Logo

It's Not Just About the Cord Blood Anymore

Dec 01, 2010

Boston-area researchers are investigating the potential health benefits of stem cells found in teeth, says the Boston Globe's Carolyn Johnson, and using the cells they find to generate dental pulp that could be used to avoid painful procedures like root canals. At Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, researchers are working on growing whole teeth and are examining how zebrafish are able to grow back their teeth, Johnson says. And some businesses have even begun storing dental stem cells alongside cells found in umbilical cord blood. Unlike embryonic stem cells, tooth cells are more limited, and the research is focused on regenerative dentistry, Johnson says. But researchers say that in the next 10 to 15 years, stem cells can be used in the dental clinic to change the way root canals and dental implants are done.

Breaking News
The Scan

Study Finds Few FDA Post-Market Regulatory Actions Backed by Research, Public Assessments

A Yale University-led team examines in The BMJ safety signals from the US FDA Adverse Event Reporting System and whether they led to regulatory action.

Duke University Team Develops Programmable RNA Tool for Cell Editing

Researchers have developed an RNA-based editing tool that can target specific cells, as they describe in Nature.

Novel Gene Editing Approach for Treating Cystic Fibrosis

Researchers in Science Advances report on their development of a non-nuclease-based gene editing approach they hope to apply to treat cystic fibrosis.

Study Tracks Responses in Patients Pursuing Polygenic Risk Score Profiling

Using interviews, researchers in the European Journal of Human Genetics qualitatively assess individuals' motivations for, and experiences with, direct-to-consumer polygenic risk score testing.