How saliva is made and why dry mouth (xerostomia) happens
An experimental/computational approach for understanding salivary fluid secretion
This project uses lab experiments and computer models to understand salivary gland function so people with dry mouth from radiation or Sjögren’s might benefit from better treatments.
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-11359737 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If I have dry mouth, this work looks at how salivary gland cells respond to signals that make saliva and what goes wrong in disease. The team combines experiments on gland cells and tissues with quantitative computer models to link cellular events to fluid secretion. They focus on early defects in stimulus–secretion coupling seen after head-and-neck radiation and in Sjögren’s syndrome. By matching lab data and simulations, researchers aim to find the mechanisms that could be targeted by future therapies.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with xerostomia such as those who have had head-and-neck radiation or who have Sjögren’s syndrome would be the most relevant candidates for related studies or sample donation.
Not a fit: Patients whose dry mouth is caused entirely by irreversible gland destruction or by unrelated medication side effects may not directly benefit from this mechanistic work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could point to new ways to restore or increase saliva production and relieve dry mouth symptoms.
How similar studies have performed: Related laboratory and computational approaches have improved understanding in other glandular systems, but applying this combined method to salivary secretion is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
Rochester, United States
- University of Rochester — Rochester, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Yule, David I — University of Rochester
- Study coordinator: Yule, David I
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.