Understanding the Germs in Your Mouth and Nose
A Foundation for the Oral Microbiome and Metagenome
This project helps scientists learn more about the tiny living things in our mouths and noses to better understand how they affect our health.
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 ID | NIH-11077687 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Our mouths and noses are home to many different types of germs, collectively called the microbiome, which play a big role in our health and disease. This project creates a comprehensive online database, the Human Oral Microbiome Database (eHOMD), that catalogs these microbes and their genetic information. We are also growing previously unknown oral and nasal bacteria in the lab and adding information about the viruses that infect these microbes. This foundational work helps researchers worldwide connect specific germs to health conditions and develop new ways to keep us healthy.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This foundational research does not directly involve patient participation, but future studies building on this work may seek individuals with specific oral or systemic health conditions.
Not a fit: Patients looking for immediate new treatments or direct clinical intervention will not find it through this foundational research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: This work could lead to new discoveries about how the oral microbiome affects diseases, potentially guiding future treatments or prevention strategies for various health issues.
How similar studies have performed: This project builds upon many years of successful work in creating and expanding the Human Oral Microbiome Database and cultivating new bacterial strains.
Where this research is happening
Somerville, UNITED STATES
- Ada Forsyth Institute, INC. — Somerville, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mark Welch, Jessica Leigh — Ada Forsyth Institute, INC.
- Study coordinator: Mark Welch, Jessica Leigh
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 below.