A new global institute has been launched to advance research into the relationship between oral health and overall health and turn the latest oral-systemic science into better prevention and care.
The Sunstar Mouth-to-Body Health™ Institute aims to become an international leader in oral-systemic health by bringing together researchers, clinicians and scientific leaders from dentistry, medicine, microbiology, immunology, nutrition, behavioural science and public health to unlock the role of the mouth’s influence on health throughout the body.
With healthcare systems worldwide facing the combined pressures of aging populations and increased chronic disease, oral health and general health are still largely managed separately, highlighting the need for stronger evidence on where closer integration between dental and medical health could help improve prevention and care.
Initially focusing on oral health science including periodontal health science, the oral microbiome and the link between oral health and overall health, Institute members will agree on the first research programs during the launch meeting in Kyoto, Japan.
While researchers are already investigating how oral bacteria, chronic inflammation, immune responses and changes in the oral microbiome may influence health beyond the mouth, the evidence is not equally strong across conditions.
The Institute is being established and supported by the Japanese-founded oral healthcare company, Sunstar, which has funded global oral-systemic health research for over 40 years, including education and research at the Joslin Diabetes Center and The University at Buffalo, NY, USA; University of Pisa, Italy; Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam, the Netherlands, and the University of Tokyo, Japan.
These research examples include a 2019 study with the Joslin Diabetes Center on periodontal health of 170 people who had lived with type 1 diabetes for 50 years or longer, and a collaboration with the University at Buffalo that began with a research fellowship in 1979 led by periodontal researcher Dr. Robert Genco and subsequently the Sunstar Robert J. Genco Endowed Chair since 2020.
Building on this research, the Institute will examine what is established and what still needs to be tested while helping to convert new scientific knowledge into practical benefits for healthcare professionals and the public. Advances in areas such as microbiome science, immunology and biomarker analysis are now allowing researchers to explore oral-systemic connections in greater depth.
Dr. Marcelo W.B. Araujo, Co-Chair of the Sunstar Mouth-to-Body Health Institute and Dean & Professor of the University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine, New York, said: “We now have research tools, analytical techniques and interdisciplinary capabilities that allow us to investigate oral-systemic relationships in ways that were not previously possible.
“Evidence linking oral health and overall health continues to grow, but important questions remain. We need a clearer understanding of biological mechanisms, clinical significance and which findings support better health prevention and care. That requires collaboration across disciplines and across institutions. No single discipline can answer these questions alone.”
The Institute’s work will be organised around three pillars: research excellence, innovation translation and scientific engagement and communication. A Global Scientific Advisory Board will provide scientific guidance and oversight, supported by Institute members across multiple disciplines.
External experts will include Dr. Araujo as Co-Chair, alongside Global Scientific Advisory Board members:
- Dr. Iain Chapple MBE, Professor Emeritus at the University of Birmingham, UK, an expert in periodontal disease, oral-systemic health and translational research;
- Dr. William V. Giannobile, Dean of the Harvard School of Dental Medicine, USA, an expert in periodontology, oral regenerative medicine and precision medicine;
- Dr. Shinya Murakami, Professor Emeritus at Osaka University Graduate School of Dentistry, Japan, an expert in periodontology and regenerative dentistry;
- Dr. Maurizio S. Tonetti, Clinical Professor of Periodontology at Shanghai Jiao Tong University, China, an expert in periodontal disease, oral-systemic health and periodontal regeneration.
Commenting on the Institute’s vision, Rachel Chau, Co-Chair and Global Head of Medical & Clinical Affairs, Sunstar said: “Over the long term, we hope the Institute becomes the international leader in oral-systemic health, scientific engagement, innovation and improved health management.”
Adds Jennifer Zhu, Global Scientific Advisory Board and Global Head of Research & Development, Consumer Business, Sunstar: “The long-term opportunity extends beyond dentistry. Over time, new and stronger evidence could help identify fresh approaches to clinical education, preventative care and health technologies. Translation should not be the final step of the research; it should be part of the research journey from the beginning.
“Eventually, we hope this scientific advancement will enable people worldwide to take better control of their oral health and overall health as an everyday habit.”
For further information on the Institute’s work visit: Sunstar Mouth-to-Body Health Institute
