Orofacial cleft care: modeling jaw mechanics to improve treatment outcomes
Official title: Orofacial Biomechanics and the Consequences of Alveolar Cleft Morphology: Clinical Translation for Comprehensive Craniofacial Care
Funded at Touro University of California · NIH-11356881 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A patient-facing look at using computer models to understand how cleft-related jaw bone shapes affect healing and long-term dental care.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R03 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Touro University of California NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Vallejo, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2026 |
| Project end | September 14, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $361,817 |
| NIH project number | 1R03DE036042-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11356881 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Children, teens, and adults with orofacial clefts undergoing alveolar bone grafting.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not undergoing alveolar bone grafting or not affected by cleft-related alveolar defects.
What this research studies
This project will use computer simulations to study how the shape and size of an alveolar cleft influence bone healing after grafting in people with cleft lip and palate. By creating patient-specific models, researchers aim to reveal which mechanical factors most impact graft success and long-term tooth eruption. The findings could guide personalized surgical planning and postoperative care for children, adolescents, and adults with clefts. The work addresses everyday challenges like feeding, speaking, appearance, and reducing the burden of multiple surgeries over the years.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could lead to more reliable graft outcomes and fewer additional surgeries for people with cleft conditions.
How similar studies have gone: Prior pain and grafting research shows variability in bone retention; this project explores a personalized mechanical approach, which is promising but still early.
Where this research is happening
-
Touro University of California
Vallejo, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Smith, Amanda L — Touro University of California
- Study coordinator: Smith, Amanda L
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.