Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) awarded The University of Iowa a Project Grant of $407,719 on July 15, 2026, under the Oral Diseases and Disorders Research program (CFDA 93.121). This longitudinal research study will investigate the impact of a self-determination theory (SDT)-based psychoeducational intervention on oral microbiome composition and early childhood caries (ECC) prevention in children from birth to three years of age. The research leverages data from an existing NIH-funded clinical trial and will compare oral metagenomic profiles between intervention and control groups to evaluate intervention efficacy and explore the complex interrelationships between oral microbiota and other ECC risk factors, including maternal knowledge, dietary habits, and oral health behaviors.

The study has two primary objectives: (1) to evaluate whether the SDT-based intervention maintains or restores health-related oral microbial communities to prevent ECC, and (2) to investigate how changes in oral microbiota correlate with concurrent changes in other risk categories influenced by the intervention. The research addresses the substantial public health burden of ECC, particularly among high-risk populations, by examining the microbial dimension of this multifactorial disease. The award period extends through April 30, 2031, and will be conducted at the University of Iowa in Iowa City.