Microbes behind early childhood tooth decay
Investigating the microbial basis of early childhood caries via integrative analysis of metagenomics metatranscriptomics and metabolomics
This project looks at the bacteria and other tiny organisms in young children's mouths to find patterns linked to tooth decay in preschool-aged kids.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R03 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chapel Hill, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11195677 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If your child takes part, researchers would collect plaque or saliva from the top surfaces of the teeth and link those samples to whether the child has tooth decay. Scientists will measure microbial DNA, microbial activity, and small chemical molecules in those samples and use new statistical and machine-learning tools to combine those data types. The team aims to find microbial and chemical patterns that are more common in children with early childhood caries (tooth decay before age 6). Results would be used to guide better ways to prevent or detect decay in young children.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are children under age 6 (commonly around preschool age) whose parents can provide oral samples and basic health and diet information.
Not a fit: Children outside the target age range or those needing immediate dental treatment are unlikely to get direct benefit from this research right away.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help identify markers that lead to earlier detection and more targeted prevention of tooth decay in young children.
How similar studies have performed: Prior studies have linked specific oral microbes to childhood tooth decay, but fully integrating metagenomics, metatranscriptomics, and metabolomics in this way is relatively new and still being tested.
Where this research is happening
Chapel Hill, United States
- Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill — Chapel Hill, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wu, Di — Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
- Study coordinator: Wu, Di
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.