Targeting early oral GVHD to improve mouth health after stem cell transplant
Official title: Targeting early events in oral chronic graft-versus-host disease to improve oralhealth in transplant patients
Funded at University of Wisconsin-Madison · NIH-11616478 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study at UW–Madison will explore why some transplant patients develop painful oral GVHD and test ideas to prevent and lessen mouth-related problems.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Wisconsin-Madison NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Madison, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2026 |
| Project end | June 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $775,945 |
| NIH project number | 4R00DE029715-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11616478 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People who have undergone allogeneic HSCT and are at risk for or currently experiencing oral GVHD.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without HSCT-related oral GVHD may not directly benefit from this study.
What this research studies
After stem cell transplant, many patients develop chronic GVHD that harms the mouth, causing lesions, limited jaw movement, and dry mouth. This project will look at how oral injury and changes in mouth bacteria might trigger immune pathways that worsen inflammation in the mouth. By examining oral tissue and patient data over time, the team hopes to identify key signals, especially IL-17, that start or escalate the problem. Results could point to new strategies to protect the mouth and improve quality of life for patients after transplant.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to better prevention and treatment of oral GVHD, reducing pain and preserving mouth function for transplant recipients.
How similar studies have gone: Prior research suggests oral GVHD involves immune pathways that could be modulated; this study builds on that with human tissue analysis.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Madison, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mays, Jacqueline Wiesehan — University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Study coordinator: Mays, Jacqueline Wiesehan
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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.