Grant: Operating Grant

Malformations in head structures, such as the bones and palate, are estimated to account for approximately 50% of all human birth defects and have been associated with a wide variety of syndromes including the Pierre Robin and DiGeorge syndromes. The prevalence of craniofacial malformations is likely related to the intricate relationship that exists between the various components of the head and the complex molecular pathways that regulate their development.In this proposal, we investigate the involvement of a specific receptor at the surface of neural crest cell, called Neogenin, to regulate the differentiation of these cells into cells that form bones of the face. Understanding how this receptor regulates this process will provide important information on how dysregulation of its function during development can lead to craniofacial defects at birth.