FaceBase: A Data Hub for Craniofacial Development and Birth Defects

USC Facebase IV Craniofacial Development and Dysmorpholoy Data Management and Integration Hub (FaceBase IV))

['FUNDING_OTHER'] · UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA · NIH-11170649

This project helps researchers share and use information about how faces and skulls develop, especially for people with birth defects and other conditions.

Quick facts

Phase['FUNDING_OTHER']
Study typeNih_funding
SexAll
SponsorUNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA (nih funded)
Locations1 site (Los Angeles, UNITED STATES)
Trial IDNIH-11170649 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this research studies

Dental, oral, and craniofacial health is very important for overall well-being, with about half of all birth defects involving craniofacial malformations. Many genetic conditions also show up in the face and skull, affecting communication and neurological development. This project, called FaceBase, acts as a central hub for collecting and sharing comprehensive datasets about craniofacial development and related conditions. By making this information widely available, FaceBase helps scientists better understand these complex issues. The goal is to expand community outreach and improve services to empower researchers across many fields to use this valuable data.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Patients who have craniofacial conditions, birth defects, or genetic conditions affecting the face and skull may indirectly benefit from the research supported by this data hub.

Not a fit: Patients without craniofacial conditions or related genetic disorders would not directly benefit from this specific data management project.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: By making vast amounts of data on craniofacial development and conditions available, this project helps speed up discoveries that could lead to better ways to prevent, diagnose, and treat these conditions.

How similar studies have performed: FaceBase has been a successful central data repository for dental and craniofacial researchers since 2009, demonstrating the value of this approach.

Where this research is happening

Los Angeles, UNITED STATES

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.

View on NIH RePORTER →

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.