UIC Researchers Secure $1.2M Grant to Explore Tooth Self-Repair via Dentin Phosphophoryn
Anne George, a professor at the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) College of Dentistry, has received a $1.2 million grant from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research to study dentin phosphophoryn. This protein, found in the mineralized tissue beneath tooth enamel, may help cells survive in calcium-rich environments and preserve regenerative capacity. The research aims to understand how this protein supports autophagy, a cellular cleanup process, to potentially enable damaged teeth to repair themselves rather than requiring synthetic replacements.