Periodontal Health in Newborns: Reducing Small Vulnerable Newborn Deaths in Nepal
Official title: Periodontal Disease and Small Vulnerable Newborns: A Cluster Randomized Trial
Funded at Johns Hopkins University · NIH-11478589 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A large study in Nepal will test whether a simple oral care package started in early pregnancy can lower the risk of tiny, high-risk newborns dying in their first month.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Johns Hopkins University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project start | September 10, 2025 |
| Project end | June 30, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $19,610 |
| NIH project number | 3R01HD119055-02S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11478589 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Pregnant people in the first trimester living in the Terai region of Nepal who anticipate delivering within the study area.
✕Less likely to help
Pregnant people who enroll after the window for early intervention or whose pregnancies do not experience periodontal inflammation may not see clear benefit.
What this research studies
This project recruits pregnant people in Nepal’s Terai region early in pregnancy and provides a low-cost antiseptic oral rinse along with standard care to see if it reduces inflammation and improves birth outcomes. It uses a cluster randomized design to evaluate the impact of the intervention across communities and tracks outcomes through the early postnatal period. The aim is to see if improving maternal periodontal health can lower rates of preterm birth, small-for-gestational-age babies, and low birth weight, which are linked to early infant deaths. The study builds on past findings and seeks to address prior methodological gaps by starting intervention in the first trimester and enrolling a large number of participants.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the approach could reduce newborn deaths and improve overall birth outcomes in high-risk populations.
How similar studies have gone: Past trials showed mixed results; this study aims to overcome limitations and provide more definitive evidence.
Where this research is happening
-
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Erchick, Daniel Joseph — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: Erchick, Daniel Joseph
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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.