Human Virome Characterization Center for the Oral-Gut-Brain Axis
NIH Common Fund Human Virome Program | UCLA School of Dentistry
The NIH Common Fund Human Virome Program (HVP) seeks to identify the full diversity of viruses that naturally inhabit the human body, collectively known as the virome. Although estimates suggest that over 380 trillion viruses inhabit the human body, much remains unknown about what constitutes a "healthy" virome across the lifespan.
Building on the achievements of the NIH Human Microbiome Project (HMP), which transformed knowledge of the human bacteriome, the HVP will address the largely uncharted human virome and its potential effects on health and disease.
Of the five Human Virome Characterization Centers (HVCCs) funded nationwide, the UCLA School of Dentistry-led initiative is the only one headquartered in a dental school. The HVCC will focus on viral communities across the oral, gut, and brain systems, where viruses may play significant roles in immune regulation, neurodevelopment, and disease processes.
The Center aims to establish a baseline for identifying virome alterations associated with disease, potentially enhancing early detection, diagnosis, and treatment across diverse age groups and ethnic backgrounds.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has awarded a $20.6 million grant over five years to establish the Human Virome Characterization Center (HVCC) for the Oral-Gut-Brain Axis, the largest NIH grant in UCLA School of Dentistry's 60-year history (NIH U54 AG089335). Dr. Yvonne Hernandez-Kapila, Associate Dean of Research and holder of the Felix and Mildred Yip Endowed Chair, serves as Contact Principal Investigator. The Center's discovery team spans UCLA, Baylor College of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, UC San Diego, USC, Penn State, and NIH/NIDCR. Of the five HVCCs funded nationwide, the UCLA-led initiative is the only one headquartered in a dental school.
On the Human Virome Program
“This novel effort is an enormous undertaking and it promises to change medicine. The HVP aims to characterize the healthy human virome, remove technological roadblocks, and define the virome's role in human health.”
Publications
Publications supported by NIH/NIA award U54AG089335, Human Virome Characterization Center for the Oral-Gut-Brain Axis. This list is drawn from NIH RePORTER and PubMed and is updated as new papers are linked to the award.
2026
- Hernandez-Kapila YL, Weisenberger DJ. Of mice and men: the emerging oral-gut-brain axis of health and disease. Periodontol 2000. 2026. DOI | PubMed
- Hernandez-Kapila YL, Kim RY, Gokhale SS, Lin YL, Dommisch H, Slots J, et al. Oral virome in health and disease. J Am Dent Assoc. 2026. DOI | PubMed | Free full text
- Gerke S, Balamut J, Wagner JK. The FDA's plan to phase out animal testing. Trends Biotechnol. 2026. DOI | PubMed | Free full text
2025
- Kim RY, Kuraji R, Kapila YL. Systemic health implications of the leaky barriers within the oral-gut-brain axis and its pathways of communication. Eur Med J (Chelmsf). 2025;10(1):47-50. DOI | PubMed | Free full text
- Zhao G, Wu X, Huang S, Huang S, Zhang G, Zhou X, et al. Single-cell transcriptomic analysis reveals dynamic cellular composition changes at acupuncture point BL23 (Shenshu) in low back pain. Mol Pain. 2025;21:17448069251405974. DOI | PubMed | Free full text
Center Leadership
The Human Virome Characterization Center for the Oral-Gut-Brain Axis is a multi-institutional center supported by the National Institute on Aging (U54AG089335) as part of the NIH Human Virome Program. The center is led by five Multiple Principal Investigators, with each of its five cores directed by a dedicated core lead.
Principal Investigators
Yvonne L. Hernandez-Kapila, DDS, PhD
Contact Principal Investigator
University of California, Los Angeles
James R. Cerhan, MD, PhD
Mayo Clinic
Clara M. Lajonchere, PhD
University of California, Los Angeles
Janice S. Lee, DDS, MD, MS
National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, NIH
Joseph F. Petrosino, PhD
Baylor College of Medicine
Core Leadership
Administrative Core
Yvonne L. Hernandez-Kapila, DDS, PhD
University of California, Los Angeles
Clinical and Human Studies Core
Tien S. Dong, MD, PhD
University of California, Los Angeles
Virome Characterization and Sequencing Core
Sara Javornik Cregeen, PhD
Baylor College of Medicine
Data Management and Bioinformatics Core
Matthew C. Ross, PhD
Baylor College of Medicine
Ethical, Legal and Social Implications Core
Mary Anderlik Majumder, JD, PhD
Baylor College of Medicine
Latest News & Highlights
$20.6M NIH Grant Establishes School of Dentistry-Led Human Virome Characterization Center
Human Virome Characterization Center will leverage UCLA leadership to advance understanding of the virome's role in human health across the oral–gut–brain axis.
