Targeting acid-making mouth bacteria to prevent tooth decay
Official title: Preventing dental caries through targeted treatment of acid-producing bacteria
Funded at Ada Forsyth Institute, INC. · NIH-11159638 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This work is creating mouth-safe treatments that turn on in acidic spots to reduce cavity-causing bacteria for people at risk of tooth decay.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Ada Forsyth Institute, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Somerville, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | September 1, 2021 |
| Project end | August 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $677,054 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DE029479-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11159638 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People who get frequent cavities or are at high risk for dental caries (for example due to high sugar intake, dry mouth, or a history of recurrent decay) would be the most relevant candidates for related future testing.
✕Less likely to help
People whose dental problems are primarily due to non-bacterial causes, who already have extensive tooth loss, or who need immediate restorative dental procedures are less likely to benefit from these preventive approaches.
What this research studies
Researchers will design new pH-sensitive antimicrobial compounds that become more active where harmful bacteria produce acid. They will test these compounds in lab cultures and animal models to find ones that kill cariogenic bacteria while sparing beneficial oral microbes. The team will study how chemical structure affects activity and optimize combinations for safety and selectivity. The overall aim is to restore a healthy oral microbial balance that protects teeth from acid damage.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could lead to targeted mouth treatments (for example, rinses or topicals) that lower cavity risk by specifically controlling acid-producing bacteria while keeping helpful microbes intact.
How similar studies have gone: Related lab and animal studies of pH-triggered or targeted antimicrobials have shown promise, but translation to routine human use remains relatively new.
Where this research is happening
-
Ada Forsyth Institute, INC.
Somerville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sun, Jirun — Ada Forsyth Institute, INC.
- Study coordinator: Sun, Jirun
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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.