Peridontal Repair

Research Leader: Professor Mark Bartold

To date, repair of damaged periodontal tissues relies on implantation of structural substitutes with little or no reparative potential. More recently, tissue-engineering, based on an understanding of the cell and molecular biology of the periodontium, has emerged as an interesting alternative to existing therapies for periodontal regeneration.

The Periodontal Repair group has established the presence of mesenchymal stem-like cells (PDLSC) in both human and ovine periodontal tissues capable of sustained renewal and tissue regeneration.

The group now hypothesises that PDLSC can be used for cellular-based therapies to treat damaged periodontal tissues.

Research Priorities:

• Mesenchymal stem cells from the periodontal tissues for periodontal regeneration
• Production, characterisation and utilisation of iPS cells
• The utilisation of stem cell technologies to improve clinical periodontal regenerative techniques