Research Interest

I have two major research themes:

1. dental cells and dental stem cells; and
2. amphibian tissue regeneration.

These two themes are closely integrated together by my great interest in the molecular mechanism of cell dedifferentiation and cell differentiation. In specific,

1. The induction of the regenerative ability of adult stem cells, including pulp stem cells and gingival fibroblasts, in order to restore the abilities of these cells to regenerate the tooth, the gingival soft tissue and the periodontal bone.
2. The biological response of host oral cells to environmental factors including cigarette smoking and different diets.
3. The molecular mechanism to mediate the different regeneration abilities between regeneration-deficient Xenopus laevis froglet and regeneration-competent Ambystoma mexicanum axolotl.
4. The roles of cell cycle delay and cell cycle regulating proteins during the early stages of amphibian limb regeneration.
5. The induction of amphibian long bone regeneration over critical size defect by exploring different types of scaffolds and different combination of various growth factors.