A-State research group receives $2 million in federal grants to study oral pathogens
Dr. Robert Shields, assistant professor of microbiology, and his research group at Arkansas State University, recently received a grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to continue their work. Days later, they received another one, the first time that’s ever happened at A-State’s history.
The two awards are federally categorized as an R01, a $1.77 million award spanning five years, and an R15 totaling $419,161 over three years, putting the cumulative investment into these research projects in excess of $2 million.
“I am so proud of Dr. Rob Shields in successfully competing for these two awards. The NIH investment in his research program is a testament to the importance of the work on tooth decay bacteria,” said, Dr. Travis Marsico, vice provost for research, innovation, and discovery. “Dr. Shields was the 2023 ABI New Investigator of the Year, announced at this year’s annual symposium in September.”
With the new funding from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), a division of NIH, Shields and his associates are investigating the oral pathogen “Streptococcus mutans,” its genetic makeup, and mechanisms to combat its impact on the oral microbiome, a reference to the microorganisms, largely bacteria, that are always in the human mouth. These vary based on personal health, diet and oral hygiene.
Noting that this is the first time A-State has ever had a researcher funded by the NIH on two separate awards simultaneously, Marsico added, “Shields was also one of three invited faculty speakers at the Arkansas IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence (AR INBRE) annual conference last month. His colleagues around the state are taking notice of his research team’s contributions, and we are thrilled to have him representing A-State in these statewide venues.”
“This research will allow us to develop new treatment modalities, both against S. mutans and other streptococcal pathogens,” said Shields.
An important aspect to the R15 project is the inclusion of undergraduate and graduate students and how the program enhances their academic careers to prepare them for the next step.
“Undergraduate research experiences have many benefits for the students involved and there is clear evidence that mentees perform better in their careers after graduation,” said Shields. “This research is very accessible for pre-professional students and adds to their resume before applying to medical or dental programs. Andrew Goode, a first-year student in the doctor of osteopathic medicine program at the New York Institute of Technology-College of Osteopathic Medicine at A-State, completed his honors thesis in our lab, working on this project that is now funded.”
Since joining the A-State faculty in 2021, Shields and his group have made key contributions to the understanding of genetic functions of S. mutans, its regulation mechanisms, and roles in oral disease.
“Providing students with authentic, basic and applied research experiences prepares them for the STEM workforce, and the Shields Laboratory is an A-State leader in this important professional preparation,” Marsico added.
Dr. Robert Fleming, assistant professor of mechanical engineering, is a collaborator on this award.
“My contributions will be mechanical property measurements of dental enamel to evaluate changes in microstructure and surface demineralization in response to tooth decay,” said Fleming. “This will be made possible with specialized instrumentation in my lab that was funded by a previous NSF Major Research Instrumentation grant, on which Rob Shields was a co-principal investigator. Without it, this kind of high-impact, interdisciplinary collaboration wouldn’t be possible.”