NIH-funded research Career grant

Investigating how inflammation affects oral bacteria and gum disease

Official title: From Symbiosis to Dysbiosis and Back: The Impact of Pro-Inflammation and Pro-Resolution

Funded at Ada Forsyth Institute, INC. · NIH-11030268 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This study is looking at how certain bacteria in your mouth affect your immune system when you have gum disease, and it will test if a special molecule can help reduce inflammation and bring everything back to normal.

More Dysbiosis research and trials

Quick facts

Grant typeCareer grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionAda Forsyth Institute, INC.
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Cambridge, United States)
Project startFebruary 6, 2024
Project endJanuary 31, 2026
Funding year2025
Award (this year)$164,700
NIH project number5K99DE032048-02
Project IDNIH-11030268 on NIH RePORTER

Who could benefit from this research

Could help

Ideal candidates for this research are adults over 21 years old who are experiencing symptoms of periodontitis or related gum diseases.

Less likely to help

Patients with non-inflammatory oral conditions or those under 21 years old may not benefit from this research.

What this research studies

This research focuses on understanding the relationship between oral bacteria and the immune response in periodontitis, a serious gum disease. It aims to explore how inflammation disrupts the balance between the body's tissues and the bacteria in the mouth, leading to disease. The study will investigate the role of specialized molecules called Resolvin E1 in reversing inflammation and restoring balance. By using animal models, researchers will test whether activating these molecules can prevent or treat periodontal dysbiosis, which is the imbalance of bacteria in the mouth.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new treatments for periodontitis that restore healthy bacterial balance and reduce inflammation.

How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in using specialized pro-resolving mediators to manage inflammation, suggesting potential success for this approach.

Where this research is happening

  • Ada Forsyth Institute, INC.
    Cambridge, United States
    Active

Researchers

  • Principal investigator: Yu, Ning — Ada Forsyth Institute, INC.
  • Study coordinator: Yu, Ning

Related research

Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.

  • Microbial Dysbiosis and Its Role in Pancreatic Cancer

    A doctor-researcher team at Northwestern University is studying how gut bacteria influence pancreatic cancer and its response to immunotherapy to find new ways to help patients.

    NIH research Northwestern University · Chicago, United States · NIH-11624054

  • From Symbiosis to Dysbiosis: How Resolving Inflammation Could Restore Your Mouth’s Balance

    This grant explores how turning off the harmful inflammation in periodontitis and promoting natural healing could help restore the mouth’s healthy balance.

    NIH research Ada Forsyth Institute, INC. · Somerville, UNITED STATES · NIH-11621747

  • Antibiotics, gut health, and skin reactions in kids

    A small study in children will look at whether antibiotic use and gut bacteria play a role in hives and related symptoms that children sometimes get after antibiotics.

    NIH research Cincinnati Childrens Hosp Med Ctr · Cincinnati, United States · NIH-11603169

  • Novel therapeutic to protect the gut after radiation

    A new GI-directed treatment given after radiation exposure may reduce gut damage and improve survival in people exposed to high-dose radiation.

    NIH research Columbia University Health Sciences · New York, United States · NIH-11572662

  • A new GI-focused treatment to reduce radiation damage after exposure

    A potential GI-targeted therapy given after radiation exposure may help protect the gut and improve survival in people affected by radiation injuries.

    NIH research Columbia University Health Sciences · New York, United States · NIH-11572658

  • How a mouth bacterium might fuel gum disease and heart risk

    A small study will look at how a bacterium in the mouth that makes a reactive chemical (methylglyoxal) could drive gum inflammation and changes in the mouth’s bacteria, possibly linking to heart disease.

    NIH research State University of New York at Buffalo · Amherst, United States · NIH-11564245

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.