Craniofacial surgery has a rich history at CHoP and Penn Plastic Surgery. The Center for Craniofacial Innovation leverages key innovations in genomics, gene editing, and cell therapy to advance craniofacial and congenital conditions. We seek to cultivate research programs with complementary strengths around the theme of craniofacial development and improve care of craniofacial conditions. The Liao Lab at the Center for Craniofacial Innovation investigates fundamental questions in neural crest biology, gene regulatory networks, molecular basis of morphogenesis, and how craniofacial malformations occur when these basic processes go awry. The Liao laboratory utilizes iPSC, zebrafish, and mouse models to investigate human gene variants implicated in cleft and craniofacial malformations.