Federal Grant Award Summary

The University of Pittsburgh received a $679,631 Project Grant from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) under the Oral Diseases and Disorders Research program (CFDA 93.121), awarded February 15, 2026, with a completion date of January 31, 2031. This award supports research to develop and evaluate novel treatment approaches for peri-implantitis (PI), a prevalent inflammatory condition affecting approximately 5-10% of the roughly 500,000 dental implants placed annually in the United States. The research focuses on utilizing microparticle (MPs)-based drug delivery systems—specifically CCL2-microparticles and CCL22-microparticles—to provide localized, sustained delivery of immunomodulatory cytokines and chemokines that promote immune homeostasis by recruiting and polarizing macrophages and regulatory T cells.

The project deliverables include characterization of the mechanisms by which these microparticle-based immunomodulatory interventions halt disease progression, resolve inflammation, and alter the oral microbiome in peri-implantitis. Research outcomes will advance understanding of the host immune response in peri-implantitis pathogenesis and generate evidence supporting the development of a novel therapeutic intervention addressing a clinical condition for which no standard of care currently exists. The five-year award supports basic and translational research activities conducted at the University of Pittsburgh's Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania location to ultimately improve treatment outcomes for dental implant failure prevention.