improving children's health behaviors in other areas.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Texas Hlth Sci Ctr Houston
Houston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sharma, Shreela V — University of Texas Hlth Sci Ctr Houston
- Study coordinator: Sharma, Shreela V
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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.