Rungnapa Warotayanont, D.D.S - USC School of Dentistry Ph.D. Candidate Focusing on Stem Cell Research for Bone Formation

March 14, 2008

Rungnapa Warotayanont is a Ph.D. candidate in Craniofacial Biology program and a research assistant at the Center for Craniofacial Molecular Biology (CCMB) at the USC School of Dentistry. Earning her dental degree from Faculty of Dentistry, Chulalongkorn University in Thailand, Rungnapa worked as a dentist in private practices, hospitals, and university hospitals for several years before deciding to join the Trojan Family at USC to pursue a Ph.D. in stem cell research. A year into her studies at USC, Rungnapa was appointed a problem-based learning facilitator for undergraduate dental students at the USC School of Dentistry and is currently a reviewer for Oral Diseases, a multidisciplinary dental journal.

Rungnapa's research career began with a small project, which was presented at an International Association for Dental Research and selected as a finalist for Bernard G. Sarnat Award in Craniofacial Biology. Her work with stem cell research in bone formation has been presented in several domestic and international conferences across the country. Last summer she was invited to present her research, as a USC School of Dentistry representative, in a meeting of doctoral students from the Pacific Rim Universities at Keio University, Tokyo Japan. Her research has been subsequently published. Rungnapa is currently in her final year of Ph.D. study.

Rungnapa took some time to speak with us about her research. Read below to find out more about her passions, research, and goals.

Help us understand what you are up to:
My research has focused on the study of bone formation in stem cells by using a bone-inducing factor derived from an enamel matrix protein called leucine-rich amelogenin peptide (LRAP). By adding LRAP to the stem cells, I have been able to significantly enhance bone formation both in mouse and in human stem cells. The ultimate purpose is to be able to use LRAP as an alternate tool for bone tissue engineering and regenerative application for skeletal defects.

What drives you to continue pursuing this area of study?
I saw the potential for the translational research, and the limitation of therapeutic applications using either basic science or clinical science alone. Stem cells are an exciting field of study that will largely alter treatment approaches and offer novel alternatives for uncured diseases these days.

Describe how your work might impact people's lives, now and in the future. What's the potential societal impact?
There have been outstanding needs for bone tissue repair and regeneration for bone physiological and pathological bone loss. The use of conventional grafting therapies to correct bone defects relies on the availability of the host tissue and renders a range of unavoidable complications including postoperative pain, infection, transmitted disease and immunorejection. The use of LRAP to induce bone formation will hopefully offer an alternative strategy to correct bone loss while minimizing undesirable outcomes. In addition, because embryonic stem cells can be maintained in their undifferentiated state indefinitely in vitro, the results from this study will provide a powerful source of the reserved cells for cell-based therapy.

How did you come up with the idea?
Our research group at the CCMB led by Dr. Malcolm Snead and Dr. Yan Zhou has been studying the structure and function of amelogenin, which is the most abundant enamel matrix protein during enamel development. LRAP is a splice variant of amelogenin but its function is unclear. There has been a commercially available product consisting of a mixture of enamel matrix derivatives used to induce the formation of tooth root and bone. So far, none of the study has been done on stem cells and on LRAP. We then started to ask the question whether LRAP could act as a signaling molecule in embryonic stem cells. Last year, we collaborated with Dr. Songtao Shi whose work has primarily focused on human adult stem cells, and we started researching the function of LRAP on human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells as well.

Has anyone ever doubted that your idea could work?
Yes. I was very much discouraged when I started working with embryonic stem cells. The cells are sensitive to subtle changes of parameters and are relatively hard to manipulate. I remember people telling me to either change the cell types or change the project altogether. There has been a period of six months passed without any productive data. Nonetheless, I have come to realize I always learn something even out of the non-productive moments by which I could use to modify and improve the idea to eventually succeed.

What is the next step in the innovation process for you (and how might people help)?
I am currently working on understanding the signaling pathways that regulate the effect of LRAP on bone formation. Hopefully I will be able to manipulate the pathways for bone formation and to subsequently incorporate the results from this study to clinical trials.

What mistake taught you the most?
Never procrastinate. We need to put our thoughts into actions to make things happen.

What is the one innovation you can't live without?
Internet.

What would people be surprised to learn about you?
I used to be an amateur wedding singer.

Any tips for aspiring innovators?
To have the passion in what you do is the most important thing. With passion, motivation and persistence will follow.

Email or phone?
Depends on circumstances.

What is the most fun you've ever had?
Whenever I go to karaoke.

Three favorite things about LA:

1. Warm weather
2. Clear sky
3. The Imagawayaki (red bean cake) at Little Tokyo.