Eklund Foundation has previously granted funds to the following research projects:
Vitamin D signaling in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and periodontitis
Main applicant: Emily Lu, Lecturer and Consultant in Periodontology, Faculty of Dentistry, Oral & Craniofacial Sciences, Kings College London/Guy’s Hospital
Co-applicants: Luigi Nibali, Professor/Consultant in Periodontology, Faculty of Dentistry, Oral & Craniofacial Sciences, Kings College London; Magdalena Flak, Lecturer in Mucosal Immunology, Faculty of Dentistry, Oral & Craniofacial Sciences, Kings College London; Jing Kang, Senior Lecturer in Medical Statistics, Oral Clinical Research Unit Centre of Clinical Translational Science, Faculty of Dentistry, Oral & Craniofacial Sciences, Guy’s, King’s College London; Frances Humby, Consultant Rheumatologist, Department of Rheumatology, Guy’s Hospital
Funding: € 60 798
Reasoning: “Periodontitis affects nearly half of adults, and rheumatoid arthritis up to 1% globally. The study aims to improve patient outcomes by identifying rheumatoid arthritis and periodontitis patients at high risk of vitamin D deficiency and by investigating the link between low Vitamin D receptor signaling and disease activity, laying the groundwork for future studies on vitamin D supplementation. The project is multidisciplinary, bridging dentistry and medicine, and the topic is globally relevant and has the potential for significant impact.”
PETAL: Effect of Periodontal Treatment on Alzheimer Disease-Associated Outcomes: A Randomized Clinical Trial
Main applicant: Leila Sahli, PhD, Head of clinic, Department of Periodontology, Oral and Implant Surgery, Liége-Sart Tilman University Hospital (University of Liége)
Co-applicants: Supervisor: France Lambert, Professor and Head of Department of Periodontology, Oral and Implant Surgery, Liége-Sart Tilman University Hospital (University of Liége); Christine Bastin, PhD, Senior Research Associate, University of Liége; Alpdogan Kantarci, PhD, Professor, University of Minnesota; Adelin Albert, PhD, Professor Emeritus, University of Liége; Dorien Van Hede, PhD, Associate Professor, University of Liége; Evangelos Papathanasiou, PhD, Associate Professor, Tufts University
Funding: €121 900
Reasoning: “Alzheimer’s disease affects over 50 million people globally, with limited access to effective treatments. At the same time, gum disease (periodontitis) is a common and treatable condition. This project investigates whether treating periodontitis can slow cognitive decline and reduce neuroinflammation in people with Alzheimer’s. The study addresses the field between dentistry and medicine. If the outcome is positive, the project is expected to have good potential to make a difference both nationally and internationally.
Maternal Oral Microbiome Investigation (MOMI): A Multiomic Study of Periodontal Health, Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy, and Human Salivary Proteins
Main applicant: Sterling Wright, PhD, Postdoctoral Scholar, College of Health Solutions, Arizona State University
Co–applicant: Corrie Whisner, PhD, Associate Professor, College of Health Solutions, Arizona State University
Funding: € 59 484
Reasoning: This project investigates saliva and dental plaque biomarkers to enable early detection of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP). Research suggests that oral bacteria may influence blood pressure and cardiovascular health. By analyzing the microbiome and proteome during pregnancy, new dental screening methods may be developed that could enhance prenatal risk assessment. Long-term, this may enable personalized care—like dietary advice, probiotics, or periodontal treatment—to reduce HDP risk. The project bridges dentistry, medicine, and research, emphasizing oral health’s role in preventive care.
The Oral Health project within the IDB Prognosis study
Main applicant: Kristina Bertl, Associate professor, Department of Periodontology, Faculty of Medicine, Sigmund Freud University Vienna
Co-applicant: Andreas Stavropoulos, Professor, Department of Periodontology, Malmö University; Johan Burisch, MD, PhD, Gastroenheden, Hvidovre Hospital & Copenhagen Center for Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Children, Adolescents and Adults; Hermie J.M Harmsen, Associate Professor, Department of Medical Microbiology and Infection Prevention, University Medical Center Groningen; Klas Göran Sjöberg, Adjunct Professor, Gastrosektionen, Skånes universitetssjukhus; Björn Klinge, Professor emeritus, Department of Dental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet.
Funding: €162,000
Comprehensive Assessment of Resilience and Early Childhood Dental health in 6-years-olds (CARE-Kids) – views from parents in vulnerable areas
Main applicant: Mersiha Velic, Dental Hygienist, Master in Oral Health Sciences, PhD student, Department of Health Sciences, Karlstad University
Co-applicant: Ulrika Lindmark, Professor of Oral Health Sciences; Ann-Catrin André Kramer, Assistant professor in Oral Health Sciences; Louise Persson, Assistant professor in Public health sciences – all co-applicants represent the Department of Health Sciences, Karlstad University
Funding: €112,560
Periodontitis and Its Relation to Coronary Artery Disease (PAROKRANK) – a case controls study with mechanistic and prospective analyses
Main applicant: Anna Norhammar, MD, Professor in Cardiology, Karolinska Institutet, Unit of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Sweden
Co-applicant: Anders Gustafsson, Professor Odontology, Karolinska Institutet, Sweden
Lars Rydén, Senior Professor, Karolinska Institutet, Unit of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Sweden
Funding: SEK 1 784 000, approximately €153,800
Picture Perfect: Evaluating the Validity and Patient Experience of Smartphone Intra-oral Photography for Remote Oral Health Assessment in Children: a Mixed Methods, Comparative Study
Main applicant: Nicola Innes, Head of Cardiff School of Dentistry, Professor and Consultant in Paediatric Dentistry, UK
Co-applicant: Waraf Al-yaseen, Lecturer in Dental Hygiene and Therapy, Cardiff School of Dentistry, UK
Jennifer Galloway, Senior Lecturer & Consultant in Orthodontics, Cardiff School of Dentistry, UK
Funding: €121,742
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Personal home oral care to enhance blood pressure control (PROMOTE-BP)
Main applicant: Rita Del Pinto, University of L’Aquila, Italy
Co-applicant: Davide Pietropaoli, University of L’Aquila, Italy
Supervisors: Mario Giannoni, University of L’Aquila, Italy; Claudio Ferri, University of L’Aquila, Italy
Funding: €136,800
Efficacy of periodontal risk communication on awareness and propensity to undergo the suggested treatments in patients with and without history of tooth loss due to periodontitis
Main applicant: Roberto Farina, University of Ferrara, Italy
Co-applicant: Anna Simonelli, University of Ferrara, Italy
Supervisor: Leonardo Trombelli, University of Ferrara, Italy
Funding: €90,000
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Improving the oral health of older adults using milk supplemented with fluoride and probiotics: An interventional feasibility study and pilot RCT
Main applicant: Fatemeh Vida Zohoori, Teesside University, UK
Co-applicants: Alan Batterham, Teesside University, UK; Caroline Orr, Teesside University, UK; Christina Stecksén-Blicks, Umea University, Sweden; Svante Twetman, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
Funding: €138,113
The saliva microbiome as a biomarker for peri-implant, oral and systemic diseases
Main applicant: Paolo Ghensi, University of Trento, Italy
Co-applicants: Cristiano Tomasi, University of Trento, Italy; Eriberto Bressan, Padua University, Italy; Christian Bacci, Padua University, Italy
Supervisor: Nicola Segata, University of Trento, Italy
Funding: €100,000
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Salutogenesis against the odds – resilience factors among adolescents
Applicant: Marie Nordström, Malmö University, Sweden
Supervisor: Gunnel Hänsel Petersson, Malmö University, Sweden
Funding: SEK 1,621,621
Healthy food and Healthy teeth in children from low SEP: interventions that fit the ideas and daily realities of families with low SEP in metropolitan areas; a participatory action research
Applicant: Monique van der Veen, ACTA Preventive Dentistry, The Netherlands
Co-applicant: Egija Zaura, ACTA Preventive Dentistry, The Netherlands
Funding: EUR 40,000
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The role of periodontal pocket microorganisms in the etiology of potentially malignant and malignant lesions of oral mucosa in patients with chronic periodontitis
Applicant: Ana Pucar, School of Dental Medicine, University of Belgrade, Serbia
Funding: EUR 47,920
Metabolomic and proteomic profiling of peri-implant diseases
Applicant: Mario Romandini, Complutense University of Madrid, Spain
Funding: EUR 29,000
Periodontal Inflammation and CerebrovAscular Disease (PICAD)
Applicant: Francesco D’Aiuto, UCL Eastman Dental Institute, United Kingdom
Funding: EUR 86,500
Periodontitis, Peri-implantitis and Diabetes – a registry study
Applicant: Jan Derks, Department of Periodontology, University of Gothenburg, Sweden
Co-applicant: Tord Berglundh, University of Gothenburg, Sweden
Funding: SEK 930,000
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Exosome Diagnostics: New Tools in Personalized Periodontal Care
Applicant: Evangelos Papathanasiou, Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, USA
Co-applicant: Andrew Hoffman, Tufts University Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, USA
Funding: EUR 58,050
Peri-implant disease in elderly population: epidemiology and treatment strategy of an emerging problem
Applicant: Riccardo Guazzo, University of Padova, Italy
Co-applicant: Luca Sbricoli, Michele Stocchero, University of Padova, Italy
Supervisor: Eriberto Bressan, University of Padova, Italy
Assigned sum: EUR 55,000
Periodontitis prevalence in Colitis & Crohn’s disease (PPCC) patients
Applicant: Kristina Bertl, Malmö University, Sweden
Co-applicant: Andreas Stavropoulos, Malmö University, Sweden
Assigned sum: EUR 53,960
Effect of daily flavonoid supplements on periodontal and systemic conditions before and after periodontal treatment
Applicant: Monique Danser, ACTA, The Netherlands
Supervisor: Ubele van der Velden, ACTA, The Netherlands
Assigned sum: EUR 28,995
Tuberosity versus palatal donor site for subepithelial connective tissue graft in root coverage therapy: a randomized clinical trial
Applicant: Sébastien Moreaux, Rothschild Hospital, Paris, France
Supervisor: Philippe Bouchard, Rothschild Hospital, Paris, France
Assigned sum: EUR 20,000
Oral conditions in patients with Reumatoid Arthritis: a population based case-control study
Main applicant: Stefan Renvert, Högskolan Kristianstad, Sweden
Assigned sum: SEK 708,426 (EUR 73,913)
The oral cavity as a source of febrile neutropenia: An observational study in patients with solid tumors treated with myelosuppressive chemotherapy
Main applicant: Alexa Laheij, ACTA Netherlands
Assigned sum: EUR 32,000
Metagenomic profiling of the microbiome associated with peri-implant diseases through high-resolution shotgun sequencing
Main applicant: Paolo Ghensi, University of Trento, Italy
Assigned sum: EUR 40,000
Primary prevention of complications in implant treatments: Protocol for maintenance of dental implants.
Main applicant: Eriberto Bressan, University of Padova, Italy
Assigned sum: EUR 15,000