Ryan Bloomquist, the School of Biology’s first joint doctoral DMD/PhD student has received a F30 Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) aimed at investigating the process of dental tissue regeneration. The F30 Ruth L. Kirschstein NRSA is awarded to promising applicants with the potential to become productive, independent and highly trained physician-scientists.

Regenerative medicine, the general process of replacing or regenerating human cells and tissues to restore normal function, is emerging as a promising therapeutic strategy to address a wide array of congenital, traumatic and infectious diseases. On the forefront of these strategies is the field of regenerative dentistry, whereby cells or cell scaffolds are transplanted into oral tissues with the aim of culturing new teeth to restore ideal dental function and aesthetic. Although regenerative dentistry has been studied for many years, relatively little is known about how we naturally replace our teeth, including the identity of developmental precursor cells that give rise to new teeth.

Under the direction of Associate Professor Todd Streelman, Bloomquist seeks to exploit the continuously replaced dentition of the Lake Malawi cichlid fish to reveal the cells responsible for vertebrate tooth regeneration. Much like sharks and many other vertebrates, Lake Malawi cichlid fish from East Africa continuously replace their teeth throughout their lifetimes – making them ideal for studying dental regeneration. Beyond its direct application to regenerative dentistry, Bloomquist and Streelman hope to gain further insight on the general process of tissue regeneration that may contribute key insights for regenerative biology and engineering.

Bloomquist is completing a doctorate in Dental Medicine (DMD) at Georgia Regents University School of Dentistry and a PhD in Biology at Georgia Tech. He is the first student in either university to receive the prestigious F30 Ruth L. Kirschstein fellowship.