How facial structures develop and why some babies are born with craniofacial differences
Signaling control and cellular basis of craniofacial morphogenesis and congenital disease
This research looks at how cells and physical forces shape the face during development so we can understand why some babies are born with clefts and other craniofacial differences.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Francisco NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11310853 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
The team uses live imaging to watch how cells move and tissues fuse during lip and palate formation, and they study abnormal cell behaviors that lead to specific craniofacial anomalies. They work with human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC) models and animal models to compare human and model-cell behaviors. The lab focuses on conditions such as craniofrontonasal syndrome and has developed new human cell models to study the underlying cellular changes. Their goal is to link genes, cell movements, and tissue mechanics to explain how facial shapes form and go wrong.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for contributing to this work would be people or families affected by congenital craniofacial conditions (for example cleft lip/palate or craniofrontonasal syndrome) who can provide clinical information or donate cells.
Not a fit: People without craniofacial conditions or those seeking immediate clinical treatments are unlikely to receive direct benefit, since this is laboratory-based research focused on mechanisms.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new ways to prevent or better treat craniofacial birth differences and improve planning for surgeries or therapies.
How similar studies have performed: Previous animal and cell studies have identified genes and some cell behaviors important for facial development and early hiPSC models are promising, but translating these findings into patient treatments remains largely unproven.
Where this research is happening
San Francisco, United States
- University of California, San Francisco — San Francisco, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bush, Jeffrey Ohmann — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Bush, Jeffrey Ohmann
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.