Associate Professor

Cariology, Restorative Sciences and Endodontics
School of Dentistry, Room 2303
University of Michigan
1011 N University Ave
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1078
TEL = 734-763-3746
FAX = 734-936-1597
EMAIL = helenar@umich.edu
Additional information | Complete CV  | Research

Major Responsibilities:

Course Director, DENTXXX, IMS Module 1
Course Director, DENTED606, Mineralized Tissues

Special Distinctions:

Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program Faculty Recognition Award (2007)

Description of Research:

Dr. Ritchie is focused on studying two major dentin noncollagenous proteins -- dentin sialoprotein (DSP) and physophporyn (PP) -- whose appearance is coupled to the conversion of uncalcified predentin to calcified dentin.  The work encompassess following four DSP-PP related areas: (1) regulation and function of rat dentin sialoprotein and phosphophoryn, (2) tissue engineering to test whether DSP and PP proteins can serve as biomimetic molecules in promoting dentin regeneration, (3) DSP-PP gene expression in non-mineralized tissues such as bone, kidney and salivary glands during organogenesis, and (4) DSP-PP precursor processing studies.

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updated 9/13/2012