# Local and Systemic Multi-Omics of TMJ Disorders

> **NIH NIH UH2** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES · 2022 · $420,198

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
Temporomandibular Disorders (TMD) represent a spectrum of painful disorders that afflicts approximately 5 to
10% of the US population with approximate annual healthcare costs of $4 billion. Degenerative disorders,
internal derangements including disc displacement and hypo/hyper-mobility, and arthralgia of the
temporomandibular joint (TMJ), which together are referred to as TMJ disorders (TMJDs), are common in
many subjects with TMD. No definitive etio-pathologic diagnostics are currently available, and treatments are
non-specific and largely palliative. While a subset of TMJDs occur in isolation, a substantial proportion are
associated with comorbidities such as headaches and/or fibromyalgia. These two distinct patient cohorts
together with the peculiar predilection of TMJDs for women of reproductive age as opposed to the late onset of
similar disorders in other joints, point to unique and complex interactions of systemic and local factors. As
such, multi-omic signatures and cell networks at the local and systemic levels will facilitate specific diagnostics
and clinically meaningful stratification of patients between and within each of these cohorts. Currently there is a
substantial void in connecting the molecular multi-omic signatures and cellular networks / interactions with
clinical disease subtypes, etiopathogenesis, progression and severity. Our long-term goal is to identify local
and systemic single cell and biofluid multi-omic molecular profiles from a spectrum of TMJD subtypes and
severities to delineate relationships between clinical phenotypes with deep omic signatures and cell networks
that will nucleate new directions for rational and precision therapies, prognostics and prevention. We expect
that such multi-omic analyses combined with case control and longitudinal clinical and imaging data will
provide critical insights on novel molecular signatures and networks associated with specific disease subtypes
/ severity and the interactions between cell subpopulations in perpetuating or mitigating disease progression.
These goals will be achieved through two milestones-based phases involving (1) a UH2 feasibility phase to
develop and implement protocols and quality assurance; recruitment of subjects and clinical disease
categorization; sample collection to pilot sample handling and omic assays; data standardization, management
and access; and developing a robust statistical plan; and (2) a UH3 implementation and discovery phase to
identify distinct cell networks and molecular signatures towards a new rational classification of TMJDs and
comorbidities; and to validate salivary omics biomarkers of these endotypes. Given the assembled expertise
and plans, we expect that these studies will provide strong foundations and depth of knowledge needed to
more rationally stratify patients into TMJD and comorbidity subtypes and severity categories; provide the basis
for new directions of translational science in diagnostics, ...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10524689
- **Project number:** 1UH2DE032208-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES
- **Principal Investigator:** Sharon Aronovich
- **Activity code:** UH2 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $420,198
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2022-09-09 → 2024-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10524689

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10524689, Local and Systemic Multi-Omics of TMJ Disorders (1UH2DE032208-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10524689. Licensed CC0.

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