Why some young people get aggressive molar‑incisor gum disease
Official title: Susceptibility Patterns for Grade C Periodontitis in Young Individuals
Funded at University of Kentucky · NIH-11168878 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks for genetic, immune, and bacterial reasons why otherwise healthy young people develop fast‑moving Grade C molar‑incisor periodontitis.
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) | $1,419,503 |
| NIH project number | 5U01DE031223-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11168878 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are young, otherwise healthy individuals with rapid, severe molar‑incisor pattern periodontitis (Stage 3–4, Grade C), especially those with a family history of early tooth loss or of African ancestry where certain bacterial strains are more common.
✕Less likely to help
People with mild or typical adult chronic periodontitis, dental issues unrelated to aggressive periodontitis, or those unwilling/unable to provide blood or DNA samples are unlikely to directly benefit from this project.
What this research studies
This work focuses on young, otherwise healthy people who develop rapid, severe periodontitis around their molars and incisors. Researchers will combine clinical exams and family histories with blood tests for immune responses, genetic analysis, and microbial testing for bacteria such as Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (including the JP2 clone). They will enroll affected individuals and their relatives across diverse populations to find patterns that run in families or differ by ancestry and environment. The team aims to identify the biological and microbial causes that explain why some young people experience rapid tooth loss.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could enable earlier diagnosis, tailored prevention, and new approaches to prevent tooth loss in young people with aggressive periodontitis.
How similar studies have gone: Earlier smaller studies have linked the JP2 strain of A. actinomycetemcomitans and exaggerated immune responses to C/MIP, but large, multi‑population genetic causes remain unconfirmed.
Where this research is happening
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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.