Henry C Margolis

Dr. Henry C Margolis is a Clinical Professor at the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine, affiliated with the Department of Periodontics and Preventive Dentistry and the Department of Oral and Craniofacial Sciences. He also holds a faculty position in the Center for Craniofacial Regeneration. Dr. Margolis' research focuses on biomineralization, particularly the mechanisms underlying dental enamel formation and the role of protein phosphorylation in regulating mineralization processes. His work integrates interdisciplinary approaches, including in vitro and in vivo studies using mouse models, to explore enamel matrix protein dynamics and their influence on crystal structure and organization.

• Education: BS in Chemistry from Worcester Polytechnic Institute (1972), PhD in Chemistry from University of Vermont (1976)
• Postdoctoral Research: University of Chicago (Chemistry) and Michael Reese Hospital (Renal Medicine)
• Professional Roles: Former Senior Member of Staff and Head of the Department of Biomineralization at The Forsyth Institute (1994–2017), Associate Professor of Developmental Biology at Harvard School of Dental Medicine (until 2017)

His research highlights the critical role of amelogenin phosphorylation in stabilizing amorphous calcium phosphate and controlling enamel crystallography. Key findings include the necessity of phosphorylation for proper enamel rod formation and the pathological consequences of defects in this process. Collaborations with researchers like Elia Beniash and Xiaofang Wang have advanced understanding of enamel biomineralization pathways and potential applications in bio-inspired materials.