Autophagy's role in enamel development explained for your teeth
Official title: Role of Autophagy in Enamel Development
Funded at University of Michigan at Ann Arbor · NIH-11607782 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A short study will explore how autophagy affects the cells that form enamel, aiming to understand why some people have enamel defects.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Michigan at Ann Arbor NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Ann Arbor, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $429,000 |
| NIH project number | 1R56DE035086-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11607782 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Individuals with enamel defects such as amelogenesis imperfecta or with a family history of the condition may be relevant for future translational work.
✕Less likely to help
People without enamel defects or related conditions may not benefit from this basic mechanistic research.
What this research studies
This project looks at how a cellular recycling process called autophagy influences enamel-forming cells (ameloblasts) in teeth. Researchers will use 3D cell culture models and animal studies to study ATG3 and related autophagy pathways. The goal is to uncover transcriptional and epigenetic changes that control cell differentiation during enamel formation so that future therapies may prevent or lessen enamel defects.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could lead to new approaches to prevent or treat enamel defects like amelogenesis imperfecta.
How similar studies have gone: Preclinical studies in mice suggest autophagy influences enamel formation, indicating a promising direction for human relevance.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Iwata, Junichi — University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
- Study coordinator: Iwata, Junichi
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.