Research summary
There are two groups of Canadians who live with permanently dry mouths (a condition known as xerostomia). In the first are 160,000 people who suffer from Sjogren’s syndrome, an immune system disorder. In the second are the 5,000 people every year who are diagnosed with head and neck cancers. Both groups experience pain, tooth decay and infections of the tonsils and oropharynx. Currently, there is no adequate treatment, and these patients must sip water constantly to reduce their discomfort.
As Canada Research Chair in Craniofacial Tissue Engineering and Stem Cells, Dr. Simon Tran aims to regenerate salivary cells in adult glands, either by using a stem cell therapy or implanting expanded salivary glands drawn from patients’ own tissues. Ultimately, he and his research team aim to provide thousands of Canadians—and millions of other people around the world—with a treatment that restores normal salivary gland function.