Dr. Benjamin Coyac
https://english.tau.ac.il/profile/bencoyac
Craniofacial Ossification Laboratory
Our skeleton and teeth are bio-rocks. They share the same mineral nature as geological crystals, but unlike gemstones, bones and teeth are sculpted by proteins, cells, and biological signals. This biological control over mineralized tissues creates unique properties, such as robustness and lightness, stability and remodeling.
The Craniofacial Ossification Laboratory investigates how mineral-regulating molecules and extracellular matrix proteins control bone formation and repair. We focus on rare mineralization disorders, especially X-linked hypophosphatemia, and on clinically relevant dental surgical models.
The laboratory includes the surgical setup for intraoral murine models, decalcified bone histology, immunohistology, and DIC microscopy. The lab also benefits from direct access to µ-CT, electron microscopy, cell biology and molecular analysis platforms, as well as human samples from genetically diagnosed patients through collaborations with the Rare Bone Disease Center at Tel Hashomer Hospital
