R01DE031025

Understand Biological Factors Underlying Early Childhood Caries Disparity from the Oral Microbiome in Early Infancy - Summary

Early Childhood Caries (ECC) is the most common chronic childhood disease. Although largely preventable, ECC affects one third of socioeconomically disadvantaged and racial/ethnic minority preschool children in the US. Effectively reducing ECC disparity requires a better understanding of its biological factors from birth to early childhood, including identifying differential exposure to risk factors by race and socioeconomic status.

While ECC is an infectious disease initiated by the oral microbiota (bacteria and fungi), the interplay between host, environment, and oral microbiota affects the onset and severity of ECC. However, to date, few studies have examined the early-life longitudinal development of oral microbiota in underserved children, and none have utilized comprehensive methods to examine multiplatform (host and environmental) factors that contribute to the establishment of cariogenic microflora and onset of ECC among underserved children.

The Oral Microbiome in Early Infancy (OMEI) study will address this urgent need to understand biological factors related to ECC among underserved racial/ethnic minority groups. The OMEI leverages a recently archived birth cohort that comprises 160 low-income minority infants (primarily Black/African American) and a comprehensive collection of medical/oral health records and ~1760 salivary/supragingival samples (obtained via NIDCR KL2TR001999 and K23DE027412, PI: Xiao).

The OMEI builds upon our previous work that 1) revealed racial background is associated with early-life oral microbiome development in the context of ECC; 2) demonstrated oral bacterial-fungal cross-kingdom interactions and their associations with ECC; 3) identified human genes related to host-S. mutans-dental caries interactions; and 4) developed machine-learning prediction models for ECC.

In Aim 1, we will use metagenomic analysis to define the critical assembly and functional development of the oral microbiome (bacteria and fungi) in early infancy (birth to two years) among all infants and their respective racial groups.

In Aim 2, we will use computational modeling to identify determinants (maternal, genetic, and immune factors) of infants' oral microbiome development.

In Aim 3, we will use high-dimensional statistical machine learning approaches to integrate multi-platform (maternal, microbial, genetic, immune, and environmental) data to identify biological factors underlying ECC etiopathogenesis and develop ECC prediction models.

The OMEI will be the first study that examines the early-life biological factors underlying ECC disparity from an infants' oral microbiome perspective. Risk factors revealed from OMEI could be used as targets for ECC early prediction and prevention specifically suitable for underserved children.

An integrated health disparities research team with investigators from multiple disciplines (microbiome, perinatal oral health, metagenomic sequencing, high-dimensional biostatistics, genetics, and health disparities), together with an outstanding internal-external advisory committee, will ensure the success of the proposed OMEI project.

University Of Rochester

NIDCR EXTRAMURAL RESEARCH PROVIDES RESEARCH FUNDS TO SUPPORT BASIC, TRANSLATIONAL, AND CLINICAL RESEARCH IN DENTAL, ORAL, AND CRANIOFACIAL HEALTH AND DISEASE THROUGH GRANTS, COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS, AND CONTRACTS THAT SUPPORT SCIENTISTS WORKING IN INSTITUTIONS THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES AND INTERNATIONALLY. EXTRAMURAL PROGRAMS PLAN, DEVELOP, AND MANAGE SCIENTIFIC PRIORITIES THROUGH PORTFOLIO ANALYSES AND CONSULTATION WITH STAKEHOLDERS, ENCOURAGING THE MOST PROMISING DISCOVERIES AND EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES FOR RAPID TRANSLATION TO CLINICAL APPLICATIONS. THE INTEGRATIVE BIOLOGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES PROGRAMS SUPPORTS BASIC AND TRANSLATIONAL RESEARCH PROGRAMS ON ORAL MICROBIOLOGY, SALIVARY BIOLOGY AND IMMUNOLOGY, ORAL AND SALIVARY GLAND CANCERS, NEUROSCIENCE OF OROFACIAL PAIN AND TEMPOROMANDIBULAR DISORDERS, MINERALIZED TISSUE PHYSIOLOGY, DENTAL BIOMATERIALS, AND TISSUE ENGINEERING AND REGENERATIVE MEDICINE. THE BRANCH AIMS TO ACCELERATE PROGRESS IN BASIC AND TRANSLATIONAL RESEARCH IN THESE AREAS, AND FURTHER STIMULATE THE DISCOVERY PIPELINE BASED ON CLINICAL NEEDS. THE TRANSLATIONAL GENOMICS RESEARCH PROGRAMS SUPPORTS BASIC AND TRANSLATIONAL RESEARCH IN GENETICS, GENOMICS, DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY, AND DATA SCIENCE TOWARD THE GOAL OF IMPROVING DENTAL, ORAL, AND CRANIOFACIAL HEALTH. THE FOCUS IS ON DECIPHERING THE GENETIC, MOLECULAR, AND CELLULAR MECHANISMS UNDERLYING DENTAL, ORAL, AND CRANIOFACIAL DEVELOPMENT AND ANOMALIES. THE BEHAVIORAL AND SOCIAL SCIENCES RESEARCH PROGRAMS SUPPORTS BASIC AND APPLIED RESEARCH TO PROMOTE ORAL HEALTH, TO PREVENT ORAL DISEASES AND RELATED DISABILITIES, AND TO IMPROVE MANAGEMENT OF CRANIOFACIAL CONDITIONS, DISORDERS, AND INJURY. THE PROGRAM PRIORITIZES MECHANISTIC RESEARCH THAT CONTRIBUTES TO A CUMULATIVE SCIENCE OF BEHAVIOR CHANGE, TO MAXIMIZE THE RIGOR, RELEVANCE, AND DISSEMINATION OF EFFICACIOUS BEHAVIOR CHANGE INTERVENTIONS. THE CLINICAL RESEARCH PROGRAMS SUPPORTS PATIENT-ORIENTED, POPULATION, AND COMMUNITY BASED RESEARCH AIMED AT IMPROVING THE DENTAL, ORAL, AND CRANIOFACIAL HEALTH OF THE NATION. THE CENTER FOCUSES ON A VARIETY OF DISEASES AND CONDITIONS THROUGH CLINICAL TRIALS, EPIDEMIOLOGIC STUDIES, PRACTICE-BASED RESEARCH, THE HIV/AIDS AND ORAL HEALTH PROGRAM, AND STUDIES OF ORAL HEALTH DISPARITIES AND INEQUITIES IN ALL AREAS OF NIDCR PROGRAMMATIC INTEREST. THE PROGRAM ENCOURAGES INVESTIGATIONS THAT HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO TRANSLATE FINDINGS INTO EVIDENCE-BASED CLINICAL APPLICATIONS. THE RESEARCH TRAINING AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT EXTRAMURAL PROGRAMS SPAN THE CAREER STAGES OF SCIENTISTS, SUPPORTING RESEARCH TRAINING AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT FOR PHD AND DUAL DEGREE DDS/DMD-PHD STUDENTS, POSTDOCTORAL SCHOLARS, AND EARLY CAREER, MIDCAREER, AND ESTABLISHED INVESTIGATORS. THE PROGRAMS MANAGE SUPPORT FOR FELLOWSHIPS, RESEARCH TRAINING GRANTS, CAREER DEVELOPMENT AND CAREER TRANSITION AWARDS, NIH LOAN REPAYMENT AWARDS, AND DIVERSITY SUPPLEMENTS TO SUPPORT RESEARCH EXPERIENCES FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS THROUGH INVESTIGATORS. NIDCR PARTICIPATES IN THE SMALL BUSINESS INNOVATION RESEARCH (SBIR) AND SMALL BUSINESS TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER (STTR) PROGRAMS. THE SBIR PROGRAM IS INTENDED TO INCREASE PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIALIZATION OF INNOVATIONS DERIVED FROM FEDERAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, TO INCREASE SMALL BUSINESS PARTICIPATION IN FEDERAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, AND TO FOSTER AND ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION OF SOCIALLY AND ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS AND WOMEN-OWNED SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS IN TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION.THE STTR PROGRAM IS INTENDED TO STIMULATE AND FOSTER SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION THROUGH COOPERATIVE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT CARRIED OUT BETWEEN SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS AND RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS, TO INCREASE PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIALIZATION OF INNOVATIONS DERIVED FROM FEDERAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, AND TO FOSTER AND ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION OF SOCIALLY AND ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS AND WOMEN-OWNED SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS IN TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION. EXTRAMURAL PROGRAMS ARE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE USE OF TAXPAYER FUNDS TO SUPPORT RESEARCH ON DENTAL, ORAL, AND CRANIOFACIAL DISEASES AND DISORDERS AND IMPROVING THE ORAL HEALTH OF ALL AMERICANS. EXTRAMURAL PROGRAMS SUPPORT RESEARCH AND RESEARCH TRAINING TO ESTABLISH THE FOUNDATION FOR SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERIES THAT INCLUDE TRANSPARENT AND RIGOROUS PLANNING, PRIORITY SETTING, CONTINUOUS AND CONSISTENT REVIEWS OF PROGRESS, AND FOCUS ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF A DIVERSE, HIGHLY SKILLED, AND NIMBLE WORKFORCE THAT CAN RAPIDLY RESPOND TO SCIENTIFIC BREAKTHROUGHS AND PUBLIC HEALTH CHALLENGES. EXTRAMURAL PROGRAMS ARE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE USE OF TAXPAYER FUNDS TO SUPPORT RESEARCH ON DENTAL, ORAL, AND CRANIOFACIAL DISEASES AND EMPLOY EVALUATION DOMAINS, FROM NEEDS ASSESSMENT AND STRATEGIC PLANNING TO IMPLEMENTATION AND PROCESS EVALUATION, PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENT, AND OUTCOMES AND IMPACT ANALYSIS TO EVALUATE STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES

93.121 - Oral Diseases and Disorders Research

National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) [HHS - NIH]

New York United States

State-Wide

Biologic Factors Underlying Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Health Disparities (R01 - Clinical Trial Not Allowed) (PAR-18-875)

Amendment Since initial award the total obligations have increased 336% from $731,315 to $3,190,415.