# Understand biological factors underlying early childhood caries disparity from the oral microbiome in early infancy

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER · 2024 · $687,274

## Abstract

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 the underserved children.
 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 compromises 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 hea...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10766756
- **Project number:** 5R01DE031025-03
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER
- **Principal Investigator:** STEVEN R. GILL
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $687,274
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2022-05-01 → 2027-01-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10766756

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10766756, Understand biological factors underlying early childhood caries disparity from the oral microbiome in early infancy (5R01DE031025-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-27 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10766756. Licensed CC0.

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