Understanding How a Protein Builds Strong Tooth Enamel
Official title: Structural, spatial, and temporal features guiding amelogenins transformation of calcium phosphate into enamel
Funded at Battelle Pacific Northwest Laboratories · NIH-11145616 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This research aims to understand how a special protein called amelogenin helps build the strong outer layer of our teeth, called enamel.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Battelle Pacific Northwest Laboratories NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Richland, United States) |
| Project start | August 19, 2021 |
| Project end | July 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $487,623 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DE015347-18 |
| Project ID | NIH-11145616 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This foundational research is not directly recruiting patients but aims to benefit individuals with enamel defects or those needing advanced dental repair in the future.
✕Less likely to help
Patients seeking immediate clinical treatment for existing enamel issues would not directly benefit from this basic science research.
What this research studies
Our teeth have a very hard outer layer called enamel, which protects them for a lifetime, but it can be damaged by disease or injury. Current treatments for damaged enamel are not as good as natural enamel. This project seeks to understand at a very detailed level how a key protein, amelogenin, guides the formation of enamel. By learning how this protein works, we hope to find new ways to repair or even regrow strong, natural-like enamel.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new and much more effective treatments for damaged tooth enamel, potentially helping people with conditions like Amelogenesis Imperfecta.
How similar studies have gone: While the critical role of amelogenin in enamel formation is known, this project aims to uncover the detailed molecular, structural, and temporal mechanisms that are currently not well understood.
Where this research is happening
-
Battelle Pacific Northwest Laboratories
Richland, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Shaw, Wendy J — Battelle Pacific Northwest Laboratories
- Study coordinator: Shaw, Wendy J
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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.