Exploring how oral health affects heart disease using genetic data
Official title: Identifying the Role of Oral Health in Heart Disease through Integration of GWAS-by-Subtraction Genomic-Structural Equation Modeling with the Method of Instrument Variables
Funded at Lehigh University · NIH-10952135 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how your dental health might affect your heart health, especially if you have certain genes, and it's for older adults who want to understand how taking care of their teeth could help prevent heart disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R03 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Lehigh University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Bethlehem, United States) |
| Project start | August 15, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $331,999 |
| NIH project number | 1R03DE034043-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10952135 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are older adults, particularly those with concerns about their oral health or heart disease.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are younger than 21 or do not have any oral health issues may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the connection between oral health and heart disease, focusing on how genetic factors may influence this relationship. By analyzing data from a large, nationally-representative study of older Americans, the researchers aim to establish causal links between poor oral health and the likelihood of developing heart disease. The study employs advanced genomic techniques to create polygenic scores that help identify these connections, potentially leading to new insights into prevention and treatment strategies for heart disease.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved understanding and prevention strategies for heart disease linked to oral health.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has indicated a correlation between oral health and systemic diseases, but this study aims to provide novel causal evidence using advanced genomic methods.
Where this research is happening
-
Lehigh University
Bethlehem, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Meyerhoefer, Chad Delbert — Lehigh University
- Study coordinator: Meyerhoefer, Chad Delbert
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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.