Understanding how childhood adversity affects tooth development and cavities in young children
Official title: Genomic and bioinformatic approaches for understanding the effects of childhood adversity on primary tooth formation and caries development in young children
Funded at Purdue University · NIH-11102619 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how tough experiences in childhood might affect the way kids' teeth grow and whether they get cavities, and it's for anyone interested in understanding how dental health can relate to overall brain development and mental well-being.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Purdue University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (West Lafayette, United States) |
| Project start | June 4, 2024 |
| Project end | September 30, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2023 |
| Award (this year) | $35,365 |
| NIH project number | 7K18DE032380-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11102619 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are young children who have faced significant childhood adversity and may be at risk for dental problems.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who have not experienced childhood adversity or those with pre-existing dental conditions unrelated to adversity may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on the impact of childhood adversity on the formation of primary teeth and the development of cavities in young children. The principal investigator will undergo training to learn about dental development and methods to measure tooth and dental tissue characteristics. This training will involve coursework, seminars, and hands-on lab experiences at multiple institutions. The goal is to connect findings in tooth development with broader implications for brain development and mental health.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to better understanding and prevention strategies for dental issues in children who have experienced adversity.
How similar studies have gone: While this research explores a novel connection between childhood adversity and dental health, similar studies have shown promising results in understanding the links between early life experiences and health outcomes.
Where this research is happening
-
Purdue University
West Lafayette, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Dunn, Erin Cathleen — Purdue University
- Study coordinator: Dunn, Erin Cathleen
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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.