Federal Grant Award Summary

Baylor College of Medicine received a $453,797 Project Grant from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) under the Oral Diseases and Disorders Research program (CFDA 93.121), awarded June 5, 2026, with completion targeted for June 4, 2028. The grant supports fundamental research investigating the structures and functions of natural products in periodontal disease, specifically examining novel biosynthetic gene clusters identified in clinical isolates of Porphyromonas gingivalis. The research aims to develop selective treatment strategies for periodontal disease while preserving healthy oral microbiomes by characterizing microbial natural products that demonstrate antibiotic activity against pathogenic bacteria.

The funded research will deliver scientific outputs including genetic knockouts and transcriptional reporters to identify conditions for expression of the target biosynthetic pathway, along with investigative tools to determine whether this gene cluster encodes selective antibiotics for pathogenic oral bacteria. This work addresses a significant clinical need, as periodontal disease affects most Americans and is linked to systemic health complications including atherosclerosis, arthritis, and neurological disorders. By identifying pathogen-specific natural product leads from the oral microbiome, the research provides an alternative to broad-spectrum antibiotics that exacerbate microbial dysbiosis and promote resistant infections.