Researchers Awarded NIH Grant to Explore Cardiovascular Disease Cues Hidden in Dental Scans
Mina Mahdian, associate professor in the Stony Brook School of Dental Medicine Department of Prosthodontics and Digital Technology, and Prateek Prasanna, assistant professor in the Department of Biomedical Informatics, have received a $300,000 grant from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to explore whether routine dental imaging can be used to detect early signs of heart disease.
The two-year research project is titled “Automated Characterization of Arterial Calcification in Dental Cone Beam Computed Tomography as Predictors of Cardiovascular Disease.” It aims to develop an AI-driven tool that can automatically identify and characterize arterial calcifications, mineral deposits that can signal cardiovascular risk, visible in cone beam CT (CBCT) scans commonly used in dental practices.
“I am excited about this project, as this is the first study to apply quantitative imaging biomarkers, such as radiomics, to characterize vascular calcifications in CBCT to predict cardiovascular disease,” Mahdian said. “The majority of current AI research is focused on common dental pathologies, whereas this project signifies the role of AI in assisting dental providers with predicting the risk of cardiovascular incidents based on dental CBCTs and making proper and timely referral.”
Mahdian is a member of the Global Initiative on Artificial Intelligence for Health, Dental Diagnostics and Digital Dentistry, a mission launched by the World Health Organization (WHO), International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). Its aim is to improve healthcare worldwide using AI and promote the exchange of knowledge and the development of technical standards for the use of AI in the healthcare sector.
“At the IMAGINE Lab, we’re committed to pushing the boundaries of what AI can do for healthcare, beyond traditional domains like cancer. This project is a prime example of how advanced machine learning and imaging analysis can reveal hidden signals in routine scans, like dental CBCTs, to inform risk for systemic diseases such as cardiovascular conditions,” said Prasanna, director of the Imaging Informatics for Precision Medicine (IMAGINE) Lab. “By bringing sophisticated computational tools to bear on everyday clinical data, we hope to enable earlier, more informed interventions, and showcase the broader impact AI can have across medicine.”
If successful, the technology could serve as an early warning system embedded in routine dental visits, alerting providers to possible risk factors and encouraging timely follow-up with medical professionals.
“Dr. Mahdian’s NIH award demonstrates the collaborative potential that exists when a dental school resides on a university campus and is an integral member of an academic health center. In such settings disciplines can capitalize on each other’s unique skills, technologies and clinical interpretations,” said Patrick M. Lloyd, dean of the Stony Brook School of Dental Medicine. “It is from collegial environments like ours that discoveries are made, new knowledge is created and ultimately patients are better cared for. The future of the dental profession depends on schools with what we are and have done.”
The research is supported by the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number R03DE033489.