Understanding the Oral Microbiome in Latinx Children at the US-Mexico Border
Oral microbiome establishment and development of Latinx Children at the US-Mexico border
This project aims to learn how the mouth's tiny living organisms develop in Latinx children from birth to age three, especially those living near the US-Mexico border.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Career grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Los Angeles NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11127743 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
We know that the tiny organisms living in our mouths, called the oral microbiome, are very important for overall health, starting from birth. This project will follow Latinx children living along the US-Mexico border from before birth until they are three years old. We will collect saliva samples from mothers during pregnancy and from their children at several points to see how their oral microbiome changes over time. The goal is to understand how these early changes might be linked to dental problems like cavities in young children.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this type of research would be Latinx mothers during pregnancy and their children from birth up to three years old, living along the US-Mexico border.
Not a fit: Patients who are not pregnant or do not have young children, or who are outside the specified demographic and geographic area, would not directly benefit from participation in this specific research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new ways to personalize, predict, and prevent dental problems in children, especially those at higher risk.
How similar studies have performed: Research on the microbiome's role in health is a growing field, and while the specific focus on early oral microbiome development in this population is novel, the general approach of studying microbiome changes has shown promise in other areas.
Where this research is happening
Los Angeles, United States
- University of California Los Angeles — Los Angeles, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wang, Yan — University of California Los Angeles
- Study coordinator: Wang, Yan
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.