LSU DENTAL COBRE: BIOMEDICAL EQUIPMENT CORE

这个子项目是许多研究子项目中利用 资源由NIH/NCRR资助的中心拨款提供。子项目和 调查员(PI)可能从NIH的另一个来源获得了主要资金， 并因此可以在其他清晰的条目中表示。列出的机构是 该中心不一定是调查人员的机构。 导言：牙周病困扰着近30%的成年人，是牙齿脱落的主要原因。牙龈组织对菌斑引起的牙周病的易感性可能受衰老过程的影响。我们假设牙周组织的老化会引起炎症和组织再生关键蛋白表达的变化。这导致老年受试者对疾病的易感性更高，治愈潜力更低。为了验证这一假设，将使用年轻和老年受试者的牙龈组织活检来检查炎性细胞因子和生长因子的表达。这一结果有望成为开发牙周炎治疗干预的新方法的基础，这些方法可能会导致改善牙周治疗和牙齿固位。为此，以下是第一年的进展情况。 目的：制定研究衰老对牙周病影响的方案；建立实验室，配备必要的设备；接受科学研究人员的教育。 方法：与指导团队一起准备Cobre的提案并建立实验室；参加Cobre项目会议。 结果：外部咨询委员会(EAC)批准了该提案，但稍作修改。这笔赠款后来得到了国家卫生研究院的批准，最近收到了一份修订的授予通知。该协议还获得了IRB的批准。实验室空间进行了翻新，实验室正在搭建中，大多数设备已经到位。聘请了两名研究助理(100%和50%努力)。PI和同事正在优化项目所需的实验室技术。PI参加了Cobre赞助的活动，如月刊俱乐部、赠款寻求者会议、综合临床培训课程以及进展报告和演示。 讨论：与指导团队和选管会不断合作的PI已经澄清了方法问题。试点研究正在建立中，研究团队正准备招募患者。

This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject and investigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source, and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed is for the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator. Introduction: Periodontal disease afflicts nearly 30% of the adult population and is a main cause of tooth loss. The susceptibility of the gingival tissues to plaque-induced periodontal disease may be influenced by the aging process. We hypothesize that aging of periodontal tissues causes changes in the expression of proteins critical for inflammation and tissue regeneration. This results in greater disease susceptibility and lower healing potential in aged subjects. To test this hypothesis, biopsies of gingival tissue from young and aged subjects will be used to examine the expression of inflammatory cytokines and growth factors. The results are expected to serve as a basis for developing novel approaches for therapeutic intervention in periodontitis that may lead to improved periodontal therapies and tooth retention. To this end, the following is the progress for year 1. Objective: To prepare a protocol to study the effects of aging on periodontal disease; to set up the laboratory with the necessary equipment; to become educated as a scientific investigator. Methods: Worked with the mentoring team to prepare the proposal for the COBRE and set up the lab; attended COBRE program sessions. Results: The proposal was approved by the External Advisory Committee (EAC) with minor revisions. The grant was subsequently approved by the NIH an amended award notice was recently received. The protocol also obtained approval by the IRB. Lab space was renovated and the laboratory is being set up, with most equipment already in place. Two research associates (100% and 50% effort) were hired. The PI and the associates are optimizing the laboratory techniques necessary for the project. The PI participated in COBRE sponsored activities, such as the monthly journal club, the grant seeker sessions, the comprehensive clinical training course, and progress reports and presentations. Discussion: The PI with constant cooperation with the mentoring team and the EAC have already clarified methodology issues. Pilot studies are being set-up and the research team is preparing to recruit patients.