Prof. Dr. Thimios A. Mitsiadis

Area of Research

Description of Research Interest

The research activities are focused on tooth development, pathology and regeneration. Research includes studies on key regulators of tooth development such as Notch and Wnt signalling. Transgenic analyses in Notch, Wnt and FAM20A mice, which exhibit enamel defects, are under investigation. Taking advance of the knowledge on the molecular and cellular mechanisms that govern tooth development, pathology and regeneration, and in combination with unique experimental biology skills applied in transgenic animal models, we have developed model systems for dental pathologies that are frequent in humans. Experimental procedures include organotypic cultures, tissue recombinations, stem cell cultures, in vitro tissue electroporation, in situ hybridisation and immunohistochemistry, whole-mount imaging, CAM essays and microfluidics.
Several of our studies focus on key molecules involved in the function and fate of specific dental stem cell populations. For this reason, we have developed a new research area in the dental field towards regenerative dentistry/personalised dentistry that combines various disciplines from stem cell biology, genetics, nanotechnology and mathematical modelling. Consequently, it is obvious that our research orientations are of importance and might benefit to both patients and clinicians working on dental tissue regeneration, thus having a big societal impact.

Special Expertise

Dental cells and tissues
Dental stem cells (culture, analysis, in vivo tracing etc)
Microfluidics
Organ on a chip

Shareable Platforms, Services, Equipment & Infrastructure

Functional Genomics Centre Zurich (FGCZ)
Imaging Centre Zurich