Genetic clues to how teeth form and replace themselves in sticklebacks
Official title: Developmental Genetics of Tooth Number Variation in Sticklebacks
Funded at University of California Berkeley · NIH-11614778 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study in a fish model aims to uncover the genetic factors that control how teeth form and keep renewing, with potential implications for human tooth regeneration.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Berkeley NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Berkeley, United States) |
| Project start | September 3, 2026 |
| Project end | September 2, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $348,963 |
| NIH project number | 2R56DE021475-16 |
| Project ID | NIH-11614778 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Not applicable to patients directly; findings may guide future translational work for dental regeneration.
✕Less likely to help
Immediate benefits are research findings in a fish model, not patient care.
What this research studies
Researchers use the threespine stickleback fish to study the genetic signals that control how teeth develop and are replaced over an animal's life. By examining gene circuits and enhancers, they hope to map how dental tissues interact during tooth formation and turnover. The work draws on known links between tooth and hair regeneration and tests whether shared genetic pathways underlie both processes. Findings could point to new ideas for regenerating human teeth in the future. This grant supports a focused, short-term investigation led by UC Berkeley researchers to advance basic understanding of dental biology.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could inform strategies for tooth regeneration in humans.
How similar studies have gone: Existing studies in other vertebrates support a conserved genetic framework for tooth development and regeneration, making this a plausible path.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California Berkeley
Berkeley, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Miller, Craig Thomas — University of California Berkeley
- Study coordinator: Miller, Craig Thomas
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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.