Bone and Connective Tissues/Tissue Engineering

The Kwon lab is interested in the molecular mechanisms that precisely govern the process of tooth development, from initiation of tooth morphogenesis to dental crown and root formation. Human genetics and genetically modified animal studies have identified that tooth development is controlled by a complex molecular regulatory network that is mediated by evolutionarily conserved transcription factors and signaling pathways. These mechanisms are shared with many other organ systems across different species during their development, maintenance, and regeneration. Therefore, unraveling the mechanisms of tooth development provides insights into a broad range of disciplines in biology and medicine, especially tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.