Federal Grant Award Summary

The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) awarded the Regents of the University of Michigan a Project Grant of $527,732 under the Oral Diseases and Disorders Research program (CFDA 93.121) effective February 15, 2026, with completion targeted for January 31, 2031. The grant supports research investigating the role of tissue homeostasis in Sjögren's Disease (SJD), a chronic autoimmune condition characterized by immune cell infiltration of salivary and lacrimal glands. The research aims to elucidate how abnormal cholesterol and lipid metabolic conditions in salivary glands contribute to disease development, with particular focus on understanding defects in exocytosis (salivary protein secretion), acinar cell death, and oxidative stress mechanisms that precede clinical manifestations of SJD.

The research deliverables include mechanistic investigations of how cholesterol metabolic abnormalities lead to exocytosis dysregulation and acinar cell death, as well as studies examining the relationship between cholesterol metabolic aberrations and oxidative stress-induced inflammation. The University of Michigan will utilize advanced imaging systems and newly developed transgenic mouse models (GATE16-EGFP reporter mice and INSIG1/2-deficient mice) to track cellular processes and identify novel therapeutic targets and early diagnostic tools for detecting SJD in at-risk populations with lipid metabolism disorders. This research addresses a critical gap in understanding early-stage disease development prior to clinical diagnosis, with potential implications for improved prevention and treatment strategies.