> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://minishnewsroom.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # U.S. Dental Research Holds Steady Amid a Storm of Budget Cuts - URL: https://minishnewsroom.com/en/u-s-dental-research-holds-steady-amid-a-storm-of-budget-cuts/ - Published: 2026-10-26T00:52:30.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-26T00:52:30.000Z - Author: rocksun - Tags: #en, Article **West Virginia University among schools landing major funding** It is no secret that American universities are struggling with cuts to federal and other funding. Stories of schools cutting graduate student positions or suspending research because of lost grants are easy to find. Yet some universities are still winning new funding in this difficult climate, and some of that money is going toward dental care for local communities. According to WV News, a regional outlet in the eastern U.S., Senator Shelley Moore Capito announced on October 20 that she had secured $15 million in federal funding to renovate the building and upgrade facilities at the West Virginia University School of Dentistry, the only dental school in her home state. The money comes from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) budget for fiscal year 2026\. Capito, who serves on the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, said, “This funding represents a significant investment in education and health care in West Virginia. It will help train the next generation of dentists and make dental care more accessible for families across the state.” Dental care, however, remains hard to access in the United States. Patients without separate dental insurance can pay as much as $2,000 for a single crown, and far more if a root canal is needed. Walk into any drugstore such as CVS and you will find an entire aisle of toothache remedies. Against this backdrop, policymakers continue working to make dental care more accessible and to improve both treatment and the clinical environment. On the West Coast, Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) is conducting oral microbiome research backed by an $11 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). According to a university announcement in August, the project is led by Hui Wu, associate dean for research at the OHSU School of Dentistry, and examines both disease-causing microbes and bacteria that promote health. Specifically, the team is studying the symbiotic relationship between Streptococcus mutans bacteria and the fungus Candida albicans, which the university newsletter linked to severe tooth decay in young children. Working with experts in chemistry, structural biology, dentistry and infectious disease, the researchers aim to develop compounds that selectively suppress disease-causing activity while preserving beneficial bacteria. Federal programs supporting oral health, dental research and the dental workforce have also been extended through December 11\. According to ADA News, published by the American Dental Association in September, President Donald Trump extended funding at current levels for federal agencies involved in dental research. These include $21 million for the oral health program of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), $43 million for HRSA oral health programs, $525 million for the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), and $12 million for military dental research at the Department of Defense. The ADA expects the next round of budget talks to take place only after the midterm elections in November. On the East Coast, the University of Connecticut received a record $17.75 million in research funding for fiscal year 2026, more than double its three-year average of about $7.7 million. The university’s dental school conducts research in areas including periodontal disease, the oral microbiome, oral-systemic connections, the temporomandibular joint, implants and diagnostic imaging. According to the university newsletter, the funding came from federal agencies such as the NIH, the National Science Foundation and the U.S. Army, as well as private foundations. Research using artificial intelligence (AI) to diagnose oral diseases has also drawn significant support. The University of Rochester’s Eastman Institute for Oral Health in New York will receive a five-year, $3.1 million grant from the NIH’s National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research. “Tooth decay and gum disease are the most common chronic diseases in the world, yet millions of people can’t get proper care because of cost, transportation, location or a shortage of dentists,” said Jin Xiao, the university’s associate dean for oral health education. She added that by the time these patients see a dentist, the disease has often progressed and treatment costs more. If successful, the research could shift dental care away from treating patients only after symptoms appear and toward early detection, prevention and more efficient use of dental resources. Analysts say dental research funding has held steady despite budget cuts because the results can translate directly into clinical practice. **Writer: Hyuntaek Lee** A former newspaper reporter who spent 18 years at the JoongAng Ilbo and the Chosun Ilbo, he now works as a freelance contributor while planning the next chapter of his life. His career outside journalism includes roles on the PR and marketing team at JTBC and at Edelman Global Advisory in the U.S.