How alternative beta‑catenin signals help teeth form
Official title: Nonclassical β-catenin signaling in odontogenesis
Funded at Ada Forsyth Institute, INC. · NIH-11313859 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at special beta‑catenin signals that guide tooth development to help people born with missing teeth.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Ada Forsyth Institute, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Somerville, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | July 6, 2023 |
| Project end | April 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $541,951 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DE033013-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11313859 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People born with missing permanent teeth (tooth agenesis), including those with genetic changes in Wnt pathway genes such as AXIN2, would be most directly relevant.
✕Less likely to help
People who lost teeth from injury, decay, or aging rather than congenital absence are less likely to benefit directly from this work.
What this research studies
You will learn that researchers are mapping how a nonclassical form of beta‑catenin controls the two tissue layers that build a tooth. They will use genetic models, lab-grown cells, and human gene data linked to tooth agenesis to trace the signaling steps. By connecting these signals to known tooth‑missing genes, they aim to find points where future therapies could prompt teeth to form or be replaced with a person's own tissue. The work is centered at the Forsyth Institute and combines animal and molecular experiments with analysis of human genetic findings.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could point to new regenerative approaches that help people with congenital missing teeth grow or receive autologous tooth replacements.
How similar studies have gone: Prior mouse and human genetic studies show Wnt/β‑catenin is essential for tooth development, but focusing on this nonclassical signaling route is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Ada Forsyth Institute, INC.
Somerville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hsu, Wei — Ada Forsyth Institute, INC.
- Study coordinator: Hsu, Wei
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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.