Why some young people get aggressive Grade C periodontitis
Official title: Susceptibility Patterns for Grade C Periodontitis in Young Individuals
Funded at University of Kentucky · NIH-11392061 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at genetic, immune, and bacterial reasons why otherwise healthy young people develop rapidly progressing Grade C periodontitis (molar‑incisor pattern).
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Kentucky NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Lexington, United States) |
| Project start | September 22, 2022 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $35,000 |
| NIH project number | 3U01DE031223-04S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11392061 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are otherwise healthy adolescents or young adults with rapidly progressing Stage 3-4 Grade C molar‑incisor pattern periodontitis, especially those with affected family members.
✕Less likely to help
People with typical older-onset chronic periodontitis, significant systemic illnesses, or without the Grade C molar‑incisor pattern are unlikely to benefit directly from this project.
What this research studies
Researchers will enroll young people with Stage 3-4 Grade C molar‑incisor pattern periodontitis and collect clinical exams, family histories, blood samples, and oral bacteria samples. They will test genetics, neutrophil (immune) responses, and the presence of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans including the JP2 clone across different populations. The team will compare affected families and population groups to find inherited susceptibility patterns and how microbes or environment interact with genetics. The work aims to find markers that could flag people at high risk earlier so they can get timely care and avoid tooth loss.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help identify people at high risk earlier and lead to targeted prevention or personalized treatments that preserve teeth and reduce costly rehabilitation.
How similar studies have gone: Earlier smaller studies have linked hyper‑inflammatory responses, specific genetic variants, and Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (including the JP2 clone) to Grade C periodontitis, but large, diverse cohort confirmation is still lacking.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Kentucky
Lexington, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Shaddox, Luciana Macchion — University of Kentucky
- Study coordinator: Shaddox, Luciana Macchion
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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.