This $515,926 Project Grant awarded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) Engineering program (CFDA 47.041) will fund research to develop an in vitro gingival (gum) tissue system to study the role of microbial communities on oral health and disease. The 5-year project, beginning June 1, 2024, will be conducted by the University of Massachusetts Lowell's Office of Research Administration-Lowell.
The key objectives are: (1) developing and validating a microphysiological system to study oral host-pathogen interactions and microbiome characteristics under different clinical conditions; (2) engineering an inflamed gingivitis model using human neutrophils to identify early dysbiosis indicators; and (3) creating a periodontitis model with activated lymphocytes to investigate the effects of lipid mediators on inflammation resolution and polymicrobial community changes. This research aims to advance understanding of the connection between the oral microbiome, gingival tissue, and overall human health, with potential implications for chronic diseases like periodontitis, atopic dermatitis, asthma, and inflammatory bowel disease.
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