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 all other geological crystals, but unlike gemstones, bones are specifically sculpted by proteins and molecules. This biological control over geology provides unique features that are seemingly contradictory, such as robustness and lightness, stability and remodeling. Our laboratory investigates how these regulatory molecules impact bone formation and repair. Using models of rare bone diseases and advanced dental surgeries, we decipher molecular mechanisms underlying the interplay between biomineralization and each step of bone ossification. Based on mechanistic insight, we aim at developing clinically relevant strategies to overcome current limitations on bone regeneration.
