The grant will fund Dr. Alapati’s core research focus on stem cell-based therapeutics in Endodontics. Basically, Dr. Alapati is hoping to revolutionize root canal treatment by incorporating regenerative components to root canal therapy.
“I want to discover a way to get stem cells from dental tissues and regenerate the diseased tooth structures to their natural anatomy” Dr. Alapati explained. “This will allow whole root structures to grow to completion, thereby preventing loss of tooth.”
Dr. Alapati hopes through his research to be able to save young diseased teeth. Most importantly, through his research he is working so people will be able to retain their natural teeth for a longer period of time.
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| University of Illinois at Chicago College of Dentistry Assistant Professor of Endodontics Dr. Satish Alapati received a grant from the National Institute of Health’s (NIH) National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) that will last five years and will be worth approximately $683,040. The grant will fund Dr. Alapati’s core research focus on stem cell-based therapeutics in Endodontics. |
The grant will allow Dr. Alapati to start “an exciting career in Regenerative Endodontics,” he said. “It is a new frontier and cutting-edge science that combines both tissue engineering and stem cell biology concepts to regenerate the pulp-dentin complex for prompt healing, repair, and continual development of the tooth.”
In addition to researching the use of stem cells in Endodontics, Dr. Alapati has an interest in nickel-titanium metallurgy, development of novel rotary endodontic instruments, and advanced ceramic-based biomaterials.
Dr. Alapati studied in the College’s Endondontics residency program with an American Association of Endodontists (AAE) Educator Fellowship Award from 2009 to 2011. Before joining the program, Dr. Alapati was an Assistant Professor in the Department of Materials Science at the College of Dental Medicine in the Medical University of South Carolina.
Dr. Alapati earned his DDS degree in India. Afterwards, he continued his education in the United States at a hospital based general practice residency program (GPR) in Kansas City Missouri. Subsequently, he received his MS in Dental Materials Science and a PhD in Oral Biology from The Ohio State University in 2006.
As a new faculty member, Dr. Alapati hopes to lead UIC into new frontiers in regenerative medicine applications in Endodontics and dentistry. “I want to see that UIC becomes one of the leaders in the field of regenerative medicine,” he said. “For myself, I want to fulfill my passion for education, research, and clinical practice.”
