Understanding how oral bacteria interact at a single-cell level
Official title: Resolving Oral Bacteria Interactions with a High-Throughput Low-Cost Single-Cell Transcriptomics Approach
Funded at University of Washington · NIH-10792952 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how different types of bacteria in your mouth talk to each other and affect your health, with the goal of finding better ways to prevent and treat oral diseases.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Washington NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project start | March 1, 2023 |
| Project end | February 28, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $213,847 |
| NIH project number | 5R21DE032890-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10792952 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals with oral health issues or those interested in understanding the role of oral bacteria in health and disease.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without any oral health concerns or those not interested in the microbiome's role in oral health may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the complex interactions among different species of bacteria in the oral cavity, which can influence health and disease. By using a high-throughput, low-cost single-cell transcriptomics approach, the study aims to analyze how these bacteria communicate and affect each other's behavior. This method allows for a more precise understanding of bacterial interactions, overcoming limitations of traditional bulk analysis that can obscure important details. Patients may benefit from insights that could lead to better prevention and treatment strategies for oral diseases.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved strategies for preventing and treating oral diseases by enhancing our understanding of bacterial interactions.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in understanding microbial interactions using advanced transcriptomics, suggesting that this approach could yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Washington
Seattle, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mclean, Jeffrey Scott — University of Washington
- Study coordinator: Mclean, Jeffrey Scott
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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.