GSDM's Philippe Gauthier ENDO 13 Receives Grant from AAEF
Philippe Gauthier ENDO 13 recently received a grant from the American Association of Endodontists Foundation (AAEF) for his research project titled, “De Novo Regeneration of Periodontal Ligament Using Stem Cell Sheet Technique.” The grant amounts to $16,470 and will fund Gauthier’s research for two years, as he works to complete the combined CAGS and MScD in Endodontics that he is currently pursuing at GSDM. Also, because his research proposal received the top ranking score of all resident applicants, the Research and Scientific Affairs Committee of the AAE awarded him an extra $500.
Gauthier describes his research, “Basically what we are planning to do is to use dental stem cells from the periodontal ligament. We’ll grow them and assemble a multi-layer stem cell sheet which will be adapted to cover the entire root of a tooth. The cells should this way be able to regenerate the entire periodontal ligament of the tooth.” He continues, “This will be done using a mouse model, but our goal is to develop a technique that could eventually be used to treat avulsed teeth.”
Avulsed teeth are teeth that fall out following a trauma. According to Gauthier, the only treatment for avulsed teeth right now is to replace them as fast as possible following the trauma, but the prognosis is poor because the treatment does not allow for complete regeneration of the periodontal ligament.
He adds, “If successful, this could be the first breakthrough in the treatment of avulsed teeth in almost 50 years.”
Gauthier’s P.I. and research mentor is Chair and the Herbert Schilder Professor in Endodontics Dr. George Huang.