Understanding a Protein's Role in Blood Vessel Growth for Tooth Repair

Role of DMP1 Mediated Paracrine Signaling in Vasculogenesis

NIH-funded research University of Illinois at Chicago · NIH-11121899

This project aims to discover how a special protein helps blood vessels form, which is crucial for repairing damaged teeth.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Illinois at Chicago NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Chicago, UNITED STATES)
Project IDNIH-11121899 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

When you need to repair or regenerate a damaged tooth, it's really important for new blood vessels to grow quickly. These blood vessels bring oxygen and nutrients, and help clear away waste, which is essential for proper healing. Our team is looking at a protein called DMP1, which is known to be important for bone and tooth development. We believe DMP1 plays a role in helping adult stem cells transform into the cells that build new blood vessels, ultimately improving how teeth heal.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Patients who have experienced tooth damage or require complex dental repair procedures might eventually benefit from this research.

Not a fit: Patients without conditions requiring dentin or pulp regeneration would not directly benefit from this specific research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to better ways to regenerate damaged tooth tissue and improve dental repair procedures.

How similar studies have performed: The researchers have previously identified DMP1's role in mineralization and as a signaling molecule, and have observed its effect on pro-angiogenic factors, suggesting a foundation for this new hypothesis.

Where this research is happening

Chicago, UNITED STATES

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.