New Faculty for Craniofacial Tissue Engineering and Biology

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DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This grant application in response to the RFA-OD-09-005 entitled: "Supporting New Faculty Recruitment to Enhance Research Resources through Biomedical Research Core Centers" is aimed to request support for the recruitment of two additional faculty members in the area of craniofacial regeneration in the newly created Center for Craniofacial Regeneration (CCR) at the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine (SDM).SDM leadership and center directors have set a vision and outlined a clear path to build our research capabilities with the aim to create a Center of Excellence in craniofacial regeneration. The strategy was developed to build on the existing tissue engineering strengths at the University of Pittsburgh which was lacking a concerted effort in the field of craniofacial regeneration. During its short history, CCR has been growing at a steady pace by attracting faculty from the Schools of Engineering and Medicine to join in the efforts, and by recruiting new faculty. This nucleus developed the current strength in CCR in mineralized tissue and TMJ regeneration. Our original plan was to recruit two more faculty at the SDM with the expertise that compliment the CCR activities and support its overall mission. However, due to the current financial crisis, this effort was placed on hold due to budgetary constraints. In order to continue to build on our initial strength in the mineralized tissue and TM] regeneration, and achieve our goal to become a Center of Excellence for Regenerative Medicine, we must continue the recruitment effort to build a critical mass of faculty interested in craniofacial regeneration and achieve a long term sustainability of this research effort. The funding from this grant will provide such an opportunity to reengage in recruitment activities of two faculty members that we initially planned to recruit prior to the financial crisis. These faculty are instrumental in creating a critical mass of researchers working together on developing craniofacial regenerative therapies and more specifically mineralized tissue and TMJ regeneration. This integrated effort with the Engineering and Medical Schools will culminate in improved ranking and stature of CCR and SDM. This award will allow us to progress toward our goal to establish high quality research programs which will lead to revolutionary approaches to craniofacial regeneration and improved patient care. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: We propose to recruit two faculty in the areas of craniofacial developmental biology and smart biomaterials that complement the existing multidisciplinary efforts at the Center for Craniofacial Regeneration (CCR) at the University of Pittsburgh. This will allow us to achieve our goal of becoming a center of excellence that will provide revolutionary approaches to craniofacial regeneration which will lead to Improving human health.