This Project Grant award from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) under the Oral Diseases and Disorders Research program (CFDA 93.121) is focused on elucidating how the matrix metalloproteinase 13 (MMP13) enzyme regulates reparative processes and the immune response in the damaged dentin-pulp complex. The $800,000 award to Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, aims to determine the influence of MMP13 on tertiary dentin formation as well as its role in modulating the inflammatory response in pulpitis. The researchers will utilize conditional MMP13 knockout mouse models and ex vivo human tissue studies to achieve the project's three specific aims. This research is expected to identify key mediators that can inform the development of novel, targeted therapeutic solutions within the fields of cariology and regenerative endodontics, ultimately reducing the burden of existing treatments for damaged dental pulp affected by caries or traumatic injury.
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